Instructor: Engr. Maria Celsa P.

Tabar
At the end of this lesson the students will be able to:

1. Show how to do conversion of units and dimension analysis

2. Illustrate vectors graphically.

3. Analyze problems involving vectors and scalars.

What is Physics?

It is the foundation of all engineering and technology.

No engineer could design a flat-screen TV, an interplanetary spacecraft, or even a
better mousetrap without first understanding the basic laws of physics

It is an experimental science.
Physicists observe the phenomena of nature and try to find patterns that relate
these phenomena.
What are the major areas of Physics?
1. Mechanics 2. Thermodynamics

It is concerned with the motion of It is the study of the relations between

bodies under the action of forces heat, work, temperature, and energy.
3. Optics 4. Vibrations and Wave Phenomena

It is concerned with the motion of It is the study of the relations between

bodies under the action of forces heat, work, temperature, and energy.
5. Electromagnetism 6. Relativity

It deals with the electromagnetic It deals with Newtonian physics when

force that occurs between energies or velocities are near the speed
electrically charged particles of light.
7. Quantum Mechanics

It deals with the behavior of matter

and light on the atomic and
subatomic scale.
PHYSICS IN OUR DAILY LIVES
 WHY STUDY PHYSICS?

Watch this!
https://youtu.be/sA7RuJRnKLQ
What are the goals of Physics?

To find the limited number of fundamental laws that govern natural

phenomena

To use these laws to develop theories that can predict the results of future
experiments

To express the laws in the language of mathematics

There are different types of numbers to be dealt with in Physics. These are the
following:
1. pure theoretical numbers
2. counts
3. measurement
4. calculated values

What is a measurement?
1. It is the assignment of a number to a characteristic of an object or event, which
can be compared with other objects or events.
2. It is used to describe natural phenomena.
3. It needs defined standards.
• readily accessible
• possess some property that can be measured reliably
• must yield the same results when used by anyone, anywhere
• cannot change with time
What are the parts of a measurement?
The parts of a measurement are the number and the unit. For example, 50
kilograms. 50 is the number while kilograms is the unit.

50 kilograms
number unit
Those physical quantities which are
independent to each other are
called fundamental quantities and their units
are called fundamental units.

In 1960, a standardized system of units called

Systéme International (International System)
was created. Below are the 7 basic SI units.
1. meter
the distance that contains 1650763.73 wavelength of orange-red light of Kr-86.
2. kilogram
A cylindrical prototype mass made of platinum and iridium alloys of height 39 mm
and diameter 39 mm. It is mass of 5.0188 x 1025 atoms of carbon-12.
3. second
the time in which cesium atom vibrates 9192631770 times in an atomic clock.
4. kelvin
the (1/273.16) part of the thermodynamics temperature of the triple point of
water
5. ampere
the electric current which it maintained in two straight parallel conductor of infinite
length and of negligible cross-section area placed one meter apart in vacuum will
produce between them a force 2 x 10-7 N per meter length
6. candela
(1/60) luminous intensity of an ideal source by an area of cm’ when source is at
melting point of platinum (1760°C).

7. mole
the amount of substance of a system which contains a many elementary entities
(may be atoms, molecules, ions, electrons or group of particles, as this and atoms
in 0.012 kg of carbon isotope 6C 12 .

Mass, length, and time are basic quantities. There are quantities that can be
expressed in terms of the basic quantities. They are called derived quantities. For
example, area, which is a product of two lengths.
Prefixes
• Prefixes correspond to powers of 10
• Each prefix has a specific name
• Each prefix has a specific abbreviation
The prefixes can be used with any basic units
They are multipliers of the basic unit
Examples:
1 mm = 10-3 m
1 mg = 10-3 g
The table below shows the prefixes for powers of ten.
Each dimension can have many actual units. Table 1.5 shows different
dimensions and units of some derived quantities we encounter in Physics.
Dimensional Analysis
Since Physics involve Mathematics, it is important to ensure that the calculations
are mathematically correct.
Dimensional analysis is used to check the correctness of an equation or to assist in
deriving an equation. Dimensions like length, mass, time, and combinations thereof
can be treated as algebraic quantities. They can be added, subtracted, multiplied
and divided.

