DFV20143 - PHYSICS

UNIT 1:
PHYSICAL QUANTITIES AND
MEASUREMENTS
Physics is the natural science that studies
matter, its motion and behavior through
space and time, and the related entities of
energy and force.

Physics is one of the most fundamental

scientific disciplines, and its main goal is
to understand how the universe behaves
1.1PHYSICAL
QUANTITIES AND
UNITS
Learning Outcomes
After completing the sub-topic, students should be able to:
 Describe and give examples of various physical
quantities and their units.
Physical Quantities
A physical quantity is one that can be measured and
consists of a magnitude and unit.

Measuring length

70 4.5 m
km/h 

SI units are
common
today
Physical Quantities
Are classified into two types:
i.Base quantities
ii.Derived quantities
Derived quantity
Base quantity is like the house that was
is like the brick – the build up from a collection
basic building block of of bricks (basic quantity)
a house
Base Quantities

Quantity Standard Unit Name Unit Symbol

Mass kilogram kg
Length metre m
Time second s
Current Ampere A
Temperature Kelvin K
Amount of Substance mole Mol
Luminous Intensity candela Cd
Derived Quantities
Quantities that derived from the base quantities.

Quantity SI Base Unit Special Name for the

Unit
Speed m s-1 -
Force kg m s-2 Newton (N)
Pressure kg m-1 s-2 Pascal (Pa)
Frequency s-1 Hertz (Hz)
Electric Charge A.s Coulomb (C)
Electric Potential m2 kg s−3 A−1 volts (V)
Difference
SI Units
 The SI system uses a single standard unit for each basic
measurement.

 For example, the basic unit for measuring length is meter (m),
for mass is kilogram (kg) and for time is second (s).

 Many SI derived quantities are defined in terms of 3 base

quantities:
◦ Length, in m
◦ Mass, in kg
◦ Time, in s
 Standard Prefixes
Prefix Symbol Meaning Power of 10
Tera T 1,000,000,000,000 1012
Giga G 1,000,000,000 109
Mega M 1,000,000 106
kilo k 1,000 103
centi c 0.01 10-2
milli m 0.001 10-3
micro μ 0.000,001 10-6
nano n 0.000,000,001 10-9
Pico p 0.000,000,000,001 10-12
Femto f 0.000,000,000,000,001 10-15
Using Metric prefixes:
1 mm = 1x10-3 m  35 mm = 35 x 10-3 m or 3.5 x 10-2 m
1 kg = 1x103 g  12 kg = 12 x 103 g or 1.2 x 104 g
Exersice1
Rewrite the following using suitable prefixes:

a. 5 000 000 J

b. 48 000 g

c. 0.0009 s

d. 485 000 N

e. 0.000 007 m
Solution: Exersice1
a. 5 000 000 J d. 485 000 N

5 x 106 J = 5 MJ 485 x 103 N = 485 kN

b. 48 000 g e. 0.000 007 m

48 x 103 g = 48 kg 7 x 10-6 m = 7 μm

c. 0.0009 s

9 x 10-4 s = 0.9 x 10-3 s = 0.9 ms

Conversion of Unit
 Table 1.4 shows the conversion factors between SI and
British units for length and mass only.

Length Mass
1 m = 39.37 in = 3.281 ft 1 kg = 103 g
1 in = 2.54 cm 1 slug = 14.59 kg
1 km = 0.621 mi 1 lb = 0.453 592 kg
1 mi = 5280 ft = 1.609 km 1 kg = 0.0685 slug
1 angstrom (Å) = 10-10 m
Example: Conversion of Unit
A warehouse is 20.0 yards long, 10.0 yards wide and 15.0
ft high. What is its volume in ft units?
(1 yard = 3 ft) 1 yard = 3 ft
10 yards = ? ft
volume = long × wide × high
10 yards
10 yards =  3 ft
1 yard = 3 ft 1 yard
20 yards = ? ft = 30 ft
20 yards volume = long × wide × high
20 yards =  3 ft
1 yard
volume = 60ft × 30ft 15ft
= 60 ft
volume = 60ft × 30ft 15ft
volume = 27000 ft 3
Example: Conversion of Unit
Convert 86.5 km h-1 to m s-1 .

