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Physics and Measurments_Lect.1

The document outlines the fundamental concepts of physics and measurements, focusing on physical quantities, SI units, and the distinction between scalars and vectors. It explains the classification of physical quantities into base and derived quantities, along with their respective units and prefixes for large or small values. Additionally, it covers methods for adding vectors both arithmetically and graphically using the parallelogram law.

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7 views28 pages

Physics and Measurments_Lect.1

The document outlines the fundamental concepts of physics and measurements, focusing on physical quantities, SI units, and the distinction between scalars and vectors. It explains the classification of physical quantities into base and derived quantities, along with their respective units and prefixes for large or small values. Additionally, it covers methods for adding vectors both arithmetically and graphically using the parallelogram law.

Uploaded by

zhpcjs4bgq
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physics and Measurements

Learning outcomes
• Understand that physical quantities have
numerical magnitude and a unit
• Recall base quantities and use prefixes
• Show an understanding of orders of magnitude
• Understand scalar and vector quantities
• Determine resultant vector by graphical method
1.1 Physical Quantities
Quantitative versus qualitative
• Most observation in physics are quantitative
• Descriptive observations (or qualitative) are usually imprecise
Qualitative Observations Quantitative Observations
How do you measure What can be measured with the
artistic beauty? instruments on an aeroplane?
1.1 Physical Quantities

• A physical quantity is one that can be measured


and consists of a magnitude and unit.
Measuring length

70 4.5 m
km/h

SI units Vehicles
Not
are
Exceeding
common 1500 kg In
today Unladen
Weight
1.1 Physical Quantities

Are classified into two types:


• Base quantities
• Derived quantities Derived quantity is like
Base quantity the house that was
is like the brick – the build up from a collection
basic building block of of bricks (basic quantity)
a house
1.2 SI Units

• SI Units – International System of Units

Base Quantities Name of Unit Symbol of Unit


length metre m
mass kilogram kg
time second s
electric current ampere A
temperature kelvin K
amount of substance mole mol
luminous intensity candela cd
1.2 SI Units

This Platinum Iridium


cylinder is the standard
kilogram.
1.2 SI Units
olume
area v
density speed

n
o

e
c
t

r
i

l
Word Splash

force
Pressure
1.2 SI Units

• Example of derived quantity: area


Defining equation: area = length × width
In terms of units: Units of area = m × m = m2
Defining equation: volume = length × width × height
In terms of units: Units of volume = m × m × m = m3
Defining equation: density = mass ÷ volume
In terms of units: Units of density = kg / m3 = kg m−3
1.2 SI Units

• Work out the derived quantities for:


distance
Defining equation: speed = time
In terms of units: Units of speed =
velocity
Defining equation: acceleration = time
In terms of units: Units of acceleration =
Defining equation: force = mass × acceleration
In terms of units: Units of force =
1.2 SI Units

• Work out the derived quantities for:


Force
Defining equation: Pressure =
Area
In terms of units: Units of pressure =
Defining equation: Work = Force × Displacement
In terms of units: Units of work =
Work done
Defining equation: Power = Time
In terms of units: Units of power =
1.2 SI Units
Derived Relation with Base and Special
Unit
Quantity Derived Quantities Name
area length × width
volume length × width ×
height
density mass  volume
speed distance  time
acceleration change in velocity 
time
force mass × acceleration newton
(N)
pressure force  area pascal
(Pa)
work force × distance joule (J)
power work  time watt (W)
1.3 Prefixes

• Prefixes simplify the writing of very large or very


small quantities
Prefix Abbreviation Power
nano n 10−9
micro  10−6
milli m 10−3
centi c 10−2
deci d 10−1
kilo k 103
mega M 106
giga G 109
1.3 Prefixes

• Alternative writing method


• Using standard form
• N × 10n where 1  N < 10 and n is an integer

This galaxy is about 2.5 × 106 The diameter of this atom


light years from the Earth. is about 1 × 10−10 m.
1. A physical quantity is a quantity that can be
measured and consists of a numerical magnitude
and a unit.
2. The physical quantities can be classified into
base quantities and derived quantities.
3. There are seven base quantities: length, mass,
time, current, temperature, amount of
substance and luminous intensity.
4. The SI units for length, mass and time are metre,
kilogram and second respectively.
5. Prefixes are used to denote very big or very small
numbers.
1.4 Scalars and Vectors

• Scalar quantities are quantities that have


magnitude only. Two examples are shown below:

Measuring Mass Measuring Temperature


1.4 Scalars and Vectors

• Scalar quantities are added or subtracted by using


simple arithmetic.
Example: 4 kg plus 6 kg gives the answer 10 kg

6 kg
4 kg

+ =
10 kg
1.4 Scalars and Vectors

• Vector quantities are quantities that have both


magnitude and direction

Arrgh
A Force
Magnitude = 100 N
Direction = Left
1.4 Scalars and Vectors

• Examples of scalars and vectors

Scalars Vectors
distance displacement
speed velocity
mass weight
time acceleration
pressure force
energy momentum
volume
density
1.4 Scalars and Vectors
Adding Vectors using Graphical Method
• Parallel vectors can be added arithmetically

4N
6N 4N
2N

2N 2N
1.4 Scalars and Vectors
Adding Vectors using Graphical Method
• Non-parallel vectors are added by graphical
means using the parallelogram law
– Vectors can be represented graphically by arrows

5.0 cm  20.0 N
Direction = right
– The length of the arrow represents the magnitude of the
vector
– The direction of the arrow represents the direction of the
vector
– The magnitude and direction of the resultant vector can be
found using an accurate scale drawing
1.4 Scalars and Vectors

• The parallelogram law of vector addition states


that if two vectors acting at a point are
represented by the sides of a parallelogram
drawn from that point, their resultant is
represented by the diagonal which passes through
that point of the parallelogram
1.4 Scalars and Vectors
Another method of Adding Vectors
• To add vectors A and B
– place the starting point of B at the ending point of A
– The vector sum or resultant R is the vector joining the
starting point of vector A to the ending point of B
– Conversely, R can also be obtained by placing the
starting point of A at the ending point of B
– Now the resultant is represented by the vector joining
the starting point of B to the ending point of A
• See next slide
1.4 Scalars and Vectors

B
A

A
B
1. Scalar quantities are quantities that only have
magnitudes
2. Vector quantities are quantities that have both
magnitude and direction
3. Parallel vectors can be added arithmetically
4. Non-parallel vectors are added by graphical
means using the parallelogram law
END

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