PHYSICS 101: GENERAL PHYSICS 1:

Topics to be treated:

A Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration

B. Kinematics: Newtons Laws of Motion, Impulse, Force, and Momentum

C. Relative motion, application of Newton’s laws, equations of motion, conservation principles

in physics, conservative forces, conservation of linear momentum.

A Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration

1. Displacement:

To be able to explain displacement, we first need to refresh our memory on what is meant by a
vector. A vector is a geometric object that has magnitude (or length) and direction it is frequently
represented by a directed line segment (which is a straight line that is bounded by two distinct
end points, and contains every pints on the line that is between its end points).

B
A vector pointing from A to B. the
magnitude of the vector is the distance
between the two points, and the direction
A
refers to the direction of displacement from
A to B.

In geometry and mechanics, a displacement is a vector whose length is the shortest distance,
from the initial to the final position of a point undergoing motion.

Displacement is the shift in location when an object in motion changes from one position to
another Distance

Distance
 Distance

Distance

A
Displacement
B
Distance travelled versus displacement along a path.

Displacement can be then also be defined as the difference between the final and the initial
positions.

S = Xf – Xi

S = ∆X

Where:

S = displacement

Xf = final position

Xi = Initial Position

∆ X = change in position

In a rigid body, its rotation is part of its displacement, also known as angular displacement.

2. Velocity

The velocity of a body is a vector quantity that describes both how fast it is moving and the
direction in which it is headed. The magnitude (size) of a velocity is sometimes called speed.
Velocity is a vector quantity, because both magnitude and direction are needed to define it.

Example of velocity is in the statement. The car is travelling at “10Km per minute west” speed
however is a scalar quantity indicating the magnitude to the velocity in the above example,
“10km per minute” is the speed. The average velocity of the above care when it covers the
distance S, in a known time t is

s
V=
t
 distance speed
i.e Average velocity = and time = or S/V
time velocity

and

speed = velocity x time or s = vt

if the average velocity change (by the body going slower or faster), the velocity at any given
moment is known as the instantaneous velocity.

Vinst = ∆ s/∆ t (where ∆ indicates the change)

Instantaneous velocity is what a car’s speed meter indicates. If the instantaneous velocity does
not change, then the car is moving at constant velocity.

(see solved problems for velocity)

3. Acceleration

The acceleration of a body is the rate at which its velocity is changing. A body whose velocity is
changing is accelerating. Also, a body is accelerated when its velocity is increasing, decreasing,
or changing in direction.

velocity change
Acceleration =
time

v−vo
a=
t

where

vo = initial velocity; v = final velocity, t= time interval

a positive acceleration means an increase in velocity and a negative acceleration means a

decrease in velocity. A negative acceleration is sometimes called a deceleration. The final
velocity of an accelerated body can thus be written as:

final velocity = initial velocity + (acceleration) ( time)

or

V = vo + at
And time can be solved in terms of vo, v, and a as

v−vo
T=
a

velocity change
Or time =
acceleration

The dimensions of velocity are that of distance/time.

The dimensions of acceleration are that of velocity/time or distance/time2

Acceleration = m/s2

Velocity = m/s

(see solved problems)

B. Kinematics: Newtons Laws of Motion, Impulse, Force, and Momentum

1. Kinematics

This is the branch of mechanics that describes the motion of points, objects and groups of objects
without making reference to the causes or forces that of the motion. Example motion of the earth,
motion. Example motion of the earth, motion of blood through the veins, continuous motion of
atoms and molecules in inanimate objects (non living). A formal study of physics begins with
kinematics, which comes from a Greek word “Kinesis” meaning motion.

2. Newton’s Law of Motion

Isaac Newton formulated three principles that summarizes the behavior of moving bodies. These
laws relate an objects motion to the forces acting on it.

i. Newton’s first law states that, if a body is at rest or moving at a constant speed in a
straight line, it will remain at rest or keep moving in a straight line and constant
speed, unless it is acted upon by a force. A force can be loosely defined in terms of
pulls or pushes. A more precise definition is; a force is any influence that can change
the velocity of a body.
 Two or more forces can act on a body without affecting its velocity if the forces cancel one
another out what is needed for a velocity change is a net force otherwise known as an
unbalanced force. Therefore to accelerate something, an unbalanced or net force must be
applied to it. Therefore, any acceleration is due to the action of a net force.