1 km = 1000 m 1 h = 3600 s

86.5 kmh 1 = ? ms 1 86.5km

 1000m
86.5 km
 1km
1h 1h
 3600 s
1h
86.5 km 86500m

1h 3600 s

86.5kmh 1  24.03ms 1
Example: Conversion of Unit
Convert 300 g cm-3 to kg m-3 .

1 kg = 1000 g 1 m = 100 cm

300 gcm 3 = ? kgm 3

300 g
1kg 300 gcm 3  300000kgm 3
300 g 1000 g

1cm3  1cm 
3
300 gcm 3  3 105  kgm 3
  1m 
 100cm 
300 g 0.3kg

0.01m 
3
1cm3
300 g 0.3kg

1cm3 1106 m3
Exersice 2
Solve the following problems of unit conversion:

a. 30 mm2 = ? m2

b. 24 m s-1 = ? km h-1

c. 300 g cm-3 = ? kg m-3

d. 24 mi h-1 = ? km s-1
Solution: Exercise 2
a. 30 mm2 = ? m2
30 mm 2  30  10 6 m 2 or 3.0  10 5 m 2

b. 24 m s-1 = ? km h-1
24 m s-1 = 86.4 km h-1

c. 300 g cm-3 = ? kg m-3

300 g cm-3 = 30000 kg m-3 or 3 x 105 kg m-3

d. 24 mi h-11= ? km s-1
24 mi h  1.07  10 -2 km s -1
Dimensional Analysis
• Dimension is defined as a technique or method which the
physical quantity can be expressed in terms of
combination of basic quantities.
• It can be written as [physical quantity or its symbol].
• Table shows the dimension of basic quantities.
[Basic Quantity] Symbol

[mass] or [m] M
[length] or [l] L
[time] or [t] T
[electric current] or [I] A@I
[temperature] or [T] 
[amount of substance] or [N] N
 Example: Dimensional Analysis
Velocity Acceleration
velocity
distance acceleration, a =
velocity,v = time
time
 LT -1 
velocity,v =
L  acceleration, a =
T  T 
velocity,v =  LT  -1 acceleration, a =  LT -2 

 unit: ms 
-1  unit: ms  -2

force, F = mass x acceleration

force, F = M ×  LT -2 
Force
force, F =  MLT -2 

 unit: kgms -2

Exercise 3
Determine a dimension and the S.I. unit for the following
quantities:
a. Area Area = Length × Width
b. Pressure
Force
c. Volume Pressure =
Area
d. Density
Volume = Length  Width  Height

Mass
Density =
Volume
Solution: Exercise 3
a. Area
Area =  L2 
unit : m 2 d. Density
Density =  ML 
3

b. Pressure  
unit : kgm 3
Pressure =  ML1T 2 
unit : kgm 1s 2

c. Volume
Volume =  L3 
unit : m3
1.2 VECTOR AND
SCALAR
QUANTITIES
Learning Outcomes
After completing the sub-topic, students should be able to:
Describe and differentiate vector and scalar quantities.
Vector and Scalar Quantities
A ‘vector quantity’ is a quantity that has a magnitude
and a direction.

Magnitude = 100 N
A Force
Direction = Left
Vector and Scalar Quantities
A ‘scalar quantity’ is a quantity that only has a
magnitude and no direction.
Measuring Temperature
Measuring Mass
Example of Vector and Scalar
Quantities

Vectors Scalars
displacement distance
velocity speed
weight mass
acceleration time
force pressure
momentum energy
volume
density
Exercise 4
Identify which of the following are vector quantities and
which are scalars quantities:

a) The length of a swimming pool.

