General Physics 1 (3 Units)

PHS 101 (PART A) / Physics

Professor Akinlami Johnson O.

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Mechanics

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Module Outline
•Units and Dimension
•Rectilinear Motion
•Newton’s Laws
•Friction
•Work, Energy and Conservation of Energy
•Gravitation
•Elasticity, Young Modulus and Bulk Modulus

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Units and Dimension

Units – In Physics, the value of any physical quantity

must be expressed in terms of standard or unit. For
example, we might specify the distance between two
posts in meters or in cm or in feet.

Units are necessary for us to compare measurements

and also to distinguish between different physical
quantities.
 Units and Dimension Continued
All physical quantities can be expressed in terms of three fundamental
quantities: mass, length and time.
In the Systeme International (SI) the base units for mass, length and
time are the kilogram (kg), the meter (m) and the second (s). Kelvin K
is a base unit for temperature, the ampere (A) for electric current and
candela (cd) for luminous intensity.
Derived Units – These are combinations of the fundamental or base
units. For example, the unit of velocity is m/s, for acceleration it is ms-2,
for density it is Kgm-3. The unit of Force is given a special name
Newton 1N = Kgms-2

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Dimension
Each derived unit in mechanics can be reduced to factors of the base or
fundamental units mass, length and time. Ignoring the unit system, that
is, whether it is SI or British, then the factors are called dimensions.
The dimension of a quantity x is place in square brackets [x].
Dimension of Area [A] = L2
The dimension of speed [v] =LT-1
The Dimension of Force [F] = ma
[F] = MLT-2

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Dimension Continued
An equation in Physics such as X = Y + Z has meaning only if the
dimension of all the three quantities are identical. The equation must be
dimensionally consistent.
• Let us consider the equation s = ½at2
•
• [s] = L
• (at2) = (LT-2)(T2)
• =L
• L=L
Both sides have the dimension L, so the equation is dimensionally
consistent
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 Dimension Continued
Dimensionally analysis can be used to obtain the functional form of
relations or derived a formular.
Worked Example: The period P of a simple pendulum is the time for
one complete swing. How does P depend on the mass m of the bob, the
length l of the string, and the acceleration due to gravity g?
Solution: Let us express the period P in terms of the other quantities as
follows P = kmxlygz
k is a constant, x, y, z are to be determined. Let us insert the dimensions
of each quantity
• T = MxLyLzT-2z
• = MxLy+zT-2z equate the powers of each dimension on either side
of the equation. 8
Thus,
Dimension Continued

T: 1 = -2z
M: 0 = x
L: 0 = y + z
x = 0, z = -½, y = -z, y = +½
Thus,

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Rectilinear Motion
Average Velocity: The velocity of a particle is the rate at which its
position changes with time.

The position of a particle in a particular reference frame is given by a

position drawn from the origin of that frame to the particle. Let us consider a
particle at point A at time t1 and its position in the x-y plane is described by
position vector r1. Let the particle be at point B at a later time t2 and its
position is described by position r2.
The displacement vector describing the change in position of the particle as it
moves from A to B is ∆r = r2 – r1 and the elapsed time for the motion
between these points is ∆t = t2 – t1. The average velocity for the particle
during this interval is defined by
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Rectilinear Motion Continued

Instantaneous Velocity
If the average velocity of a particle is measured for a number of different
time intervals and it is not constant. Then this particle is said to move with
variable velocity. Then we must seek to determine a velocity of the particle
at any given instant of time called instantaneous velocity.
If ∆r is the displacement in a small interval of time ∆t, following the time t,
the velocity at the time t is the limiting value approached by
as both ∆r and ∆t approach zero. That is, if we let v represent the
instantaneous velocity,

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 Rectilinear Motion Continued
aav =
Acceleration
The average acceleration for a finite time interval is defined as

Average acceleration =
In one – dimension

aav =
It is measured in ms-2

Examples
1. A bird flies east at 10m/s for 100m. It then turns around and flies at 20m/s
for 15s. Find (a) its average speed (b) its average velocity
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 Rectilinear Motion Continued
The instantaneous acceleration is defined as the derivative of v with respect to t.

Examples
1. A bird flies east at 10m/s for 100m. It then turns around and flies at 20m/s for
15s. Find (a) its average speed (b) its average velocity
Solution
In order to find the required quantities, we need the total time interval.
Let us consider the first part of the journey
∆v1 = 100ms-1
∆x1 = 100m
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 Rectilinear Motion Continued

So, the first part of the journey took 10s.

∆t2 = 15s time for the second part of the journey
Total time interval ∆t = ∆t1 + ∆t2
∆t = 10 + 15 = 25s
Distance traveled in the first part is ∆x1 = 100m
Distance traveled in the second part is ∆x2
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Rectilinear Motion Continued
∆v2 = 20ms-1
∆t2 = 15s
∆x2 = ∆v2∆t2 = 20 x 15 = 300m
Total distance traveled ∆x is
∆x = ∆x1 + ∆x2 = 100 + 300 = 400m
∆x = 400m
Average speed

First of all, we find the net displacement. Let the net displacement be ∆x
∆x = ∆x1 + ∆x2 = 100 - 300 = -200m
Average velocity
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Equation of Motion for Constant Acceleration

Acceleration =

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 Equation of Motion For Constant Acceleration
Let the initial values of position xo and velocity v0 be at t = 0 and the
final values x and v, occur at a later time t.
Let us set ti = o and tf = t, we have

v – vo = at
v = vo + at 1
We know that average velocity is
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 Equation of Motion For Constant Acceleration

Average velocity =

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Equation of Motion For Constant Acceleration

But v = vo + at
2

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Equation of Motion For Constant Acceleration
From equation 1. Put this into equation 2

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 Equation of Motion For Constant Acceleration