Lesson 1: Units, Physical Quantities, and Vectors: Physics 1
Lesson 1: Units, Physical Quantities, and Vectors: Physics 1
UNITS
MEASUREMENT - a process of detecting an unknown physical quantity by using standard quantity.
METRIC SYSTEM – the system of units used by scientists and engineers around the world.
BRITISH SYSTEM - these units are used only in the United States and a few other countries, and in most
of these they are being replaced by SI units.
THE SI BASE UNITS FOR SEVEN FUNDAMENTAL QUANTITIES WITH TWO SUPPLEMENTAL
QUANTITIES
QUANTITY UNIT SYMBOL
BASE UNITS
Length meter m
Mass kilogram kg
Time second s
Electric Current ampere A
Temperature kelvin K
Luminous Intensity candela cd
Amount of Substance mole mol
SUPPLEMENTAL UNITS
Plane Angle radian rad
Solid Angle steradian sr
VECTOR QUANTITIES – is specified completed by its magnitude and direction – a number, a unit, and a
direction.
EXAMPLES:
displacement (20 m, N)
velocity (10 mi/h, 30°N of E)
THE POLYGON METHOD OF VECTOR ADDITION
The resultant vector is found by drawing each vector to scale, placing the tail of one vector to the tip of
another until all vectors are drawn. The resultant is the straight line drawn from the starting point to the
tip of the last vector.
THE PARALLELOGRAM METHOD OF VECTOR ADDITION
The resultant of two vectors is the diagonal of a parallelogram formed by two vectors as adjacent sides.
The direction is away from the common origin of the two vectors.
VECTORS AND VECTOR ADDITION
The x and y components of a vector (R, θ):
Rx = Rcos θ = Ax + Bx + Cx + ... Ry = Rsin θ = Ay + By + Cy + ... The
resultant of two perpendicular vectors Rx and Ry:
R = √R2x + R2y; θ = arctan|Ry/Rx|
PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGY
1. Construct a rough vector polygon, drawing each vector at proportional lengths and angles. Indicate
the resultant as a line drawn from the tail of the first vector to the tip of the last vector.
2. Find x and y components of each vector, using trigonometry if necessary. Verify that the algebraic
signs are correct before proceeding.
Ax = Acos θ; Ay = Asin θ
3. Make a table of x and y components and add algebraically to find the magnitude and sign of the
resultant components:
Rx = Ax + Bx + Cx + ...
Ry = Ay + By + Cy + ...
4. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant from its perpendicular components, Rx and Ry.
R=34.8N
θ = arctan|Ry/Rx|
θ = arctan|(-16.5 N)/(-30.6 N)|
θ = 28.3°S of W
SAMPLE PROBLEM:
What is the resultant of a 5-N force directed horizontally to the right and
a 12-N force directed downward?
R = √R2x + R2y
R = √(5 N)2 + (-12 N)2
R=13.0N
θ = arctan|Ry/Rx|
θ = arctan|(-12 N)/(5 N)|
θ = 67.4°S of E
PRODUCT OF VECTORS
The scalar product of two vectors ⃗A and ⃗B and is denoted by ⃗A ∙ ⃗B Because of this notation, the scalar
product is also called the dot product.
The vector product of two vectors ⃗A and ⃗B and also called the cross product, is denoted by ⃗A × ⃗B.
C = ABsin θ
Cx = AyBz – AzBy
Cy = AzBx – AxBz
Cz = AxBy – AyBx
SAMPLE PROBLEM:
Vector ⃗A has magnitude 6 units and is in the direction of the x-axis. Vector
⃗B has magnitude 4 units and lies in the xy-plane, making an angle of 30° with the x-axis. Find the vector
product.
SOLUTION:
C = ABsin θ
C = (6)(4)sin 30° = 12
Ax = 6 Ay = 0 Az =0
Bx = 4cos 30° = 2√3 By = 4sin 30° = 2 Bz =0
SOLUTION:
Cx = AyBz – AzBy = (0)(0) – (0)(2) = 0
Cy = AzBx – AxBz = (0)(2√3) – (6)(0) = 0
Cz = AxBy – AyBx = (6)(2) – (0)(2√3) = 12
C=12