Introduction To Physics1

1.
1
UNDERSTANDING PHYSICS
What is physics?
Physics is a branch of science which
studies physical and natural phenomena
around us.
Observe the following things :
 Lightning
 Tsunami
 Mobile phones
 Emails
Fields of study in Physics
Heat
Sound
Electricity and magnetism
Light
Atomic
Nuclear physics
• Scientist
Research
•Professor
•astronaut
Engineering
Education
• Mechanical
• Lecturer
• Electrical
CAREERS IN • Teacher
• Computer
PHYSICS • Education officer
• Environmental engineers
Industry Medicine
• Geophysician • Radiologist
• Quality control engineer • Forensic expert
• technician
• Medical physician
1.2
Understanding Base Quantities and
Derived Quantities
Physical quantities Non-physical
quantities
A quantity that is measurable Quantities which cannot be
measured
Based quantities and derived -

quantities
Examples: Examples:
Mass, time, temperature. Beauty, feeling.
Length, l = 20 m unit -
Physical Numerical
quantities value
Base Quantities
Base quantities are physical quantities
that cannot be defined in terms of other
quantities.
Five base quantities
1. Length
2. Mass
3. Time
4. Electric current
5. temperature
Base quantities and SI units
Base quantity SI units
Name Symbol Name Symbol
Length l Metre m
Mass m Kilogram kg
Time t Second s
Electric current I Ampere A
Temperature T Kelvin K
Derived Quantities
physical quantities derived by combining
base quantities through multiplication or
division or both
Derived quantities and units
Derived quantity Symbol Formula Derived units
Area A Length x breadth m2
Volume V Length x breadth x height m3
Velocity v Displacement m s-1

Time
Acceleration a Velocity m s-2

Time
Force F Mass x Acceleration kg m s-2
Density  Mass kg m-3

Volume
Scientific notation / standard form
Isused for expressing very large and very
small numbers
General form :-
A x 10 N
 Where 1  A < 10 and N is a positive/negative
integer
Example:-
1. 0.00000051m = 5.1 x 10-7 m
2. 3000000 m s-1 = 3.0 x 106 m s-1
Prefix
Prefixes are used to represent physical
quantities which are very big or very
small in SI unit.
Example:
 2000m can be written as 2.0 km
 3cm can be written as 0.03m or 3x10-2 m
Prefix Factor Symbol
Tera 1012 T
Giga 109 G
Mega 106 M
Kilo 103 k
Hecto 102 h
Deca 10 da
Deci 10-1 d
Centi 10-2 c
Milli 10-3 m
Micro 10-6 
Nano 10-9 n
Pico 10-12 p
CONVERSION OF UNITS
Example 1
convert 512 000 g to kilogram (kg) and
write answer in standard form
Solution:
1 kg = 1x103 g  1g = 1x10-3 kg
512 000 g = 512 000 x 10-3 kg
= 512 kg
Standard form  5.12 x 102 kg
Example 2
convert 102.3 MHz to Hz and write answer
in standard form
Solution:
1MHz = 1x106 Hz
102.3 MHz = 102.3 x 106 Hz
Standard form  = 1.023 x 102 x 106 Hz
= 1.023 x 108Hz
Example 3
1.05 g cm-3 = __________ kg m-3
Solution:
1kg = 1x103 g  1g = 1x10-3 kg
1cm = 1x10-2 m  1cm-3 = 1x106 m-3
1.05 g cm-3 =1.05 x 10-3 kg x 106 m-3
= 1.05 x 103 kg m-3
Example 4
20 km h-1 = ___________m s-1
Solution:
1km = 1x103 m
1h = 3600s
20 km
20 km h-1 =
h
20 103 m
= = 0.0056 x 103 m s-1
3600 s
Standard form  5.6 m s-1

Exercise 1
Express the following measurement in the
unit specified
1. 15 m s-1 = _____________ km h-1
2. 643 mg = ___________kg
3. 3.86 Ms = ___________ ds
4. 6.37 km = ___________ m
5. 40 cm2 = ____________ m2
Exercise 2
Identify
the smallest and the largest
measurements from the following
-2
2.42 x 10 cm
2.42 x 1010 μm
3
2.42 x 10 km
2.42 x 108 nm
1.3
Understanding scalar and vector
quantities
Scalar and vector quantities
Scalar quantities Vector quantities
a physical quantity which a physical quantity which

has only magnitude has both magnitude and
direction
examples: examples:
length, speed, time, density, force, acceleration, velocity
temperature
adding scalar using simple adding vector using

addition graphical method
Example 1
An object is displaced 8 m to the east followed by another
displacement of 10 m northwest. What is total distance
and the displacement of the object?
N
E W
S
Example 2
Which of the following is a scalar
quantity?
A Speed
B Momentum
C Acceleration
D Force
1.4
Understanding measurements
Learning outcomes:
1.Measure physical quantities using appropriate
instruments
2.Explain accuracy and consistency
3.Explain types of experimental error
4.Use appropriate techniques to reduce errors
Measurements
Physics is a science which involves
measurements of various physical
quantities
Measure physical quantities using
appropriate instrument such as:-
1. A measuring tape
2. A metre rule
3. A vernier callipers
4. A micrometer screw gauge
1. Measuring tape
Measuring long distance such as length
and width of classroom
Has an accuracy of 1 cm
2. Metre Rule
Measure length from a few cm up to 1 m
Has an accuracy of 0.1 cm ( 1mm)
Precaution:-
1. Avoid parallax errors
2. Avoid end errors
3. Vernier Callipers
 Measure an object with dimensions up to 12.00 cm
 Has an accuracy of 0.01 cm
 To measure the internal or external diameter
3. Vernier Callipers
 Main scale – 5.3 cm
 Vernier scale – 0.07 cm
 Vernier scale reading = main scale + vernier scale
= 5.3 cm + 0.07 cm
= 5.37 cm
4. Micrometer Screw Gauge
 Measure small length between 0.10 mm and 25.00 mm
 Measures the diameter and thickness
 Has an accuracy of 0.01 mm
4. Micrometer Screw Gauge
 Mainscale (sleeve) = 2.50 mm
 Thimble scale = 0.09 mm
 MSG reading = main scale + thimble scale
= 2.50 mm + 0.09 mm
= 2.59 mm
mm

Introduction To Physics1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introduction To Physics1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introduction To Physics1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

1.

Based quantities and derived -

Electric current I Ampere A

Area A Length x breadth m2

Volume V Length x breadth x height m3

Velocity v Displacement m s-1

Acceleration a Velocity m s-2

Force F Mass x Acceleration kg m s-2

Density  Mass kg m-3

Standard form  5.6 m s-1

a physical quantity which a physical quantity which

adding scalar using simple adding vector using

You might also like