PHYSICS CHAPTER 1

1
CHAPTER 1:
Physical quantities and
measurements
(3 Hours)
CHAPTER 1

PHYSICAL
QUANTITIES
AND
MEASUREMENTS
UNIT FIZIK
KOLEJ MATRIKULASI MELAKA
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
2
At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
State basic quantities and their respective SI units: length
(m), time (s), mass (kg), electrical current (A), temperature
(K), amount of substance (mol) and luminosity (cd).
( Emphasis on units in calculation)

State derived quantities and their respective units and
symbols: velocity (m s
-1
), acceleration (m s
-2
), work (J),
force (N), pressure (Pa), energy (J), power (W) and
frequency (Hz).

State and convert units with common SI prefixes.
Learning Outcome:
1.1 Physical Quantities and Units (1 hours)
2
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
3
Physical quantity is defined as a .
It can be categorized into 2 types
Basic (base) quantity
Derived quantity
Basic quantity is defined as .
..
Table 1.1 shows all the basic (base) quantities.
1.1 Physical Quantities and Units
Quantity Symbol SI Unit Symbol
Length l metre m
Mass m . kg
Time t second s
Temperature T/u kelvin K
Electric current I ampere ..
Amount of substance . mole mol
Table 1.1
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
4
Derived quantity is defined as a quantity which can be expressed
in term of base quantity.
Table 1.2 shows some examples of derived quantity.
Derived quantity Symbol Formulae Unit
Velocity
v s/t
m s
-1
Volume
.. l w t
m
3
Acceleration
a v/t
m s
-2
Density
m/V
.

Momentum
p
kg m s
-1
Force
m a
kg m s
-2
@ N
Work
W F s
.. @ J

Pressure
P F/A
N m
-2
@

Frequency
f 1/T
s
-1
@ ..


Table 1.2
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
5
It is used for presenting larger and smaller values.
Table 1.3 shows all the unit prefixes.












Examples:
5740000 m = 5740 km = 5.74 Mm
0.00000233 s = 2.33 10
6
s = 2.33 s
Prefix Multiple Symbol
tera 10
12
T
giga .

G
mega 10
6
M
kilo 10
3
..
deci 10
1
d
centi 10
2
c
milli 10
3
m
micro 10
6

nano ,,,,,,,

n
pico 10
12
p
1.1.1 Unit Prefixes
Table 1.3
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
6
Solve the following problems of unit conversion.
a. 15 mm
2
= ? m
2
b. 65 km h
1
= ? m s
1

c. 450 g cm
3
= ? kg m
3

Solution :
a. 15 mm
2
= ? m
2





b. 65 km h
-1
= ? m s
-1
1
st
method :




|
|
.
|

\
|

=

h 1
m 10 65
h km 65
3
1
Example 1.1 :
|
|
.
|

\
|

=

s ..........
m 10 65
h km 65
3
1
1 1
s m ........ h km 65

=
( ) ( )
2 2
......m mm 1 =
2 6 2
m 10 mm 1

=
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
7
2
nd
method :







c. 450 g cm
-3
= ? kg m
-3

|
.
|

\
|
=

h 1
km 65
h km 65
1
1 1
s m 18 h km 65

=
=
3
cm g 450
3 5 3
m kg 10 .5 4 cm g 450

=
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

s 3600
h ....
...... 1
.......m
h 1
km 65
h km 65
1
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
8
Follow Up Exercise
1. A hall bulletin board has an area of 250 cm
2
. What is this area in
square meters ( m
2
) ?
2. The density of metal mercury is 13.6 g/cm
3
. What is this density
as expressed in kg/m
3
3. A sheet of paper has length 27.95 cm, width 8.5 cm and
thickness of 0.10 mm. What is the volume of a sheet of paper in
m
3
?
4. Convert the following into its SI unit:
(a) 80 km h
1
= ? m s
1
(b) 450 g cm
3
= ? kg m
3

(c) 15 dm
3
= ? m
3

(d) 450 K = ? C
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
9
At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
a) Define scalar and vector quantities,
b) Perform vector addition and subtraction operations
graphically.
c) Resolve vector into two perpendicular components (2-D)
Components in the x and y axes.

Components in the unit vectors in Cartesian
coordinate.




