General

Physics # 108136 By Prof. Rashad Badran

INTRODUCTION
Physics and Measurement

Prepared By
Prof. Rashad Badran
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis
Section 1.3

Formula can be checked by dimensional analysis:

Dimensions of physical quantities must be consistent in an equation,

(i.e. the same on both sides of the equation)

Distance (d) = velocity(v) × time(t)

L.H.S of this equation: dimension of distance or [distance]=?

R.H.S of this equation: dimension of vt or [vt]=?

Here, if L.H.S=R.H.S, then the equation is dimensionally correct.

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis
Dimensions must be consistent

(i.e. the same on both sides of the equation)

Dimensions of t
d=vt is Time: T

Dimensions of d
is Length L Dimensions of v
is [v]=L/T
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis

Dimensions must be consistent

(i.e. the same on both sides of the equation)

[d] = [v t]
=[v][t]

L
__
L = T
T
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis

Dimensions must be consistent

(i.e. the same on both sides of the equation)

[d] = [v t]
=[v][t]
L
__
L = T
T
The equation is dimensionally correct because the dimensions of all terms on both sides of the equation are the same
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis
Example
Show whether the following equations are dimensionally correct or not:
(a) v  v  a t
f i x

and,
2 2
(b) v f  v
i
 2a ( x
x f
x )
i

where vf , vi , ax , xf – xi and t are final velocity, initial velocity,

acceleration, displacement and time, respectively.
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis
Solution:
(a) We need to check the dimension of each term on right-hand-side
(R.H.S.) and left-hand-side (L.H.S) of the equation
v v a t
f i x
L.H.S: [vf ] = L/T

R.H.S: Two terms [vi ] = L/T, AND, [ax t] = (L/T2)(T) = L/T

Thus, L.H.S = R.H.S, and the equation is dimensionally correct

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis
Solution:
(b) Again we need to check the dimension of each term on right-hand-
side (R.H.S.) and left-hand-side (L.H.S) of the equation
2 2
v  v  2a ( x  x )
f i x f i

L.H.S: [v2f ] = (L/T)2

R.H.S: Two terms  [v2i ] = (L/T)2, AND, [ax (xf - xi)] = (L/T2)(L) = (L/T)2

Thus, L.H.S = R.H.S, the equation is dimensionally correct

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis

Unknowns in a formula or equation can be found by

dimensional analysis:
(Here, at the first beginning L.H.S must be set equal to R.H.S)
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis
Example

Find the exponents n and m in the formula x  a nt m ,

where x is in meters a is in m/s2 and t is in seconds.
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis
Solution:
The given formula x  a nt m is only correct when R.H.S. = L.H.S.
On L.H.S. : [x]=L
On R.H.S.[antm]= (L/T2)n(T)m
Since L.H.S = R.H.S. L= (Ln/T2n)(T)m L=(Ln)(T-2n+m)
Equate the exponents of L on both sides of equation to get n=1.
Also equate the exponents of T on both sides of equation to get

the relation 0 = -2n+m . Thus m=2 and our relation is x  a t2

Note: This result represents the well-known equation of motion for a particle moving with
uniform acceleration if it starts from rest, namely, x = at2/2. Here, (1/2) is the constant of
proportionality which is dimensionless.
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis
Exercise
Find the exponents n and m in the formula a  r nv m ,
where a is the acceleration of a particle moving in a circle of radius r
with a constant speed v.

Answer: m = 2, n = -1
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis

Dimension or units of an unknown physical constant can be

found by dimensional analysis.
(L.H.S must be set at the beginning equal to R.H.S)
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis
Example
The gravitational force between two objects of masses M and
m separated by a distance r is known as the inverse square law
and is expressed by: F 
GMm
, where G is the proportionality
r2
constant. If the force F has the SI units of Kg. m/s2, what are the units of
G.
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis
Solution:
GMm
Since L.H.S = R.H.S of the equation F 
r2

 (Kg. m/s2)= [G] (Kg)(Kg)/(m2)

[G]=m3/Kg.s2
Or  [G]=L3/MT2 in terms of the standards L, M and T

Note: G is called the Universal Constant of Gravity.

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis
Exercise
Find the dimensions of the constants a, b and c in the
equation

x  a  bt  ct , where x is the position of a particle (in meters) and t

2 3

is the time (in seconds).

Answer: [a] = m, [b] = m/s2, [c]= m/s3

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis: Review

Objective Question

1. Does the dimensional analysis provide the numerical values of

constant that may exist in an algebraic expression?

