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Welcome To Physics 101

The document provides an introduction to physics 101 including key themes like conceptual understanding, problem solving skills, and the quantitative nature of physics. It discusses scalars and vectors, how to add and subtract vectors graphically and analytically using components, and examples of vector operations like multiplying a vector by a scalar and finding vector components.

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Sherena Peter Govind
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
85 views

Welcome To Physics 101

The document provides an introduction to physics 101 including key themes like conceptual understanding, problem solving skills, and the quantitative nature of physics. It discusses scalars and vectors, how to add and subtract vectors graphically and analytically using components, and examples of vector operations like multiplying a vector by a scalar and finding vector components.

Uploaded by

Sherena Peter Govind
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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WELCOME TO PHYSICS 101 Introduction to Physics 1 !

Class Themes
Learning to think and reason about the physical world

- Conceptual Understanding - Make connections with real-world applications Build a physical intuition Problem-Solving skills This course is not about memorization or mindless use of mathematics we will use math to think about relationships between quantities. This is a course that is very different from high school physics.

What is Physics all about ?


Provides a quantitative understanding of physical phenomena in our universe Based on experimental observations and mathematical analysis Used to develop theories that explain the phenomena being studied and relate to other established theories Experiments refine our theories about our universe

To be quantitative.
Need standards of measurement for different physical quantities Use SI System for measuring a. length 1 meter = distance travelled by light in vacuum in a certain fraction of second. b. mass 1 kilogram = mass of a cylinder kept in Intl Bureau of Weights/Standards c. time 1 second = a certain # times the period of radiation oscillation of a cesium atom

Scalars vs. Vectors


Scalar - a physical quantity that is specified by a positive or negative number with a unit. Ex. Temperature, Volume, Mass, Time, Energy
Rules of ordinary arithmetic are used to manipulate scalar quantities

Vector - is a physical quantity that must be described by a magnitude (number) and unit, plus a direction.

Example of a Vector
A particle travels from A to B along the path shown by the dotted red line
This is the distance traveled and is a scalar

The displacement is the solid line from A to B


The displacement is independent of the path taken between the two points Displacement is a vector

Other vectors: velocity, acceleration, force, momentum

Vectors: Notation and Properties


r When handwritten, use an arrow: A r When printed A r Magnitude | A |

Equality of Two Vectors


Two vectors are equal if they have the same magnitude and the same direction All of the vectors shown are equal

Adding Vectors
When adding vectors, their directions must be taken into account Units must be the same (cant add velocity and acceleration vectors)

Two Methods:
1. Graphical Method
- use scale drawings

2. Component or Analytical Method


- more convenient

Adding Vectors Graphically


Establish a scale and coordinate system Draw vectors to be added tip to tail. Measure the resultant R and its direction, relative to A or B

Or Use Trigonometry (Sine and Cosine Laws)

Adding Multiple Vectors Tip-to-tail Method is Repeated

Note: Vector Addition is Commutative A+B=B+A (Ordering doesnt matter)

Subtracting Vectors
Negative of a vector reverses the vectors direction Continue with standard vector addition procedure

Multiplying/Dividing a Vector by a Scalar


The result is a vector, scaled by the scalar factor Negative scalar multiplication reverses direction.

A 2A

-A

Dot/Scalar and Vector Cross Products very important vector multiplcation will be studied in future chapters

Components of a Vector
Rectangular components
projections of the vector along the x- and y-axes

A vector A can be represented as the sum of its components Ax and Ay .

A = Ax + Ay

Ax = A cos
A = A +A
2 x 2 y

Ay = A sin
and = tan
1

Ay Ax

One can further simplify this with the use of unit vectors.

Unit Vectors
A unit vector is a dimensionless vector with a magnitude of exactly 1. Unit vectors are used to specify a direction

i , j, and k
provide the basis for representing any vector

in the space.

Unit Vectors why use them ?


The symbols

represent unit vectors in the x, y and z directions They form a set of mutually perpendicular vectors

i , j, and k

Unit Vectors in Vector Notation


r i A x is the same as Ax r

A y is the same as Ay j etc.

The complete vector can be expressed as

r A = A x i + A y j + A zk

Adding Vectors Using Unit Vectors


Since Then

r r r R = A +B

r R = (A x i + A y j) + (B x i + By j) r R = (A x + B x ) i + (A y + B y ) j

Then Rx = Ax + Bx and Ry = Ay + By
R = R +R
2 x 2 y

Ry = tan Rx
1

Adding Vectors with Unit Vectors

Adding Vectors Using Unit Vectors Three Directions


Using

r r r R = A +B

Rx = Ax + Bx , Ry = Ay + By and Rz = Az + Bz

R = R +R +R
2 x 2 y

2 z

R xetc. x = tan R
1

Lecture Problem 1-8


Suppose your hair grows at the rate 1/32 inch per day. Find the rate at which it grows in nanometers (nm) per second. Because the distance between atoms in a molecule is on the order of 0.1nm, your answer suggests how rapidly layers of atoms are assembled in this protein synthesis.

Hair 50x

400x 400x

Lecture Problem 1-8


Suppose your hair grows at the rate 1/32 inch per day. Find the rate at which it grows in nanometers (nm) per second. Because the distance between atoms in a molecule is on the order of 0.1nm, your answer suggests how rapidly layers of atoms are assembled in this protein synthesis.

Hair 50x

400x 400x

(1/32) inch/day x .0254 m/inch x 109 nm/m x 1 day/24 hr x 1 hr/60 min x 1 min/60 sec

9.2 nm/s ~ 90 layers of atoms/second

Lecture Problem 1-45


Consider the two vectors: A = 3i 2j and B = -i 4j. Calculate a. A + B b. A B c. |A + B| d. |A B| e. the directions of A + B, A - B

Lecture Problem 1-45


Consider the two vectors: A = 3i 2j and B = -i 4j. Calculate a. A + B b. A B c. |A + B| d. |A B| e. the directions of A + B, A - B

Solution: a. A + B = 3i 2j + -i 4j = 2i 6j b A B = 3i 2j ( -i 4j) = 4i + 2j c. |A + B| = (22 + 62) = 6.32 d. |A B| = (42 + 22) = 4.47 e. direction of A + B: tan = -6/2 = -71.6 = 288 direction of A B: tan = 2/4 = 26.6 Question: What to do if there are 3 vectors to add or subtract ?

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