Learning Outcome:
1.2 Scalars and Vectors (2 hours)
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
10
At the end of this topic, students should be able to:

d) Define and use dot (scalar) product;


e) Define and use cross (vector) product;



Direction of cross product is determined by corkscrew
method or right hand rule.

Learning Outcome:
1.2 Scalars and Vectors
( ) ( ) A B B A B A cos cos = = -

( ) ( ) A B B A B A sin sin = =

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
11
Scalar quantity is defined as a quantity with magnitude only.
e.g. mass, time, temperature, pressure, electric current,
work, energy and etc.
Mathematics operational : ordinary algebra

Vector quantity is defined as a quantity with both magnitude
& direction.
e.g. displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, momentum,
electric field, magnetic field and etc.
Mathematics operational : vector algebra
1.2 Scalars and Vectors
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
12




Table 1.4 shows written form (notation) of vectors.







Notation of magnitude of vectors.
1.2.1 Vectors
Vector A
Length of an arrow magnitude of vector A
displacement velocity acceleration
s

s
a v
v v =

a a =

s (bold)
v (bold) a (bold)
Direction of arrow direction of vector A
Table 1.4
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
13
Two vectors equal if both magnitude and direction are the same.
(shown in figure 1.1)





If vector A is multiplied by a scalar quantity k
Then, vector A is






if k = +ve, the vector is in the same direction as vector A.
if k = -ve, the vector is in the opposite direction of vector A.
P

Q P

=
Figure 1.1
A k

A k

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
14
Can be represented by using:
a) Direction of compass, i.e east, west, north, south, north-east,
north-west, south-east and south-west
b) Angle with a reference line
e.g. A boy throws a stone at a velocity of 20 m s
-1
, 50 above
horizontal.


1.2.2 Direction of Vectors
50

v

x
y
0
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
15
c) Cartesian coordinates
2-Dimension (2-D)
m) 5 m, 1 ( ) , ( = = y x s

y/m
x/m
5
1
0
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
16
3-Dimension (3-D)
s

2
3
4
m 2) 3, 4, ( ) , , ( = = z y x s

y/m
x/m
z/m
0
...i +...j + ..k s =
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
17
Unit vectors
A unit vector is a vector that has a magnitude of 1 with no units.
Are use to specify a given direction in space.
i , j & k is used to represent unit vectors
pointing in the positive x, y & z directions.
| | = | | = | | = 1
i

j
k

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
18
d) Polar coordinates








e) Denotes with + or signs.
( )

N,150 30 = F
F

150

+
+
-
-
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
19
There are two methods involved in addition of vectors graphically i.e.
Parallelogram
Triangle
For example :
1.2.3 Addition of Vectors
Parallelogram Triangle
B

B A

+
O
B A

+
B

B A

+
O
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
20
Triangle of vectors method:
a) Use a suitable scale to draw vector A.
b) From the head of vector A draw a line to represent the vector B.
c) Complete the triangle. Draw a line from the tail of vector A to the
head of vector B to represent the vector A + B.
A B B A

+ = +
Commutative Rule
B

A B

+
O
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
21
If there are more than 2 vectors therefore
Use vector polygon and associative rule. E.g.

R Q P

+ +
R

( ) Q P

+
( ) ( ) R Q P R Q P

+ + = + +
Associative Rule
( ) R Q P

+ +
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
22
Distributive Rule :

a.

b.
For example :
Proof of case a: let o = 2
( ) B A B A

o o o + = +
( ) A A A

| o | o + = +
number real are , | o
( ) ( ) B A B A

+ = + 2 o
B

B A

+
O
( ) B A

+ 2
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
23
A

2
O
B

2
B A

2 2 +
( ) B A B A

2 2 2 + = +

B A B A

2 2 + = +o o
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
24
Proof of case b: let o = 2 and | = 1
A

( ) ( ) A A A

3 1 2 = + = + | o
A

3
A A A A

1 2 + = + | o
A

2
A

+
A

3
=
( ) A A A

1 2 1 2 + = +

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
25
For example :
1.2.4 Subtraction of Vectors
Parallelogram Triangle
D

O
D C

O
......
( ) D C D C

+ =
C

D C

D C

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
26
Vectors subtraction can be used
to determine the velocity of one object relative to another object
i.e. to determine the relative velocity.
to determine the change in velocity of a moving object.