Answer:

No it does not.
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis
Objective Question

2. Does the dimensional analysis provide the units of any

constant that may exist in any physical equation?

Answer:

Yes it does provide the units of any constant in any physical

equation .
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis
Objective Question

3. If an equation is dimensionally correct, does that mean the

equation is algebraically correct?

Answer:

No it does not mean that the equation is algebraically correct.

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis
Objective Question

4. If an equation is not dimensionally correct, does that mean

the equation cannot be true?

Answer:

Yes it means that the equation cannot be true.

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Dimensional Analysis
Objective Question

5. If the exponents of any physical variables can be obtained from

an equation, does that mean the equation must be dimensionally
correct?

Answer:

Yes, this means that the equation must be dimensionally correct.

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Unit Conversions: Problem-Solving Strategy

Section 1.4

5 kg = ? g
1- Start with the conversion factor: 1000 g = 1 kg

2- Form a unity out of it with the known unit in the denominator:

1 = 1000 g / 1 kg

3- Multiply the units by one:

5 kg *(1000 g /1 kg) = 5000 g

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Unit Conversion Example

The official world land speed record is 1228.0 km/h, set on October 15, 1997, by
Andy Green in the jet engine car Thrust SSC. Express this speed in meters per second.
Step 1: 1 km = 1000 m, 1 hour = 3600 second
Step 2: 1 = 1000m/km, 1 = 1 hour/3600 sec
Step 3: Multiply
1228 km/h * 1 * 1
= 1228 km/h *1000m/1km*1h/3600s
= 1228 * 1000m * 1/3600s
= 341.11 m/s
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Uncertainty (Errors)

What is the width of this room?

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Uncertainty (Errors)

What is the width of this room?

10 meters
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Uncertainty (Errors)

What is the width of this room?

10 meters

But it can be 10.2 meters or 9.8 meters.

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Uncertainty (Errors)

What is the width of this room?

10 meters

But it can be 10.2 meters or 9.8 meters.

We say:
width = 10 meters with an error of ±0.2 meters
±0.2 is called the error or the uncertainty.
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Uncertainty (Errors)
What is the width of this room?
w = 10 meters Δw = 0.2 meters.

Absolute error: Δw = 0.2 meters

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Uncertainty (Errors)
What is the width of this room?
w = 10 meters Δw = 0.2 meters.

Absolute error: Δw = 0.2 meters

Fractional error: Δw/w = 0.2/10 =0.02 (no units)

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Uncertainty (Errors)
What is the width of this class room?
w = 10 meters Δw = 0.2 meters.

Absolute error: Δw = 0.2 meters

Fractional error: Δw/w = 0.2/10 =0.02 (no units)

Percentage error: (Δw/w)*100%= 2% (no units)

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Significant Figures Section 1. 6

Using a ruler, measure the length of the book.

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Significant Figures

Using a ruler, measure the length of the book.

L = 25.3 cm

There is no doubt about the first digit (2)

 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Significant Figures

Using a ruler, measure the length of the book.

L = 25.3 cm

There is no doubt about the first digit (2)

There is no doubt about the second digit (5)
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Significant Figures

Using a ruler, measure the length of the book.

L = 25.3 cm

There is no doubt about the first digit (2)

There is no doubt about the second digit (5)
The third digit can be different but not totally
wrong
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Significant Figures

Using a ruler, measure the length of the book.

L = 25.3 cm

There is no doubt about the first digit (2)

There is no doubt about the second digit (5)
The third digit can be different but not totally
wrong
 three significant digits
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Significant Figures
What is the distance between Amman and Irbid?
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Significant Figures
What is the distance between Amman and Irbid?

92.21 km
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Significant Figures
What is the distance between Amman and Irbid?

Significant

92.21 km
Significant
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Significant Figures
What is the distance between Amman and Irbid?

Significant

92.21 km
There is some error in this
figure but within the value
Significant  significant
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Significant Figures
What is the distance between Amman and Irbid?

92.21 km
There is some error in this
Significant figure but within the value
 significant
 By Prof. Rashad Badran

Significant Figures
What is the distance between Amman and Irbid?

There are three significant figures in this number.

92.2 km
Notes: (1) The number of significant figures in the final answer of the product or division of
different quantities is the same as that in the quantity having the smallest number of significant
figures.
(2) The number of decimal places in the final answer of addition or subtraction is equal to the
smallest number of decimal places of any term in the process of addition or subtraction