Unit 1: Physics Toolbox

Topics:
Units
Scientific Notation
Conversion of Units
Equation Manipulation
Trigonometry
Graphing
Vectors
 I. Scientific Notation (pg. 1)
• For very small and very large numbers we use scientific
notation
• Express decimals places as powers of ten
A.Converting standard form to scientific notation:

1. 2006 years = 2.006 x 10 3 years

2. 0.000208 years = 2.08 x 10 - 4 m

3. 105,000,000,000 stars = 1.05 x 10 11 stars

 I. Scientific Notation (pg. 1)
B. Converting scientific notation to standard form:

1. 9.6 x 10 - 5 mL = 0.000096 mL

2. 8.3 x 10 2 s = 830 s

3. 5.6 x 10 0 m = 5.6 m
 II. Significant Figures (pg. 2)
 They are the valid digits in a measurement
 Steps for Counting Sig. Figs.:
1. Start at the first nonzero digit.
Step 2 Examples
1) 10.0050  _________
6
2) 0.0250  ________
3
2. If there is a decimal point, count 3) 100.  ________
34
all numbers, including zeros, to 4) 2.350 x 10  __________
4
the right.

Step 3 Examples
3. If there is not a decimal point, 5) 105,000  _________
count all numbers UNITL YOU HIT 6) 105  ________3
A ZERO. 7) 50,000  3
__________
1
 II. Significant Figures (pg. 2)
Examples: How many significant figures does each of these
measurements have?
3.1 m 2

3.0001 kg 5

1.20 x 10 -4 km 3

0.007060 cm 4
 II. Significant Figures (pg. 2)
• For this course, just round answers to 3 sig. figs.
• IMPORTANT: When using your calculator to perform scientific
calculations ALWAYS use the EE (EXP) button. Example: 3 x 103
would be entered as: 3 EE 3
• Round the answers to three significant figures and in scientific
notation:

9.16 x 10 5 29.4 3.44 x 10 - 7

6.71 x 10 - 24
0.569
 III. Units (pg. 2)
• Base Units – these units are used along with various laws to define
additional units for other important physical quantities

Common SI (Système International d'Unités)

Base Units
 III. Units (pg. 2)

• Remember: We will only be using the metric system in this

course, so here are some useful ways of relating the English
System (US’s measurement) to the rest of the world

1 kg = 2.20 lb = approximate mass of a textbook

(175 lb person = 79 kg)

1 m = 3.28 ft = approximate height of a doorknob

(a basketball hoop (10ft) = 3.05 m)
 III. Units (pg. 2)
• Derived Units:
Combination of base units
• Examples
velocity/speed: m/s
acceleration: m/s2
force: kg * m/s2 = newton (N)
 III. Units (pg. 3)
 The SI system is a decimal system, meaning
prefixes are used to change SI units by a power of 10
 Common prefixes we will use are:

Prefix Symbol Notation

 kilo- k  103
 centi- c  10-2
 milli- m • 10-3
 micro- µ • 10-6
 III. Units (pg. 3)
• Find the common prefixes on the Reference Tables (front page)
• Convert the following:

*1) 25 centimeters to meters:

25 cm x 10 -2
m
= 0.25 m
1 cm

*2) 0.25 g to milligrams (mg):

0.25 g x 1 mg = 250 mg
10 - 3 g
 III . Units (pg. 3)
3) 3.56 x 10-4 kg to grams:

3.56 x 10 - 4 kg x 10 g = 0.356 g
3

1 kg

4) 500,000 micrometers to m:

500,000 μm x 10 m = 0.5 m
-6

1μm
 III . Units (pg. 3)
*5) 5.7 x 105 m to gigameters (Gm):

5.7 x 10 5 m x 1 Gm = 5.7 x 10 - 4 Gm
10 9 m

6) 4.5 x 10-7 megagrams to

milligrams:

4.5 x 10 - 7 Mg x 10 g x 1 mg x
6
= 450 mg
1 Mg 10-3 g
IV. Conversion of Other Units (pg. 3-4)
 Any quantity can be measured in several different units,
therefore it is important to know how to convert from one
unit to another.
 Conversion scales are used to convert one unit to another

*1. How many miles are in 28,465 ft ?