In doing dimensional analysis,

• both sides of equation must have the same dimensions
• any relationship can be correct only if the dimensions on both sides of the
equation are the same
• cannot give numerical factors: this is its limitation
Example

Given the equation , check if the equation is dimensionally correct.

Since 1/2 is a constant, only x (displacement), a (acceleration) and t (time) have

dimensions.

Since displacement is a "length", the dimension for x is L. From table 1.5, we can see

that the is the dimension for a. For t, its T. Since t is being squared,

therefore, the dimension for t2 is T2.

The two T2s cancel leaving L for the dimensions of each side.

The equation, therefore, is dimensionally correct.

Conversion of Units
When units are not consistent, you may need to convert to appropriate ones. Units
can be treated like algebraic quantities that can cancel each other out.
In doing calculations, always include units for every quantity. You can carry the units
through the entire calculation.
To convert, multiply the original value by a ratio that is equal to one.
Example
Convert 15 inches to centimeters.
One inch is defined as 2.54 centimeters. We use this relationship to convert inches to
centimeters. This ratio is "equal to one". The inches must be in the denominator of
the multiplier so that the inches cancel out.
BASIC AND DERIVED Quantities

Basic Quantities Derived Quantities

• mass • Can be expressed in

• length terms of the basic
• time quantities
• For example, area – a
product of two lengths.
Conversion of Units
• When units are not consistent, you may need to
convert to appropriate ones
• Units can be treated like algebraic quantities that can
cancel each other out
Conversion of Units
•Always include units for every quantity, you can carry
the units through the entire calculation
•Multiply original value by a ratio equal to one
•Example 15.0 in = ? cm
 2.54 cm 
15.0 in   = 38.1cm
 1in 

•Note the value inside the parentheses is equal to 1

since 1 in. is defined as 2.54 cm
Uncertainty in Measurements
• There is uncertainty in every measurement – this
uncertainty carries over through the calculations
• May be due to the apparatus, the experimenter, and/or
the number of measurements made
• Need a technique to account for this uncertainty
Rounding OFF
• Last retained digit is increased by 1 if the last
digit dropped is greater than or equal to 5
• Last retained digit remains as it is if the last digit
dropped is less than 5
CHECK YOUR LEARNING
Convert the following. Show complete solutions.
Scalars
• A scalar quantity is a quantity that has magnitude only
and has no direction in space

Examples of Scalar Quantities:

:
 Length  Density
 Area  Pressure
 Volume  Energy
 Time  Work
 Mass  Power
Vectors
• A vector quantity is a quantity that has both
magnitude and a direction in space.

:
Examples of Vector Quantities:
 Displacement  Force
 Velocity  Electric Field
 Acceleration  Magnetic Filed
Vector Diagrams

• Vector diagrams are shown

using an arrow.
• The length of the arrow
represents its magnitude.
• The direction of the arrow
shows its direction.
Vector DIRECTIONS N

Compass Bearing
The four main directions of
a compass are the north W E
(N), south (S), east (E) and
west (W). They are called
the cardinal points.

S
Vector DIRECTIONS
Compass Bearing
To state the direction, write:
1. N or S
2. then the angle between the
N or S line and the arrow
3. and E or W
 N
Example 1

60°
W E
The angle starts from north then
rotating clockwise towards east at 60°,
so it is written as N60°E. It is read as 60
degrees east of north.
S
Example 2
N

W E
The angle is starting from north then
rotating clockwise towards east at
44° 44°, so it is written as S44°W. It is
read as 44 degrees west of south.
S
Vector DIRECTIONS N

Angles in Standard Position

Recall in Mathematics that an
angle is said to be in standard
position if its vertex is located at W E
the origin (the intersection point of
the N-S and E-W lines) and the initial
initial side (non-moving ray) is on terminal side
the positive x-axis or the cardinal side E
point E. The moving ray of the E
angle is called the terminal side. S
 90°
Let us now change the
cardinal points to their
corresponding angles in
standard position. E is 0°, 180° 0°
N is 90°, W is 180°, and S
is 270°.