The property of a body that resists a change in its state of uniform motion is known as inertia.
The inertia of a body is dependent on the amount of matter it contains. The qualitative
measure of inertia is mass. The more the mass of the body, the less its acceleration when a
given net force acts on it. The SI unit of mass is the kilogram (Kg)

ii. According to Newton’s second law of motion, the acceleration (a) of a body that is
acted upon by a force is proportional to the magnitude of the force and inversely
proportional to the body’s mass. That is, the greater the force the greater the
acceleration, and the greater the mass the less the acceleration.

F = ma

Where F = netforce; m = mass; a = acceleration.

The second law of motion is the key to understanding the behavior of moving bodies, since it
links the force and the acceleration in a certain way.

The unit of force in the SI system is the Newton (N). if a net force of IN is applied to a 1Kg
mass, the mass will have an acceleration of 1m/s2

The N when expressed in calculations c is equivalent to kg m/s2

(see solved problems)

Weight:

The weight of a body is the gravitational force with which the earth attracts the body. If a person
weighs 100kg, it means, the earth pulls that person down with a force of 100kg. weight (a vector
quantity) is different from mass ( a scalar quantity), which is a measure of the response of a body
to an applied force. The weight of a body varies with its location near the earth; where as its
mass is the same everywhere in the universe.
The weight of a body is the force that causes it to be accelerated downward with the acceleration
of gravidity, g. therefore, from the second law of motion,

It can be deduced that;

F = w and a =g

From f =ma

= w =mg

Where;

W = weight; m = mass, g = acceleration due to gravity

It should be noted that because g is constant near the earth’s surface, the weight of a body there
is proportional to its mass. A large mass is heavier than a small one.

(see solved problems)

iii.

C. Relative motion, application of Newton’s laws, equations of motion, conservation principles

in physics, conservative forces, conservation of linear momentum.
 PHY 1210

1. Space and time (Dr. Pantami)

2. Frames of Reference (Dr. Pantami)
3. Units and Dimensions (Dr. Pantami)
4. Kinematics (Dr. Hauwa)
5. Fundamental laws of Mechanics (Dr. Hauwa)
6. Statics and Dynamics (Dr. Hauwa)
7. Galilean invariance (Dr. Hadiza)
8. Universal Gravitational (Dr. Hadiza)
9. Work and Energy (Dr. Hadiza)
10. Rotational dynamics and angular moment (um?) (Dr Kawo)
11. Conservation Laws (Dr. Kawo)

PHY 1220

1. Electrostatics (Dr. Pantami)

2. Conductors and Currents (Dr. Pantami)
3. Dielectrics (Dr. Hauwa)
4. Magnetics Fields and Induction (Dr. Hauwa)
5. Maxwell’s equation (Dr. Hadiza)
6. Electromagnetic oscillations and waves; applications (Dr. Kawo)

Those that take w topics in 1220 will not mark)

B. MAS

Physics 1210 -Mechanics

S/N Date Day Lecturer Time

1 2/09/24 Monday Dr. Pantami 4-6pm
2 7/09/24 Saturday Dr. Pantami 9-11 am
3 9/09/24 Monday Dr. Hauwa 4-6pm
4 14/09/24 Saturday Dr. Hauwa 9-11 am
5 16/09/24 Monday Dr. Hadiza 4-6pm
6 21/09/24 Saturday Dr. Hadiza 9-11 am
7 23/09/24 Monday Dr. Kawo 4-6pm
8 28/09/24 Saturday Dr. Kawo 9-11 am

Physics 1220- Electricity and Magnetism

S/N Date Day Lecturer Time

1 4/09/24 Wednesday Dr. Pantami 2-4 pm
2 6/09/24 Friday Dr. Pantami 4-6 pm
3 11/09/24 Wednesday Dr. Hauwa 2-4 pm
4 13/09/24 Friday Dr. Hauwa 4-6 pm
5 18/09/24 Wednesday Dr. Hadiza 2-4 pm
6 20/09/24 Friday Dr. Hadiza 4-6 pm
7 25/09/24 Wednesday Dr. Kawo 2-4 pm
8 27/09/24 Friday Dr. Kawo 4-6 pm
Lecture Time Table