1. Vector A has a magnitude of 8.00 units and 45 above the positive x
axis. Vector B also has a magnitude of 8.00 units and is directed along
the negative x axis. Using graphical methods and suitable scale to
determine
a) b)

c) d)
(Hint : use 1 cm = 2.00 units)
Exercise 1 :
B A

+ B A

B 2 A

+ B A 2

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
27
1
st
method :
1.2.5 Resolving a Vector
R

y
R

x
R

u
0
x
y

R
R
x
cos = .......... R
x
=

R
R
y
sin =
Rsin .... =
2
nd
method :
R

y
R

x
R

|
0
x
y
| sin =
R
R
x
| sin R R
x
=
| cos =
R
R
y
.......... ..........
|
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
28
The magnitude of vector R :




Direction of vector R :





Vector R in terms of unit vectors written as
...... .......... or = R R

x
y
R
R
= tan
or
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

x
y
R
R

1
tan
..... .......... = R

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
29
A car moves at a velocity of 50 m s
-1
in a direction north 30 east.
Calculate the component of the velocity
a) due north. b) due east.
Solution :
Example 1.2 :
N
E W
S
N
v

E
v

30

60

a)





b)
or

60 v v
N
sin =
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
30




A particle S experienced a force of 100 N as shown in figure above.
Determine the x-component and the y-component of the force.
Solution :
Example 1.3 :
150

F

S

x

150

30

F

S

x

y

y
F

x
F

Vector x-component y-component

30 cos F F
x
=
N 6 . 6 8 =
x
F
or
F

150 cos F F
x
=
... .......... =
x
F

150 cos 100 =
x
F
N 0 5 =
y
F
or

150 sin F F
y
=
........ =
y
F

150 sin 100 =
y
F
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
31












The figure above shows three forces F
1
, F
2
and F
3
acted on a particle
O. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant force on
particle O.
Example 1.4 :
y

30
o
O

) N 30 (
2
F

) N 10 (
1
F

30
o
x

) N 40 (
3
F

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
32
30
o
Solution :
O

y

x

3
F

30
o
y 3
F

x
F
2

1
F

2
F

60
o
y
F
2

x 3
F

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
33
Solution :
Vector x-component y-component
1
F

3
F

2
F

N 0
1
=
x
F
1 1
F F
y
=
N 0 1
1
=
y
F

60 sin 30
2
=
y
F
N 6 2
2
=
y
F

30 cos 40
3
=
x
F
N 34.6
3
=
x
F
Vector
sum
....... .......... =
x
F
........ .......... =
y
F
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
34
y

x

O
Solution :
The magnitude of the resultant force is







and






Its direction is 162 from positive x-axis OR 18 above negative x-axis.
( ) ( )
2 2

+ =
y x r
F F F
52.1 ....
r
F =
................
r
F =
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

x
y
F
F

1
tan

18
49.6
16
tan
1
=
|
.
|

\
|

y
F

x
F

162
r
F

18

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
35
1. Vector has components A
x
= 1.30 cm, A
y
= 2.25 cm; vector
has components B
x
= 4.10 cm, B
y
= -3.75 cm. Determine
a) the components of the vector sum ,
b) the magnitude and direction of ,
c) the components of the vector ,
d) the magnitude and direction of . (Young & freedman,pg.35,no.1.42)
ANS. : 5.40 cm, -1.50 cm; 5.60 cm, 345; 2.80 cm, -6.00 cm;
6.62 cm, 295
2. For the vectors and in Figure 1.2, use the method of vector
resolution to determine the magnitude and direction of
a) the vector sum ,
b) the vector sum ,
c) the vector difference ,
d) the vector difference .
(Young & freedman,pg.35,no.1.39)
ANS. : 11.1 m s
-1
, 77.6; U think;
28.5 m s
-1
, 202; 28.5 m s
-1
, 22.2
Exercise 2 :
B A

+
A

B A

+
A B

A B

B A

+
A B

+
B A

A B

Figure 1.2
y
x
0
37.0
( )
-1
s m 18.0 B

( )
-1
s m 12.0 A

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
36
3. Vector points in the negative x direction. Vector points at an
angle of 30 above the positive x axis. Vector has a magnitude of
15 m and points in a direction 40 below the positive x axis. Given
that , determine the magnitudes of and .
(Walker,pg.78,no. 65)
ANS. : 28 m; 19 m
4. Given three vectors P, Q and R as shown in Figure 1.3.