270°
The angle is measured by the amount of rotation
from the initial side to the terminal side.
The angle is positive if it is rotated counter
clockwise; negative if clockwise.
 90°

Here's an example of a positive angle.

Since the terminal side is in
130°
between 90° and 180°, so the angle
180° 0°
is less than 180° but greater than
90°. The rotation is
counterclockwise, so the
measurement must be positive
130° (no need to put a positive
sign). 270°
 -270°
Below is an example of a negative angle.
The rotation is now clockwise. It
starts from 0° to -90° then to -180°
and to -270°.
-180° 0°
The terminal side is in between - -230°
180° and -270°, approximately 50
degrees from -180°.

-90°
Example 1 For an angle in standard position, it should start from 0°. As shown in the figure above, the terminal
side is between 0° and 90° so the angle is greater than 0° but less than 90°. Since it is already 60° from
N, then from E it must be 90°-60° or 30°. So the direction of the vector is 30°. It is positive since the
rotation is counterclockwise. Note: Let us just focus on the positive angles. .

N 90°

60°
W E 180° 0°

S 270°
Example 2

N 90°

W E 180° 0°

44°

S 270°
Vector DIRECTIONS
Ways of Expressing Directions
1. Compass Bearing (Conventional)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1WPpSxE0nA
2. Angles in Standard Position
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6ckzpPqt6U
Vector ADDITION
The resultant is the sum or the combined effect
of vector quantities.

Vectors in the same direction:

resultant
resultant 20 N
25 N
6N 4N 10 N 5N
Vector ADDITION

Vectors in opposite directions:

resultant

6 m/s 18 m/s 12 m/s

resultant

3 m/s 2 m/s 1 m/s

VECTOR ADDITION (GRAPHICAL)

 Draw the first vector.

 From the tail of the first vector, draw
the second vector. 2nd vector
 From the heads, draw arrows parallel
to the two vectors. 1st vector

 Starting from the tail of the first vector, draw the diagonal of the
parallelogram. This is the resultant.
‣ Use RULER and PROTRACTOR to find the magnitude and direction
of the resultant, respectively.
 2nd vector

1st vector
VECTOR ADDITION (GRAPHICAL)

 Draw the first vector.

 From the head of the first
vector, draw the second
vector.
 Draw the resultant vector by 1st vector
connecting the tail of the first
vector and head of the last vector.
‣ Use RULER and PROTRACTOR to find the
magnitude and direction of the
resultant, respectively.
 2nd vector
1st vector 1st vector
VECTOR ADDITION (ANALYTICAL)

 Join the vectors head to tail.

 The magnitude and direction of

the resultant is computed using
Laws of Sines and Cosines
1st vector
 2nd vector, B

1st vector, A
 R

 B

A
VECTOR ADDITION (ANALYTICAL)

 Vectors are resolved into x- and y-components

y-component

x-component
Calculating the Magnitude of the
Perpendicular Components
F
• If a vector of
magnitude F and
makes an angle  Fy
with the horizontal 
then the Fx
magnitude of the
components are: x-component: Fx = F cos 
y-component: Fy = F sin 
 should be a positive angle measured from the positive
x-axis (standard position of an angle)
Calculating the Magnitude AND DIRECTION OF
THE RESULTANT VECTOR
A Rx
B 
R Ry

C
Resultant of 2 Vectors
A cross-country skier skis 1 km north and then 2 km east on a
horizontal snow field. How far and in what direction is she from
the starting point?
Resultant of 2 Vectors
The following forces are applied to a body. What is the magnitude
and direction of the resultant force acting on the body?
3 N, 20° east of north
10 N, 60° east of south
Resultant of 3 Vectors
Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of the
three forces below.
2 N, 270°
6 N, 300°
4 N, 45°
2. Two forces act on a point: 4 newtons at 90° and
5 newtons at 220°. What is the magnitude and
direction of the resultant force? Use Laws of Sines and
Cosines

3. Find the magnitude of the resultant using

Component Method.
Vector A 20 m, 30° north of east
Vector B 30 m, 20° south of east
Vector C 10 m, south