Physics 101- General Physics 1 – CCMAS Schedule

S/N Date Day Lecturer Time

1 4/09/24 Wednesday Dr. Pantami 8-10 am
2 6/09/24 Friday Dr. Hauwa 2-4 pm
3 11/09/24 Wednesday Dr. Hauwa 8-10 am
4 13/09/24 Friday Dr. Hadiza 2-4 pm
5 18/09/24 Wednesday Dr. Hadiza 8-10 am
6 20/09/24 Friday Dr. Kawo 2-4 pm
7 25/09/24 Wednesday Dr. Kawo 8-10 am

CCMAS

PHY 101- General Physics 1 – Wednesday 8 -10am; Firday 2-4

Schedule Day Lecturer Date

Wednesday Dr. Pantami 4/09/24
Friday Dr. Hauwa 6/09/24
Wednesday Dr. Hauwa 11/09/24
Friday Dr. Hadiza 13/09/24
Wednesday Dr. Hadiza 18/09/24
Friday Dr. Kawo 20/09/24
Wednesday Dr. Kawo 25/09/24
B, MAS

PHY 1201-Mechanics – Wednesday 8 -10am; Firday 2-4

Schedule Day Lecturer Date

Monday Dr. Pantami 2/09/24
Saturday Dr. Pantami 7/09/24
Monday Dr. Hauwa 9/09/24
Saturday Dr. Hauwa 14/09/24
Monday Dr. Hadiza 16/09/24
Saturday Dr. Hadiza 21/09/24
Monday Dr. Kawo 23/09/24
Saturday Dr. Kawo 28/09/24
Newton’s third law of motion

According to Newton’s third law of motion; when one body exerts a force on another body, the
second body exerts an equal force in the opposite direction on the first body. The law applies to
two different forces on the same body; the action force and the reaction force. The law can also
be stated as:

To every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

PHY 101: GENERAL PHYSICS

Momentum and impulse

The momentum (or linear momentum) of a body is the product of its mass (m) and its velocity
(v)

Linear momentum = (mass of a body) X (velocity of a body)

P = mv …………. Equation (1)

Momentum is a vector quantity whose direction is the direction of the velocity. The unit of
momentum in the SI system is kg.m/s

The direction of the momentum of a body is the direction in which its is moving. The greater the
momentum of a body, the greater its tendency to continue in motion. The momentum of an
object of mass m and velocity, V increase with increasing V.

Mv
P= equation (2)
√1−V 2 /C2
Where

E= velocity of light (3 x 108 m/s)

Impulse is the product of a force (f) and the time interval (Dt) over which the force acts

Impulse = (force) x (length of time that the force acts)

Impulse = f x Dt

∆ P = f x ∆ t or ∆ P = F∆ t equation (3)
From equation (1), P = MV

∆ (MV) = F∆ t from equation 3

Or f ∆ t = ∆ (MV) equation 4

If the mass of the body M remains constant, then

F ∆ t = m (Vf- Vi) equation 5

Where

Vf= final velocity, and Vi = initial velocity

On simplifying. Equation (5) becomes

F ∆ t =mvf – mvi equation 6

It should be noted that if the external force acting on a body is zero, the momentum of the body
will remain constant.

When two bodies of masses m1 and m2 collide, the total momentum before impact is equal to
the total momentum after impact, i.e

Total momentum before impact = total momentum after impact.

Assuming

U1 and U2 = velocity before impact;

V1 and V2 = velocities after impact;

It follows that the statement above becomes

M1U1 + M2 U0032 = M1V + M2 V2

(see solved problems)

Relative Motion:

Relative Motion involves all aspects of motion. This include velocity, speed and acceleration.
Relative Motion is defined as the motion of an object when observed with respect to another
object which may be either at rest or in motion.

A body is said to be in motion or at rest if it changes its position with respect to the observer or a
stationary object.

Since relative motion involves all aspects of motion, including velocity, then to know how fast or
slow an observed body is moving, we need to understand the concept of Relative Motion.