Calculate the resultant vector of P, Q and R.
ANS. : 49.4 m s
2
; 70.1 above + x-axis
Exercise 2 :
C

0 = + + C B A

A

Figure 1.3
y
x
0
50
( )
2
s m 10

R

( )
2
s m 35

P

( )
2
s m 24

Q

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
37
notations
E.g. unit vector a a vector with a magnitude of 1 unit in the direction
of vector A.




Unit vectors are dimensionless.


Unit vector for 3 dimension axes :

1.2.6 Unit Vectors
A

c b a ,

,
1

= =
A
A
a

| | 1

= a
) ( @

- bold j j axis y
1

= = = k j i
) ( @

- bold i i axis x
) ( @

- bold k k axis z
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
38









Vector can be written in term of unit vectors as :


Magnitude of vector,
x
z
y
k

k r j r i r r
z y x


+ + =

( ) ( ) ( )
2
z
2
y
2
x
r r r r + + =
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
39
E.g. :
( )m

4 k j i s + + =

( ) ( ) ( ) m 5.39 2 3 4
2 2 2
= + + = s
j

3
x/m
y/m
z/m
0
s

4 k

2
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
40
Two vectors are given as:


Calculate
a) the vector and its magnitude,
b) the vector and its magnitude,
c) the vector and its magnitude.
Solution :
a)






The magnitude,
Example 1.5 :
a b

( )m

k j i a + =

b a

+
( )m

4 k j i b + =

( )
........................
x
a b + =
( )
........................
y
a b + =
......................... a b + =
( ) k b a b a
z z z

7 1 6 = + = + = +

..................... 9.95 m a b + = =
b a

+ 2
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
41
b)






The magnitude,

c)






The magnitude,
( )
............
x x
x
b a b a = =
( )
................
y y
y
b a b a = =
.............. m b a =
( )
..................
z z
z
b a b a = =
..................... b a =
( )
2 .....................
x
a b + =
( )
2 .........................
y
a b + =
2 ....................... m a b + =
( ) ( ) k b a b a
z z z

13 1 6 2 2 2 = + = + = +

( ) ( ) ( ) m 15.9 13 7 6 2
2 2 2
= + + = +b a
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
42
Scalar (dot) product
The physical meaning of the scalar product can be explained by
considering two vectors and as shown in Figure 1.4a.





Figure 1.4b shows the projection of vector onto the direction of
vector .





Figure 1.4c shows the projection of vector onto the direction of
vector .
1.2.7 Multiplication of Vectors
A

u
A

Figure 1.4a
u
A

Bcos
Figure 1.4b
u
A

Acos
Figure 1.4c
( ) A B A B A

to parallel of component = -
( ) B A B B A

to parallel of component = -
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
43
From the Figure 1.4b, the scalar product can be defined as


meanwhile from the Figure 1.4c,


where
The scalar product is a scalar quantity.
The angle u ranges from 0 to 180 .
When


The scalar product obeys the commutative law of multiplication i.e.
( ) B A B A cos = -

vectors o between tw angle :
( ) A B A B cos = -


90 0 < <
scalar product is positive

180 0 9 < <
scalar product is negative

90 =
scalar product is zero
A B B A

- = -
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
44
Example of scalar product is work done by a constant force where the
expression is given by

The scalar product of the unit vectors are shown below :
( ) ( ) F s s F s F W cos cos = = - =

x
z
y
k

( ) ( ) 1 1 1 cos

2
= = = -
o 2
0 i i i
1


= - = - = - k k j j i i
( ) ( ) 1 1 1 cos

2
= = = -
o 2
0 j j j
( ) ( ) 1 1 1 cos

2
= = = -
o 2
0 k k k
( )( ) 0 9 cos

= = -
o
0 1 1 j i
0

= - = - = - k i k j j i
( )( ) 0 9 cos

= = -
o
0 1 1 k i
( )( ) 0 9 cos

= = -
o
0 1 1 k j
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
45
Calculate the and the angle u between vectors and for the
following problems.
a) b)

Solution :
a)



The magnitude of the vectors:

The angle u ,
Example 1.6 :
A

B A

- B

......... ........ ....... A B i i j j k k - = - + - + -
( ) ( ) ( ) 3 1 1 1
2 2 2
= + + = A
k j i A