b) The acceleration of a car is 120 km/h.
c) The tension in a bungee rope.
d) The friction between a car and the road.
e) I walked 3 miles along the beach.
f) I walked 3 miles due north along the beach.
Solution Exercise 4
a) Scalar quantity.
b) Vector quantity.
c) Vector quantity.
d) Vector quantity.
e) Scalar quantity.
f) Vector quantity.
1.3MATHEMATICAL
AND GRAPHICAL
TECHNIQUES
Learning Outcomes
After completing the sub-topic, students should be able to:
Interpret and sketch graphs from its mathematical
equation, and calculate the gradient and area under a
graph.
 y = log10x

1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
y

0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 2 4 6 8 10
x
 y=2x + 1

c
a) With positive slope

y  mx  c y= -3x

m = slope or gradient
c = y intercept

y y2  y1
m 
x x2  x1

b) With negative slope

Example: Linear Equation
For each of the following lines, write down:
a) the gradient
b) the intercept on the y axis
c) the equation
Solution: Linear Equation
a) the gradient
3 1
m
2 1
m2
b) the intercept on the y axis

c  1
y y2  y1 c) the equation
m 
x x2  x1
y  mx  c
y  mx  c y  2x 1
 How to Draw a Linear Graph

y  mx  c y y2  y1
m 
m = slope or gradient x x2  x1
c = y intercept

We do this in four steps:

1.Find (at least) three points on the line by assigning values
to x and using the equation to work out the corresponding
values of y.
2.Set up a grid as above, labelling the axis.
3.Plot the points you have found.
4.Join them up to form the line then label the line with its
equation.
Example: Draw a Linear Graph
Sketch the graph of a straight line y versus x for the
following equation y = 2x + 6.

Step 1:
Find (at least) three points on the line by assigning values to
x and using the equation to work out the corresponding
values of y.

x -3 0 3
y 0 6 12
Example: Draw a Linear Graph
x -3 0 3
Step 2: y 0 6 12
Set up a grid as above, labelling the axis.
Example: Draw a Linear Graph
x -3 0 3
Step 3: y 0 6 12
Plot the points you have found.
Example: Draw a Linear Graph
Step 4:
Join them up to form the line then label the line with its
equation.
Exercise 5
Draw a graph of a following equations:

y  x 9

1
y  x2
2

2 y  4 x  10
Graph Velocity, v versus Time, t
Velocity vs Time

4.5
4
3.5
)
-1

3
Velocity (ms

2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 2 4 6
Time (s)

The area under the Acceleration is given

graph is given the by the slope of the
total distance velocity versus time
travelled. graph
Example: Graph velocity vs time
You have been driving behind a slow truck at 30 m/s for 1 minute. You
suddenly get an opportunity to pass and in 10 seconds you accelerate, at a
uniform rate, whereupon you now find that it is safe to pull back into the lane
in front of the truck. The velocity versus time graph of your journey is
sketched below.
From this graph, calculate:
i.The distance you travelled in passing the truck
ii.The acceleration you have been driven passing the truck
 Example: Graph velocity vs time
i. The distance you travelled in
passing the truck

The area under the

h b
graph is given the
total distance
a
travelled.

Total distance travel is

 12   a  b   h
 
 12  30ms 1s  90ms 1  10 s
 600m
Trapezium
Area of trapezium  12   a  b   h
Example: Graph velocity vs time
i. The acceleration you have been
driven passing the truck

Acceleration is given
by the slope of the
velocity versus time
graph

The acceleration is
y y2  y1 y2  y1
m  a
x x2  x1 x2  x1

a
 90  30  ms 1
 70  60  s
a  6ms 2
Exercise 6
Draw a graph of a following equations:

y  x 9

1
y  x2
2

2 y  4 x  10
Exercise 7
For each of the following lines, write down:
a) the gradient
b) the intercept on the y axis
c) the equation
Exercise 8
y= Ax2 + Bx + C

y=x2-2x
Standard Form
y
The standard form of a quadratic
function is
a>0
y = ax2 + bx + c

The parabola will open up when

the a value is positive.

The parabola will open down x

when the a value is negative.

a<0
 Line of Symmetry
Parabolas have a symmetric
Lineyof
property to them. Symmetr
y

If we drew a line down the

middle of the parabola, we
could fold the parabola in half.

