UNITS, PHYSICAL QUANTITIES AND VECTORS

Unit Consistency and Conversion of Units

Units can be multiplied and/or divided just like ordinary algebraic expressions. This gives an
easy way to convert a quantity from one unit to another.

Examples:
𝑟𝑒𝑣 𝑟𝑎𝑑
a) To convert 6 to
𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑛
Conversion factor to be used: 1 rev= 2rad; 1min=60s

rev  2rad   60s  rad

6 x x   = 2269.15
s  1rev   1min  min

𝑘𝑔 𝑔
b) To convert 50 to
𝑚3 𝑐𝑚3
Conversion factor to be used: 1 kg = 1000 g; 1m = 100cm

3 3
kg g  1m  kg g 1m g
50 x 1000 x  = 50 x 1000 x = 0.05
m
3 kg  100cm  m
3 kg 1,000,000cm 3
cm
3

m
c) x = vt where v=5 and 𝑡 = 20𝑚𝑖𝑛
s
If x is measured in meters, then the product vt must also be expressed in meters. To
solve, first convert the unit of t from minutes to seconds using the conversion factor
1min=60s. Then multiply to the value of v.
s
20 min x 60 = 1200s
min
m
x= 5 x 1200s = 6000m
s

The Scientific Notation

Physical quantities vary from very large numbers to very small numbers. A more convenient
and compact way of writing these values uses scientific notation wherein one can determine the
number of significant digits immediately as well as the place value of the digit. Prefixes are used to
denote these place values. See Appendix B for the standard SI prefixes.

Format: C.MMMMM x 10e

where:
C – the characteristic digit, may be any digit from 1 to 9
M – the mantissa digits, may be any digit from 0 to 9
10 – the base,
e – the exponent, the number of times the decimal is moved to either towards left
or right.

Rule 1: Positive exponent results when the decimal point is moved from right to left direction.

Example: 98067.5321 = 9.80675321 x 104 = 9.81 x 104

Rule 2: Negative exponent results when the decimal point is moved from left to right direction.
 Example: 0.000980675321 = 9.80675321 x 10-4 = 9.81 x 10 -4

Significant Figures

The number of significant figures is the number of digits about which we have some degree of
certainty. It is a measure of the degree of reliability of a certain measurement.

Some of the rules in determining the Number of Significant Figures:

1. All nonzero digits are significant.

Example: 3.1416 → 5 significant figure

2. All zeros between nonzero digits are significant.

Example: 5.0046 → 5 significant figures

3. All zeros before the first nonzero digit are not significant

Example: 0.0001 → 1 significant figure

4. All zeros to the right of the last nonzero digit are significant.

Example: 77.800 → 5 significant figure

In adding or subtracting quantities, the number of decimal places in the answer should be the
same as the least number of decimal places in any of the numbers being added or subtracted.

Example:
5.67 m (two decimal places)
+ 1.1 m (one decimal place) – least number of decimal places
+ 0.9378 m (four decimal places)
7.7 m (one decimal place)

In multiplication and division, the number of significant figures in the answer is the same as the
number of significant figures in the input number that has the fewest.

Example:

11.63cm (4 significant figures)

x 5.74cm (3 significant figures) – least number of S.F.
66.8cm2 (3 significant figures)

Scalar and Vector Quantities

Scalar Quantity – a physical quantity that is completely described by its magnitude only; hence, it can
be operated ordinarily using the four fundamental arithmetic operations.

Vector Quantity – a physical quantity that is completely described by a magnitude and direction
– denoted usually by an alphabet with arrow over it to indicate its direction.

Example: A
– graphically represented by scaled line with an arrow at the
tip and a label:
Methods of Adding Vector Quantities :


Resultant, R - total or vector sum of two or more vectors.
   
R = A + B + C + ...

1. Graphical Method:

Magnitude of R is measured using ruler.

Direction of R is measured using protractor.
Types:

a. Parallelogram Method – a line is drawn parallel to the given

vector whose length is equal to the vector. The resultant
vector is drawn from the origin to the tip of the intersection
of the parallel lines and the resultant direction is measured
from the horizontal.

b. Polygon Method – head-to-tail connection of vectors and the

resultant is connected from the tail of the first vector to the head of
the last vector added. It is more convenient to use when adding more
than two vectors.

2. Analytical Method

a. Law of Cosine and Sine Method - requires basic Trigonometry

knowledge in adding two vectors

• Magnitude of R is obtained using Law of Cosine:

R = A2 + B 2 − 2 AB cos
 
where,  is the angle between A & B

• Direction of R is obtained using Law of Sine:

sin  R sin   B sin  

=  R = sin −1  
B R  R 
For special case when two vectors are perpendicular to each other:

Magnitude of R is obtained using Pythagorean Theorem,
R 2 = A 2 + B 2 ---> R = A2 + B 2