28,465 ft x 1 mi = 5.39 mi
5280 ft

2. How many gallons are in 5 L?

5 L x 1 gal = 1.32 gal

3.79 L
IV. Conversion of Other Units (pg. 4)
3. How many meters in 1075 nanometers?

1,075 nm x 10 -9
m = 1.075 x 10 - 6 m
1 nm
4. How many thingamajigs are in 5.5 x 10 4 whatchamacallits?

5.5 x 10 4 w x 320 t = 1.76 x 10 7 t

1w
*5. How many miles/hour is 40 m/s?
40 m x 1 mile x 3600 s = 89 mi
s 1609 m 1 hr hr
 V. Equation Manipulation (pg. 4)
• In physics we will be using a lot of equations. To solve for
specific variables in the equations we want to first manipulate
the variables around to solve for what we are looking for.

 Basic steps to follow:

1st – Circle the variable you want to solve for
2nd – If the variable is in the denominator, switch it with whatever is
left of the equal sign
3rd – If the variable is in the numerator, move everything else around
it by doing the opposite (*  ÷) (+  -) (x2  )
- Take into account order of operations
1st: Take care of + & -
2nd: Take care of * & ÷
3rd: Take care of x2 &
 V. Equation Manipulation (pg. 4)
• In the following examples solve the given variable:
 V. Equation
 Answers to 3 - 10
Manipulation (pg. 4 - 5)
VI. Dimensional Analysis (pg. 5)
• Dimensional analysis is used to
check mathematical relations for the
consistency of their dimensions

• Meaning, the dimension (i.e. – length)

on the right side of the equation, has
to match the dimension on the left
side of the equation
 VI. Dimensional Analysis (pg. 5)
• Based on the given units for the variables on the right, determine what would be
the unit(s) for the variable left of the equal sign. Reduce the units to find the final
simplest unit for the variable.
 VI. Dimensional Analysis (pg. 5)
• Based on the given units for the variables on the right, determine what would be the
unit(s) for the variable left of the equal sign. Reduce the units to find the final
simplest unit for the variable.
 VI. Dimensional Analysis (pg. 5)
• Based on the given units for the variables on the right, determine what would be the
unit(s) for the variable left of the equal sign. Reduce the units to find the final
simplest unit for the variable.
 VII. Trigonometry (pg. 6)
 In physics we use trig. to find the dimensions of buildings and objects and to
find the x and y components of vectors (i.e. – velocity, force, displacement)

opp
sin  
hyp hyp.

adj
cos   opp.
hyp

opp
tan   adj.
adj
 NOTE: the choice of which side the triangle to label
opposite and adjacent is made after the angle is identified
 VII. Trigonometry (pg. 6)
Example: Solve for x in each of the right triangles.
 VII. Trigonometry (pg. 6)
Inverse Trigonometric Functions:
When values of two sides of a right triangle are given, the angle can be
calculated by using the inverse trig. functions

opp  opp 
sin     sin 
1

hyp  hyp 
adj  adj 
cos     cos 
1

hyp  hyp 

opp  opp 
tan     tan 
1

adj  adj 
 VII. Trigonometry (pg. 6)
Example: Solve for x in each of the right triangles.
 VIII. Pythagorean Theorem (pg. 7)
Square of the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal
to the sum of the square of the length of the other two sides:

a b  c
2 2 2 c
b
a
 VIII. Pythagorean Theorem (pg. 7)
Example: Solve for x in the given right triangle.
 IX. Graphing/Mathematical Models (pg. 7)

• To describe how nature works, we collect data and look for patterns in that data

• We often try to map these patterns to mathematical models in the form of

equations. These models are most important in physics because they not only
describe the specific experiments we performed, but give you insights beyond
our data set to help us understand the universe.
 X. Linear Functions (pg. 7)
• Linear functions are the easiest ones to
straight
recognize – they are _________________

• They all have the general form:

y = mx + b
m = slope, b = y-intercept
 X. Linear Functions (pg. 7)
Direct Relationship
• Exists when both variables are located in the
numerator
______________
• Physics Equation Example
Slope =∆y = V = R
V = IR
V ∆x I
(R Constant)