+ =

k j i A

4 + =

k j i B

3

4 =

k j B

3

2 + =

............. A B - =
3 = - B A

( ) ( ) ( ) 29 3 2 4
2 2 2
= + + = B
AB B A cos = -

|
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
-
=

29 3
3
cos cos
1 1
AB
B A

2 . 71 =
ANS.:3; 99.4
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
46






Referring to the vectors in Figure 1.5,
a) determine the scalar product between them.
b) express the resultant vector of C and D in unit vector.
Solution :
a) The angle between vectors C and D is

Therefore
Example 1.7 :
1 99 ....... C D . - =
( )

174 19 25 180 = + =
Figure 1.5
y
x
0
( ) m 1 C

( ) m 2 D
19
25
CD D C cos = -

................... =
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
47
b) Vectors C and D in unit vector are





and


Hence
j C i C C
y x

+ =

......... .......... i j = +
( )m

42 . 0

91 0 j i . C + =

( ) ( ) j i D C

65 . 0 42 . 0

89 . 1 91 . 0 + + = +

( )m

23 . 0

98 . 0 j i =
( ) ( )j i D

19 sin 2

19 cos 2

+ =
.....................m D =
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
48
Vector (cross) product
Consider two vectors :


In general, the vector product is defined as

and its magnitude is given by



where
The angle u ranges from 0 to 180 so the vector product always
positive value.
Vector product is a vector quantity.
The direction of vector is determined by
k r j q i p B


+ + =

k z j y i x A


+ + =

C B A

=
AB B A C B A sin sin = = =

vectors o between tw angle :
RIGHT-HAND RULE
C

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
49
For example:
How to use right hand rule :
Point the 4 fingers to the direction of the 1
st
vector.
Swept the 4 fingers from the 1
st
vector towards the 2
nd
vector.
The thumb shows the direction of the vector product.










Direction of the vector product always perpendicular
to the plane containing the vectors and .
A

C B A

=
C A B

=
A B B A

= but ( ) A B B A

=
B

) (C

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
50
The vector product of the unit vectors are shown below :












Example of vector product is a magnetic force on the straight
conductor carrying current places in magnetic field where the
expression is given by

x
z
y
k

i j k k j

= =
k i j j i


= =
j k i i k

= =
0


= = = k k j j i i
0 in

= =
o 2
0 s i i i
0 in

= =
o 2
0 s j j j
0 in

= =
o 2
0 s k k k
( ) B l I F

=
IlB F sin =
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
51
The vector product can also be expressed in determinant form as





1
st
method :



2
nd
method :



Note :
The angle between two vectors can only be determined by
using the scalar (dot) product.
r q p
z y x
k j i
B A

=

( ) ( ) ( )k yp xq j zp xr i zq yr B A


+ =

( ) ( ) ( )k yp xq j xr zp i zq yr B A


+ + =

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
52
Given two vectors :

Determine
a) and its magnitude b)
c) the angle between vectors and .
Solution :
a)







The magnitude,
Example 1.8 :

i j k
A B =
B A

B A

-
A B =
k j i B A

2

6 1

10 + =

19 = B A

k j i A

3 =

k i B

5

A B =
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
53
b)





c) The magnitude of vectors,

..
.
Using the scalar (dot) product formula,
( ) ( ) k j i k j i B A

5

3 + - = -

2 = - B A

AB B A cos = -

84 =
14 A =
26 B =
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
54
1. If vector and vector , determine
a) , b) , c) .
ANS. :

2. Three vectors are given as follow :

Calculate
a) , b) , c) .
ANS. :

3. If vector and vector ,
determine
a) the direction of
b) the angle between and .
ANS. : U think, 92.8

Exercise 3 :
46 ; 26 ;

2k
j i a

+

= 5 3

j i b

+

= 4 2

b a

b a

- ( ) b b a

- +
k j i c k j i b k j i a

2 and

3 + + = + = + =

( ) c b a

-
( ) c b a

+ - ( ) c b a

+
k j i

9

11

5 ; 9 ; 21
k j i P

3 + =

k j i Q

3

2 + + =

Q P

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
55
THE END
Next Chapter
CHAPTER 2 :
Kinematics of Linear Motion