IBCP Physics

(SL)
Basic
Mathematics
Mathematics – Language of Physics

• Essential mathematical knowhow:

• Arithmetic
• Algebra
• Trigonometry
• Elementary Statistics
Mathematics – Language of Physics

•New concepts covered​

• Common functions and plots​
• Polynomials​
• Trigonometric and inverse trigonometric​functions.
• Exponential and logarithmic​functions
• Calculus​
• Analytical​
• Graphical​
• Vector Algebra​
Mathematics – Language of Physics

•New concepts covered​

• Common functions and plots​
• Polynomials​
• Trigonometric and inverse trigonometric​functions.
• Exponential and logarithmic​functions
• Calculus​
• Analytical​
• Graphical​
• Vector Algebra​
Functions
Functions
Polynomial Functions

Degree of a Polynomial Function

• The highest power of the variable
it is raised to.
• Determine the no. of roots.

• eg: f(x) = -7x3 + 6x2 + 11x – 19;

Degree = 3
Here,
•an, an-1, … a0 are real number constants
•an can’t be equal to zero and is called the leading
coefficient
•n is a non-negative integer
•Each exponent of variable in polynomial function
should be a whole number
Polynomial Function Graph
Trigonometric Functions and Identities
Trigonometric Fn. Values for Common Angles
Angle Representation – ° vs rad
Degrees Radians
• Common scale of planar angle • SI unit of planar angle measurement
measurement

• 360° = 1 complete rotation

𝜃
𝑟
Relation between Degrees and Radians
Trigonometric Functions and Identities
Pythagorean
Identities
Trigonometric Functions and Identities
Trigonometric Functions and Identities
ASTC Rule
Trigonometric Functions and Identities

Draw the following angles and predict the values of all the trigonometric functions for the angle.
90°
Eg:
1.
2𝜋
3
180 ° 0°

270°
 Trigonometric Functions as
sum/difference of multiples of or 90°

• If Examples:

• Sign of = Sign of for

• Value of
• n is odd, is the complementary function of

• n is even, is the same function as

Trigonometric Functions Graph
 Inverse Trigonomteric Functions

Eg. Given ,
then

1. , then
2. , then

Alternate notation:
 Exponential functions

The exponential function is a type of mathematical function which are helpful in finding the growth or decay

One of the popular exponential functions

where 'e' is "Euler's number" and e = 2.718...

How did Euler number come into being?

Exponential functions
Exponential graphs
Exponential graphs

Plot the following:

Base > 1 0<Base <1

Logarithmic function
Logarithmic Graph
Logarithmic Functions
Graphing Resources

1.GeoGebra Graphing
2.Desmos Graphing Calculator
Calculus

Differentiation Integration

Breakdown into Addition of the

parts parts
Calculus

Breakdown into Addition of the

parts parts
Calculus - Infinitesimals

Large
Pixels

• Which of the two paths of breakdown

and addition yields the picture back
better?
• Small pixels better than Large pixels.

Small
Pixels
Calculus - Infinitesimals

Large
Pixels

• For
becomesandbecomes
• and are infinitesimals: the smallest possible
change

Small
Pixels
Calculus - Derivatives

• If , then the derivative of y with respect to x means

“the rate of change of y with respect to x”.

( 𝚫 𝒙 = 𝒉)
Slope of the secant (line joining the
two points)
Differentiation and Derivative Formulae
Differentiate the following:

1.
7.
2.
8.
3.
4. 9.
5.
10.
is constant
11.
6.

is constant 12.
 Calculus - Integration

• If is a function, then the integral of gives the area

under the curve of the function mathematically
represented by

• This is called the indefinite integral.

• If the area is to be found with finite limits (eg. a and b),

it is called a definite integral.
Calculus – Integration as Antiderivative

• Opposite operation to differentiation

• Let , and

then

• Note: c is the constant of integration, added in indefinite integrals

Derivatives and Integrals in Physics (Examples)

• Speed (v) is rate of distance (x) covered with respect to time (t)

• Now distance (x) can be retrieved back as following:

• Note: c is the constant of integration, added in indefinite integrals

Integration Formulae

−1
Integrate the following:

7.
1.
2. 8.
3.
9.
4.
10.
5.
6.
Vectors
• Definition: Quantities requiring a magnitude and a unique direction to express
the complete information.
• Can be represented as , where can be a small alphabet/ capital alphabet or by
the ends of the vector, .
Vectors – Representation of Vector Unit Vector
• magnitudedirection • Unit Vector : Vector in the same direction
as the original vector ( in this case), but
with magnitude of one.

• Magnitude or: The length of the vector

representing the amount of quantity
represented.

⃗
𝒂
𝒂=|⃗
⃗ 𝒂| ^
𝒂⇒ ^
𝒂=
|⃗
𝒂|
 Vector Addition

Head to tail Tail to tail

connection method. connection method

𝜽
(Angle between vectors) 𝜽
always considered
between head to head or
tail to tail.

|𝑝⃗ + 𝑞⃗|=√ ¿ ⃗𝑝 ∨¿ +¿ ⃗𝑞 ∨¿ +2|⃗𝑝||⃗𝑞| cos ( 𝜃 ) ¿ ¿

2 2
Draw the resultant and calculate the
magnitude

90° 90°

60° 120°
Cartesian Representation of Vectors
• Cartesian System – XYZ coordinate system

(ax, ay, az)

• represents the position vector of point (ax, ay, az)

• ax along x direction ( unit vector)

• ay along y direction ( unit vector)

• az along z direction ( unit vector)

^
a⃗ =a x 𝒊+a ^𝒋+ a 𝒌^
y z

¿ a⃗ ∨¿ √ a x +a 𝒚 +a
𝟐 𝟐
z
𝟐
 Cartesian Addition of Vectors
• Cartesian System – XYZ coordinate system

If and

Then,

E.g. and What is ?

 Resolution of Vectors

Resolution: Breaking down a vector as a

combination of other vectors.

Here is expressed as a combination of

times and times
Rectangular Resolution of Vectors –
Vector Components

• Horizontal Component
Horizontal component lies along the x-axis. If the angle between the vector and the
horizontal axis is θ, then:
Horizontal Component = Magnitude of Vector × cos(θ)

• Vertical Component
Vertical component lies along the y-axis. If the angle between the vector and the
horizontal axis is θ, then:
Vertical Component = Magnitude of Vector × sin(θ)
Rectangular Resolution of
Vectors – Vector Components
Vectors can be easily resolved into its rectangular components and the
steps for the same are,
Step 1: Identify the Axes: Start by identifying the axes along which you want to
resolve. Typically, the axes are chosen to be perpendicular to each other, such
as horizontal and vertical axes.

Step 2: Determine the Angle: Determine the angle it makes with the axis.

Step 3: Use Trigonometry: If the angle between the vector and the
horizontal axis is θ:

•Horizontal Component = Magnitude of the vector × cos(θ)

•Vertical Component = Magnitude of the vector × sin(θ)

Cartesian Resolution of Vectors

• For , is resolved along the

cartesian coordinates. (ax, ay, az)

• ax is the x component
• ay is the y component
• az is the z component
 Resolve the following:

y y y

60°
45° 60°
x x x

y y y

120°
x’ x x x
Fin.