The relative velocity of a body is considered when another objects moves either in the same or
the opposite direction. The speed of the involved objects may be increasing, decreasing, or
constant, with reference to each other.

Let us consider the initial position of two objects A and B the velocity of A relative to B is given
as
VAB = VA-VB
And the velocity of B relative to A is given as:
VBA = VB-VA
The concept of relative velocity can be explained by the position time graph using the following
three cases:

Case 1: Two objects moving in the same direction with equal velocities

B
x(m)
A

0 t(s)

Here, the two objects will appear at rest with respect to each other.

Case 2: two objects moving with different velocities in the same direction.
 x(m)
A

0 t(s)

Here, object A appears faster than B. the difference velocities of the objects will not appear so
large with respect to one another, as it will to a stationary observer.

Case 3: two objects moving with different velocities but in opposite directions.

x(m)
A

B
0 t(s)

Here, both objects will appear moving fasters than one another.

Conservation Principles in Physics

This principles states that a certain physical property (i.e a measurable quantity) does not change
in the course of time within an isolated physical system.

This makes it possible to observe or predict the behavior of a system without having to consider
the microscopic details of its course, or the chemical reactions involved.

The most important conservation principles are those of energy, mass and momentum.

a. Conservation of energy

This implies that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but it can be changed from one
form to another (e.g potential to kinetic, chemical to heat). In an isolated system therefore, the
sum of all forms of energy remains constant.
 b. Conservation of mass

This implies that matter can neither be created nor destroyed. This means that the processes
that change the physical or chemical properties of substances within an isolated system (such
as conversion of a liquid to a solid) leaves the total mass unchanged.

Strictly speaking however, mass is not a conserved quantity, i.e its quantity can change,
albeit in small quantities. However, in nuclear reactions, mass can be totally changed into
energy.

Both the laws of conservation of mass and conservation of energy can therefore be combined
into one law; the conservation of mass-energy.

c. Conservation of linear momentum:

This expresses that a body or system of bodies in motion retains its total momentum unless an
external force is (m x v).
STATICS AND DYNAMICS

Statics and dynamics are two concepts that are used to categories rigid body mechanics.

Statics deals with objects at rest or moving with constant velocity.

Dynamics deals with the analysis of bodies in constant motion. Therefore, dynamics implies
change, while statics implies changelessness, both of which are associated with acceleration.

Statics is concerned with the forces that act on bodies at rest under equilibrium conditions.
According to Newtons second law of motion

F=ma

Since in statics acceleration is always zero, the right hand side of the above equation will be
equal to zero. And if the right hand side is zero, then the force F = O, and the body is said to be
in equilibrium. The fact that the left hand side of the equation is zero means that any analysis or
problems dealing with statics will be associated with the analysis of the force-one the left hand
side of newton’s second law of motion, which is equal to the net force (Fnet).

It is to be noted that it take force for objects to stay at rest (e.g force of gravity) and for objects to
be in uniform motion.

The net force (Fnet) includes the force of gravity, frictional force, and force exerted by air (air
pressure). Example of forces acting on a body at rest are depicted on the diagram below:

Fair Fair Fair

Ffriction Ffriction Fapplied

Fgravity Fgravity Fgravity

(a) (b) (c)

According to Newton’s first law where he indicated that “a body remains at rest or in uniform
motion except when acted upon by an unbalanced force or an external force”, that external force
that will cause a change in motion of the said object refers to the force that is greater than the net
of the other individual forces. From the above diagram, motion will exist if all the vertical forces
do not cancel one another as shown below.

Fair =600N Fair =1200N Fair=50N

Ffriction= 20N Fapplied =30N

Fgravity=400N Fgravity=800N Fgravity=50N

Therefore, since these forces are vectors, the rules for summing them are as shown in the
following examples:

The above rules are examples of how to determine the net force acting upon an objects

Examples find the net force in each of the following examples

Dynamics

Dynamics is the study of forces that cause or modify the movement of an object. It deals with
physical bodies in motion.

Dynamics is subdivided into kinematics and kinetics. Kinematics is the study of the movement
of objects, disregarding the forces that cause the movements. It includes displacement, velocity,
acceleration, and time.

Kinetics study the motion that relates to the forces that affect these motions.