I
 X. Linear Functions (pg. 8)
Example: Plot the data on the graph and analyze the
relationship. Also, calculate the slope of the line.
 XI. Power Function (Nonlinear
Relationships) (pg. 8)
• There are a lot of functions that have this form,
but the two we will be most concerned are:

1. Direct Square (Top opening parabola)

• Exists if both variables are located in the

numerator and one is variable
____________
squared
_________
 XI. Power Function (Nonlinear
Relationships) (pg. 8)
General Equation:
y = ax2
Physics Equation
Example
P = RI2 P
(R Constant)

I
 XI. Power Function (Nonlinear
Relationships) (pg. 9)

2. Inverse/Inverse Square
numerator
• Exists if one variable is located in the ____________
and other is in the
denominator (maybe squared)
_____________________________
 XI. Power Function (Nonlinear
Relationships) (pg. 9)
General Equation:
y=a or y=a
x x2
Never
Physics Equation reaches zero
Example R
R = ρL
A
(ρ L Constant) A
 XI. Power Function (Nonlinear
Relationships) (pg. 9)
Example: Plot the points and analyze the relationship

Direct
square
 I. Vector Introduction (pg. 10)
• What is a scalar quantity?
Measurement/value that has only has
MAGNITUDE (SIZE)

Examples: Time, Temperature,

Length, speed, mass
 I. Vector Introduction (pg. 10)
• What is a vector quantity?
Measurement/value that has
magnitude AND direction

Examples:
Displacement, velocity,
force, momentum
 I. Vector Introduction (pg. 10)
• What is a vector? (Despicable Me)
Scale used to show magnitude and direction

10 m
(Magnitude)

30o (Direction)
 I. Vector Introduction (pg. 10)
• What do negative and positive signs mean
when dealing with vectors?
They mean direction, NOT magnitude (size)
y

Same magnitude, but opposite direction

-10 m +10 m

x
 I. Vector Introduction (pg. 10)
How do I draw a vector?
• Cartesian Coordinate System:
Uses X and Y axes
90o 10 m
(Magnitude)

30o (Direction)
180o 0o

270o
 I. Vector Introduction (pg. 10)
How do I draw a vector?
• Navigational Coordinate System:
Uses North, South, West, East
N 10 m
(Magnitude)

North of East (Direction)

W E

S
II. Scaling Vectors (pg. 11)
II. Scaling Vectors (pg. 11)
 III. Resultant Vector (pg. 12)
Think about this: A car traveling 40 mph shoots
a ball out of cannon attached to it in the
opposite direction at the same speed. From an
observer on the side of the road, what appears
to happen to the ball?
Mythbusters Video
 III. Resultant Vector (pg. 12)

• What is it? Sum of vectors

resultant
• Equilibrant Vector
Same magnitude of resultant, equilibrant
but opposite direction
 III. Resultant Vector (pg. 12)

• How do I add vectors to determine a resultant?

1. Draw the first vector starting at the origin
2. Step up a new origin at the head of the first vector
3. Draw the second vector at the end of the first vector
The resultant is drawn from the starting position of
the first vector to the head of the last vector
 III. Resultant Vector (pg. 12)
• Examples:
1. 3 m @ 0o + 2 m @ 0o
 III. Resultant Vector (pg. 12)
• Examples:
2. 3 N @ 180o + 2 N @ 0o
 III. Resultant Vector (pg. 12)
• Examples:
3. 3 m @ 0o + 2 m @ 90o
 III. Resultant Vector pg. 12)
• Examples: (skip as a class)
4. 3 u @ 180o + 2 u @ 270o
 III. Resultant Vector (pg. 13)
• Examples: (on your own)
5. 25 km @ 0o + 20 km @ 270o
IV. Vector’s X and Y Components (pg. 13)
• Vector Resolution: breaking a vector into its
horizontal and vertical components

Ax = A cosθ A
Ay
Ay = A sinθ
Ax

Complete problems on pg. 20 on under

Sect. VIII: Vectors
V. Vector Scale Diagram (pg. 13)