Direction of R is obtained using
B
 R = tan −1  
 A
 b. Component Method – each vector is resolved into its components

y-axis
Components
Vectors X Y ⃑⃑
𝐵
𝐴⃑ Ax = A cos Ay = Asin  𝐴⃑

⃑⃑
𝐵 Bx = − B cos  B y = B sin  x-axis

𝐶⃑ C x = C cos  C y = −C sin 
𝑅⃑⃑ Rx = Ax + Bx + C x R y = Ay + By + C y 𝐶⃑

  R 
Magnitude of R : R = Rx + R y
2 2
Direction of R :  R = tan −1  y 
 Rx 
Unit Vector
- has a magnitude of 1 and points in a particular
direction of a vector in space.
iˆ − points in the positive x-axis direction
ĵ− points in the positive y-axis direction
k̂ − points in the positive z-axis direction

Vector sum in terms of unit vectors


A = Axiˆ + Ay ˆj + Az kˆ

B = Bxiˆ + By ˆj + Bz kˆ
  
R = A + B = ( Ax + Bx )iˆ + ( Ay + By ) ˆj + ( Az + Bz )kˆ

Product of Vectors

1. Scalar or Dot Product – the resulting product is a scalar quantity.

Equations:
 
a) A  B = AB cos (Definition) (1-1)

where,  = angle between the two vectors

180o≤  ≤0o

 
b) A  B = Ax Bx + Ay B y + Az Bz (Component) (1-2)

Example: iˆ  iˆ = 1 ˆj iˆ = 0
 
Application: Work, W = F  s

2. Vector or Cross Product – the resulting product is a vector quantity.

The magnitude of resulting product is obtained using

a) 𝐴⃑ × 𝐵
⃑⃑ = 𝐴𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛∅ (Definition) (1-3)
 b) 𝐴⃑ × 𝐵
⃑⃑ = 𝐶𝑥 + 𝐶𝑦 + 𝐶𝑧 (Component) (1-4)

where,
C x = ( Ay B z − Az B y )iˆ
C y = ( Az Bx − Ax Bz ) ˆj
C = ( A B − A B )kˆ
z x y y x

iˆ ˆj kˆ
c) 𝐴⃑ × 𝐵
⃑⃑ = Ax Ay Az (Determinant form)

Bx By Bz
= ( Ay B z − Az By )iˆ + ( Az Bx − Ax Bz ) ˆj + ( Ax By − Ay Bx )kˆ (1-5)

The direction of resulting product is obtained using the Right-hand-rule:


Right- Hand Rule - In 𝐴⃑ × 𝐵
⃑⃑, place your right hand along the length of and curl your fingers
A

toward B . Your thumb then points to the direction of the resulting product
vector.

Example: 𝑖̂ × 𝑖̂ = 0
𝑖̂ × 𝑗̂ = 𝑘̂

Application: Torque, 𝜏⃗ = 𝑟⃑ × 𝐹⃑

University Physics 11th Ed., p. 28

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:

1. Determine the resultant of the following two vectors:

𝐴⃗ = 6 𝑚, 𝐸
⃑⃗ = 3 𝑚 𝑎𝑡 50° 𝑆 𝑜𝑓𝐸
𝐵

using: a) Graphical Method

b) The Law of Sine and Cosine Method
c) Component method

Solution:

Scale: 1 cm : 1 m

a) Graphical Method (polygon)

Using ruler to find the magnitude

and protractor for the direction:

𝑅⃑⃑ = 8𝑚, 160 S of E

b) Law of Cosine and Sine Method

Cosine Law (Magnitude):

R 2 = A 2 + B 2 − 2 AB cos
R = 62 + 32 − 2(6)( 3) cos130  = 8.25m

Sine Law (Direction):

sin  R sin 130 0
=
B R
where B = 3 m and R = 8.25 m
𝐵
𝜃𝑅 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 ( 𝑠𝑖𝑛 1 300 ) = 16.17°
𝑅

c) Component Method

x - Components:
Ax = 6.0m cos 0 0 = 6.0m
Bx = 3.0m cos50 0 = 1.93m

y - Components:
Ay = 6.0m sin 0 0 = 0
By = 3.0m(− sin 500 ) = −2.30m
R x = Ax + B x = 7.93m R y = Ay + B y = −2.30m
R= Rx + R y =
2 2
8.26m (magnitude)

Ry
 R = tan −1 ( ) = -16.17° (direction)
Rx

Hence, R = 8.26m, 16.17° South of East

2. Given two vectors:

𝐹⃗1 = 2𝑖̂ − 𝑗̂ and 𝐹⃗2 = −𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂

Determine:
 
a) F1 + F2
 
b) F1 − 2F2
 
c) F1  F2
 
d) F1  F2

Solution:
 
a) F1 + F2 = 2iˆ − ˆj + (−iˆ) + 3 ˆj = iˆ + 2 ˆj
 
b) F1 − 2F2 = 2iˆ − ˆj − 2(−iˆ + 3 j ) = 4iˆ − 7 ˆj
 
c) F1  F2 = (2)(-1) + (-1)(3) = - 2 - 3 = -5

Note: try finding the dot product using equation (1-1)

     
d) F1  F2 = [(-1)(0) - (0)(3)] i + [(0)(-1) - (2)(0)] j + [(2)(3) - (-1)(-1] k = 5k
Note: try finding the cross product using equations (1-3) and (1-5)