TOPIC 1

PHYSICAL QUANTITIES
AND MEASUREMENTS
1.1 Dimensions of Physical Quantities
1.2 Scalars and Vectors
1.3 Significant figures and uncertainties
analysis (Laboratory works)
MODE Face to face Non face to face
SLT SLT
Lecture 1 1

Tutorial 3.5 3.5

PHYSICS UNIT
KOLEJ MATRIKULASI SELANGOR
1
 Learning outcomes
At the end of this topic, students should be able to:

1.1 Dimensions of physical quantities

a) Define dimension.
b) Determine the dimensions of derived quantities.
c) Verify the homogeneity of equations using dimensional
analysis

2
 Learning outcomes
At the end of this topic, students should be able to:

1.2 Scalars and vectors

a) Define scalar and vector quantities.
b) Resolve vector into two perpendicular components
(x and y axes)
c) Determine resultant of vectors (remarks: limit to
three vectors only)

3
 1.1 DIMENSIONS OF PHYSICAL QUANTITIES
Basic Symbol of Dimension SI unit /
Dimension is defined Quantity dimension symbol
as a method used to
describe a physical Length [l] L meter / m
quantity in terms of
its basic quantity Mass [m] M kilogram /
regardless of the kg
system of units used. Time [t] T second / s
Electric [I] A ampere /
Can be written as: current A
Temperature [T] θ kelvin / K
[physical quantity or its
Amount of [n] N mole / mol
symbol]
substance, n
Example: Luminous [𝐼𝑣 ] J candela /
[length] = L intensity cd
[mass] = M
[time] = T Table 1: Dimension of basic quantities.

4
 Physical Quantities Equation Dimension SI unit
Area 𝐴=𝑙×𝑤 L × L = L2 m2
𝑚 M
kg m‒3
Density 𝜌= = ML−3
𝑉 L3

Momentum 𝑝 = 𝑚𝑣 MLT −1 kg m s‒1

𝑠 L
m s‒1
Velocity 𝑣= = LT −1
𝑡 T

Acceleration 𝑣 L T−1 m s‒2

𝑎= = LT −2
𝑡 T

Force 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 M L T −2 kg m s‒2 (N)

Pressure 𝐹 M L T−2 kg m‒1 s‒2 (Pa)
𝑝= = M L−1T −2
L2
𝐴
Work 𝑊 = 𝐹𝑠 M L T −2(L) kg m2 s‒2 (J)
= M L2T −2
Power 𝑊 M L2 T−2 kg m2 s‒3 (W)
𝑃= = M L2T −3
𝑡 T

Moment of inertia 𝐼 = 𝑚𝑟 2 ML2 kg m2

Torque 𝜏 = Force × distance M L T −2(L) kg m2 s‒2

= M L2 T −2
Frequency 1 1 s‒1
𝑓= = T −1
period T 5
 Important! Things to take note..
o Pure numerical factors/number like ½ , ¾, π have no dimensions.
o Quantities can be added or subtracted ONLY if they have the same
dimensions.

o Dimension analysis can be used to derive or check equations by

treating dimensions as algebraic quantities.
o Dimensional homogeneity: the dimensions of each equation on both
sides are equal.
Dimension of left hand side (LHS) = Dimension of right hand side (RHS)
6
 EXERCISE 1.1.1

Question 1 Question 2

Which one of the following

What is the dimension for is a dimensionless
temperature? quantity?
A. K A. mass
B. °C B. weight
C. T C. refractive index
D. θ D. force

Answer : D Answer : C

7
 EXAMPLE 1.1.1

Let consider equation, 𝒗 = 𝟐𝒈𝑯 where 𝑣 is velocity, 𝑔 is acceleration

and 𝐻 is height.

Solution:

[𝒔]
Dimension of LHS 𝒗 = = L T ‒1
[𝒕]
𝐿 𝐿2 𝐿
Dimension of RHS [ 𝟐𝒈𝑯] = ×𝐿= = = L T ‒1
𝑇2 𝑇2 𝑇

Dimension of LHS = Dimension of RHS

∴ equation 𝒗 = 𝟐𝒈𝑯 is dimensionally homogenous.

8
EXAMPLE 1.1.2

9
 SOLUTION 1.1.2

a) dimension

b) unit

10
 EXAMPLE 1.1.3

1
Given a) 𝑥 = 𝑣𝑡
2
Where
𝑥 ∶ 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
1
b) 𝑥 = 𝑣𝑡 2 𝑣 ∶ 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑
2 𝑡 ∶ 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

Which one is the correct equation?

11
 SOLUTION 1.1.3

a)

RHS:
LHS: 1 𝐿
[2] v 𝑡 = (1)(𝑇)𝑇
[x] = L
=L
( Write dimension to both sides )
L =L
LHS = RHS

Both sides have same dimension, means the equation

is homogeneous or dimensionally correct.