We call this line the line of x

symmetry.

Or, if we graphed one side of

the parabola, we could “fold”
(or REFLECT) it over, the line
of symmetry to graph the other
side. The line of symmetry ALWAYS
passes through the vertex.
Other Methods

By factoring

By using the quadratic

2
formula b  b  4ac
x
2a
 Example
• Plot graph for this equation
y=x²-2x-8
Solution:
1. Factorized the equation
y=(x+2)(x-4)
2. Get the crossing point at x-axis y
As we know, crossing point at x-axis
when y=0.
0=(x+2)(x-4)
x+2=0 x-4=0
x=-2 x=4 x

- 4
2
3. Get the crossing point at y-axis y
As we know, crossing point at y-axis
when x=0 x
y=0²-2(0)-8 - 4
y=-8 2

-
8
4. Make the table as below

x -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4

y
For x=-2 For x=1
y=x²-2x-8 y=x²-2x-8
y=-2²-2(-2)-8 y=1²-2(1)-8
y=0 y=-9

For x=-1 For x=2

y=x²-2x-8 y=x²-2x-8
y=-1²-2(-1)-8 y= 2²-2(2)-8
y=-5 y=-8

For x=0 For x=3

y=x²-2x-8 y=x²-2x-8
y=0²-2(0)-8 y=3²-2(3)-8
y=-8 y=-5

For x=4
y=x²-2x-8
y=4²-2(4)-8
y=0
Fill in the table with the calculate data above

x -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4

y 0 -5 -8 -9 -8 -5 0

-2 4

-5
-8
-9
Cubic Functions
Cubic functions have degree three.

Typical shape if the leading coefficient is +ve

Cubic Functions
Cubic functions have degree three.

Typical shape if the leading coefficient is -ve

1.4 MEASUREMENT OF
ERRORS
Learning Outcomes
After completing the sub-topic, students should be able to:
Describe the different types of measurement errors and
calculating the errors.
Measured
Qty Magnitude of
error limit
Categories of Errors
Errors can be divided into 3 categories:
i.Systematic error
ii.Gross/human error
iii.Random error
Systematic Error
Errors that constantly smaller or larger than the actual value of the
measurement.

a)Instrumental error – which is caused by instruments imperfection e.g

friction, faulty or nonlinear components, uncalibrated equipment & etc.

b)Environment error – caused by the external conditions of the

measurement system e.g ambient temperature, magnetic field, pressure
& etc.

This is very serious error because there is no definite method to

discover/identify the error by simply looking at the experimental data
and the effects cannot be reduced by averaging repeated measurement.
Methods to avoid Instrumental
Errors
Selecting a proper instrument and planning the
proper procedure for the measurement.
Recognizing the effect of such errors and
applying the proper connection factors.
Calibrating the instrument carefully against the
standard.
Methods to avoid Environment
Errors
Using the arrangements which will keep the
surrounding conditions constant.
Reducing the effect of dust, humidity on the
components by hermetically sealing the
components in the instruments.
Gross / Human Error
 Caused by human mistakes.
 Example: misreading instrument, calculation mistakes,
neglecting loading effects etc.
HOW TO AVOID/MINIMIZE
GROSS ERROR
• Choose the correct instrument before doing the
measurement.
• Read the instrument’s instruction manual
thoroughly.
• Taking great care while taking the reading,
recording the reading and calculating the result.
• Without depending on only one reading. At least
three or even more readings must be taken and
preferably by different persons.
Random Error
 Random error exists even under carefully-controlled
experimental conditions.
 The occurrences of this type of error are random.
 Because of this, several measurement readings and
application of statistical technique are required to estimate the
true measurement values.

