The Nature of Science and Physics

Lecture 01
Introduction:
The Nature of Science
and Physics
Chapter 01 – Important Concepts
• Physical Quantities, Dimensions, and Units
• Common Prefixes
• Dimensional Analysis
• Significant Figures
• Converting Units
• Your BA degree requires it.
• Physics is the foundation of every science.
(astronomy, biology, chemistry…).
• Many pieces of technology and/or medical equipment and
procedures are developed with the help of physicists.
• Studying physics will help you develop good thinking skills,
and problem-solving skills, and give you the background
needed to differentiate between science and pseudoscience.
Introduction
• Physics encompasses all natural phenomena.
• Physics is an experimental science in which physicists seek
patterns that relate to the phenomena of nature.
The patterns are called Physical Theories. A well-established or
widely used theory is called a Physical Law or Principle.
• Physics is the study of the fundamental laws of nature.
ü These laws can be expressed as mathematical equations.
ü Much complexity can arise from relatively simple laws.
Physical Quantities, Dimensions, and Units
• Physics is a quantitative science based on careful measurements.
• Dimensions are basic types of quantities that can be measured or
computed. Examples are Mass (M), Length (L), Time (T),
Pressure, Electric Current, and Temperature.
• Units are standard amount of dimensional
quantities. There is a need for a system of units.
SI units will be used throughout this class.
International System Imperial Units

(SI Units)
• Length: meter (m). • Length: foot (ft).
• Mass: Kilogram (Kg). • Mass: pound (lb).
• Time: second (s). • Time: second (s).
SI Units
• Length: The Meter
The distance traveled by light in a
vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second.
• Mass: the kilogram

One kilogram is the mass of a
particular platinum-iridium cylinder
kept at the International Bureau of
Weights and Standards, Sèvres,
France.
• Time: the second

One second is the time for radiation
from a cesium-133 atom to complete
9,192,631,770 oscillation cycles.
Common Prefixes
• Prefixes can be used to create
larger and smaller units for the
fundamental quantities.
• Some examples are:
Derived Dimensions and Units
• Volume: The amount of space occupied by a 3D object
Formula: Dimension:
SI Unit:
• Density: It is defined as the mass per unit volume

Formula: Dimension:
SI Unit:
• Average Speed: the total distance traveled

in a particular time interval.
Formula: Dimension:
SI Unit:
• Kinetic Energy: the energy of motion

Formula: Dimension:
SI Unit:
Dimensional Analysis
• Any valid physical formula must be dimensionally consistent—each term
must have the same dimensions
Dimensional Analysis Analysis with SI Units
D𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑×𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 D𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑×𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
Distance:
Dimensional Analysis
Analysis with SI Units

Example: Dimensional Analysis
• Based on dimensional analysis, which of the following equations is
most likely the volume of a right cone?
1) 4𝜋r2
2) 2𝜋rh
3) 4𝜋r2h2
4) (1/3)𝜋r2h
Significant Figures (sig. fig.)
1.23 𝑚
• The accuracy of measurements is limited.
The number of Sig. Figs. in a physical
quantity is equal to the number of digits that
are known with certainty (precision).
-------------- Rules ---------------------------------
Leading zeros are not significant.
0.0051 has 2 sig. figs.
Trailing zeros before a decimal point are not
significant.
128500 has 4 sig. figs.
Trailing zeros after a decimal point are
significant.
123500.00 has 8 sig. figs.
Scientific Notation in Significant Figures
• Scientific notation writes these as a number from 1–10 multiplied
by a power of 10, making the number of significant figures much
clearer:
2500 = 𝟐. 𝟓 × 10! , it has 2 sig fig.
2500 = 𝟐. 𝟓𝟎 × 10! , it has 3 sig fig.
0.000036 = 3.60 × 10"# , it has 3 sig fig.
0.000036 = 3.600× 10"# , it has 4 sig fig.

Example: Significant Figures
• How many significant figures are there in:
a) 0.0210
b) 5.060
c) 7.10×10"$
d) 1.0×10#
Arithmetic Operation with Sig. Fig.
x or / : the number of sig figs in the least-known quantity.
/0
D𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑×𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 2.51 × 12.27𝑠 = 30.7977cm
1
= 30.8 (3 sig figs)
3 sig figs 4 sig figs
+ or - : is equal to the smallest number of decimal places in any of the

individual terms
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑓𝑖𝑠ℎ1 + 𝑓𝑖𝑠ℎ2 10.7 𝑙𝑏 + 8.35 𝑙𝑏 = 19.05 lb

= 19.1 (1 decimal)
1 decimal 2 decimal (3 sig figs)
Example: Sig. Fig.
• Find 10.57 cm + 1205.1 cm to the correct number of significant
digits.
• A rectangle’s length = 20. cm, and width = 10.71 cm. Find the area
in cm2, with the correct number of significant digits.
Converting Units
• Converting:
96.3 𝑚 meters to feet or 316 𝑓𝑡 feet to meters
1 𝑚 = 3.281 𝑓𝑡
90 ;.=>9 ?@ ;.=>9 ?@ 90
= =1 = =1
90 90 ;.=>9 ?@ ;.=>9 ?@
3.281 𝑓𝑡 1𝑚
96.3 𝑚 × = 316 𝑓𝑡 316 𝑓𝑡 × = 96.3 𝑚
1𝑚 3.281 𝑓𝑡
Note that the units cancel properly—this is the key to using the
conversion factor correctly!
Examples: Conversion Units
• Convert 55.00 mph to km/s
(Conversion Factor: 1 mile = 1.609 km)

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Lecture 01

International System Imperial Units

• Mass: the kilogram

• Time: the second

• Density: It is defined as the mass per unit volume

• Average Speed: the total distance traveled

• Kinetic Energy: the energy of motion

Analysis with SI Units

2500 = 𝟐. 𝟓𝟎 × 10! , it has 3 sig fig.

0.000036 = 3.60 × 10"# , it has 3 sig fig.

0.000036 = 3.600× 10"# , it has 4 sig fig.

+ or - : is equal to the smallest number of decimal places in any of the

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑓𝑖𝑠ℎ1 + 𝑓𝑖𝑠ℎ2 10.7 𝑙𝑏 + 8.35 𝑙𝑏 = 19.05 lb

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