12
 SOLUTION 1.1.3

b)

LHS: RHS:
1 𝐿
[x] = L [2] v 𝑡 2 = (1)(𝑇)𝑇 2
= LT
(Write dimension to both sides)
L = LT
LHS = RHS

Both sides have different dimension, means the equation is

not homogeneous or dimensionally incorrect.

13
EXERCISE 1.1.2

14
(a): SOLUTION EXERCISE 1.1.2

LHS = RHS

The equation is dimensionally INCORRECT.

(b) Try it by yourself.

(c) Try it by yourself.
15
1.2 SCALARS AND VECTORS

Physical Quantities

Scalar quantities Vector quantities

o Is defined as quantity o Is defined as quantity

with magnitude only. with both magnitude
and direction.

o Example: o Example:
mass, distance, speed, displacement, velocity, force,
work, pressure, current, momentum, impulse, torque,
temperature, area, electric field, magnetic field.
volume, time.
16
 Resolving a vector into 2 perpendicular components
For the comp. which
is adjacent to angle
Use trigonometry:
θ, we use cos

y
Vertical

Magnitude of vector A
hyp A : For the
opp comp. which
is opposite
Direction of vector A to angle θ,
θ : we use sin
x
adj Ax Horizontal
* θ is measured relative to +x axis.

17
 VECTOR ANALYSIS : Determine resultant vector
Flow map : Problem solving strategy (using components to add
vectors and determine Resultant vector)

❶ Resolve each ❷ Add comp. ❸ Calculate the ❹Calculate the ❺ Visualize the total
x
vector(s) into its x and y separately magnitude of component for x and
direction of
& y component resultant y, resultant vector and
+
resultant vector
Denotes STRICTLY DO NOT vector : the direction.
add 𝑥 components :θ is measured 𝑅𝑦
with + or − 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1
+ to 𝑦 components | R |= Rx 2 + Ry 2 relative to x axis. 𝑅𝑥
− signs. −

𝑅𝑦 = 90.06
❶ Comp 𝒙 Comp 𝒚
𝑅
❸
55𝑠𝑖𝑛 30 𝐹Ԧ −60 𝑐𝑜𝑠45 60 𝑠𝑖𝑛45
𝐹Ԧ = 60 N −42.43 N 42.43 N 𝑅 = 𝑅𝑥 2 + 𝑅𝑦 2 𝜃
55𝑐𝑜𝑠30

𝑃 55 𝑠𝑖𝑛30 55 𝑐𝑜𝑠30 = (−14.93) 2+(90.06)2

+60𝑠𝑖𝑛45

𝑃 = 55 N 27.5 47.63 N 𝑅𝑥 = −14.93

𝑹 = 𝟗𝟏. 𝟐𝟗 N ❹
❷ 𝑅 −𝟏𝟒. 𝟗𝟑 N 𝟗𝟎. 𝟎𝟔 N
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1
𝑅𝑦
−60𝑐𝑜𝑠45 𝑅𝑥
90.06
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 −1
−14.93

𝜽 = −𝟖𝟎. 𝟔°
18
above −𝒙 𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐬
 EXERCISE 1.2.1
Question 1 Question 2

State the x component of Which one of the following

the following vector in the is a scalar quantity?
xy plane y
𝐹Ԧ = 10 N
A. pressure
B. momentum
θ =45° C. torque
x
D. force
A. 10 sin 45°
B. 10 cos 45°
C. -10 sin 45°
D. -10 cos 45°

Answer : B Answer : A
19
 EXAMPLE 1.2.1
y

O
x
60o

Figure 1.1
The figure above shows three forces F1, F2 and F3 acted on a
particle O. Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant
force on particle O.

20
 SOLUTION 1.2.1

Vector x-component (N) y-component (N)

𝐹1 −10
0

𝐹2 −30 cos 60° = −15 30 sin 60° = 26

𝐹3 40
0
Vector
sum ෍ 𝐹𝑥 = 0 + −15 + 40 = 25 ෍ 𝐹𝑦 = −10 + 26 + 0 = 16

21
 SOLUTION 1.2.1
The magnitude of the resultant force (𝐹𝑟) is

y
And its direction is:

Fr
32.6o
x
O

θ = 32.6° from positive x-axis

22
 EXERCISE 1.2.2

1. Vector A points in the negative x direction. Vector B points at

an angle of 30° above the positive x axis. Vector C has a
magnitude of 15 m and points in a direction 40° below the
positive x axis. Given that A + B + C = 0, determine the
magnitudes of A, B and C.
(Walker,pg.78,no. 65)
[ANS. : 28 m; 19 m]

23
 EXERCISE 1.2.2

2. Given three vectors P, Q and R as shown in Figure 1.2.

Calculate the resultant vector of P, Q and R.

Figure 1.2

[ANS. : 49.4 m s−2; 70.1° above + x-axis]

24