 Random error, E, is calculated as follows:

X measured  X actual
E  100%
X actual
Methods to avoid Environment
Errors

Take repeated measurement and calculate their

average.
Using statistical method.
Expression of Error
I. Absolute error.
The difference between the expected value of
the variable and the measured value of the variable,
or

e = |Yn – Xn |
where:
e = absolute error.
Yn = expected value.
Xn = measured value
Expression of Error
II. Percentage Error (%e)
e
%e   100%
Yn

III. Relative/Fractional Error

Absolute error, e
Relative error  100%
Size of measurement /
Average of measurement
IV. Relative accuracy, A
Yn  X n
A  1
Yn
EXPRESSION OF ERROR
V. Percentage Accuracy, a

a = A x 100%
or
a = 100% - %e
Example: Error
For example, the mass of a piece of metal is written as:
M  34.6
  0.07
 g
Average mass Absolute
of metal error

The relative error of the mass of the above metal is

0.07 g
 100%  0.2%
34.6 g

Thus, the mass of the metal is written as

M  34.6g
  0.2%

Relative
Average mass
of metal error
Example: Error
Table below shows the result for the experiment of gravitational
acceleration using the simple pendulum experiment set. A string
of 0.25m in length has been used in this experiment. Several
measurements are made for 1 swing of pendulum. Calculate the
absolute error and its relative error.

Measurement Measured Absolute Relative

number time (s) Error (s) Error (%)
1 0.7
2 0.6
3 0.7
4 0.8
 Solution: Error
Absolute error:
e  Yn  X n  0.7  0.7
e  Yn  X n e0
e  Yn  X n  0.6  0.7
e = absolute error.
Yn = expected value. e  0.1
Xn = measured value.
e  Yn  X n  0.7  0.7
Yn  Average Measure time e0
0.7  0.6  0.7  0.8 e  Yn  X n  0.7  0.8
Yn 
4
e  0.1
Yn  0.7
 Solution: Error
Relative error:

Absolute error, e
Relative error  100%
Size of measurement /
Average of measurement

0 0
Relative error  100% Relative error  100%
0.7 0.7
Relative error  0% Relative error  0%

0.1 0.1
Relative error  100% Relative error  100%
0.7 0.7
Relative error  14.3% Relative error  14.3%
Solution: Error

Measurement Measured Absolute Relative

number time (s) Error (s) Error (%)
1 0.7 0 0
2 0.6 0.1 14.3
3 0.7 0 0
4 0.8 0.1 14.3
Example
The expected value of the voltage to be measured is
10V. However, the measurement gives a value of
9V.
Calculate:
a) absolute error
b) % error
c) relative accuracy
d) % accuracy
Solution:
The expected value, Yn = 10V.
The measured value, Xn = 9V.

a) absolute error
e = |Yn – Xn |
= 10 – 9
= 1V

b) % error
%e = e/Yn x 100%
= 1/10 x 100%
= 10%
Solution:
c) relative accuracy

Yn  X n 10  9
A  1  1  0.9
Yn 10

d) % accuracy

a = A x 100% = 0.9 x 100% = 90%

Exercise 9
Measurement process shown that output current
from the test circuit is 19.8A. The expected value
according to the theoretical calculation is 20A.
Calculate.
a) absolute error
b) % error
c) relative accuracy
d) % accuracy
SUMMARY &
REFERENCES
SUMMARY
1. Physical quantities come with units. There are some standard
units commonly used in Physics.

2. The SI units are the most commonly used units.

3. Relationships between various physical quantities can be

represented graphically and a lot of information can be
extracted from these graphs.

4. Measurements of physical quantities are always subject to

errors and these errors can be estimated. The amount of
errors in measurements can be reduced by appropriate
techniques during the measurement process.
REFERENCES
1. BKT Module Physics 1

2. Walker, J. (2007). Physics - 3rd Edition. New Jersey:

Prentice Hall.

2. Halliday, D., Resnick, R., and Walker, J. (2005).

Fundamental of Physics – 7th Edition. New Jersey: John
Wiley & Sons, Inc.

3. Nakra, B.C., and Chaudry, K.K. (2004). Instrumentation,

Measurement and Analysis – 2nd Edition. New Delhi: TATA
McGraw Hill.
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UNIT 2:
WAVES AND WAVES
PHENOMENA