Physics PHU124 FALL 2015

Dr. Farid Amalou

CHAPTER 1

Units, Physical Quantities, and

Vectors

PowerPoint Lectures for

University Physics, Thirteenth Edition
Hugh D. Young and Roger A. Freedman

Copyright Pearson Education Inc Modified 8/15 by Scott Hildereth, Chabot College.

Three KEYS for Chapter 1

Fundamental quantities in physics
(length, mass, time)
Units (meters, kilograms, seconds...)
Dimensional Analysis
Force = kg meter/sec2
Power = Force x Velocity
= kg m2/sec3

Three KEYS for Chapter 1

Fundamental quantities in physics
(length, mass, time)
Units (meters, kilograms, seconds...)
Dimensional Analysis
Significant figures in calculations
6.696 x 104 miles/hour
67,000 miles hour

Three KEYS for Chapter 1

Fundamental quantities in physics
(length, mass, time)
Units (meters, kilograms, seconds...)
Dimensional Analysis
Significant figures in calculations
Vectors (magnitude, direction, units)

5 m/s at 45

What you MUST be able to do

Vectors & Vector mathematics
vector components
Ex: v = velocity
vx = v cosq

is the x component

vy = v sinq

is the y component

|v|2 = (vx)2 + (vy)2

5 m/s at 45
3.54 m/s in y

3.54 m/s in x

What you MUST be able to do

Vectors & Vector mathematics
vector components
Ex: v = velocity; vx = v cosq
unit vectors (indicating direction only)
vx =
vy =
Adding, subtracting, & multiplying
vectors

Standards and units

Length, mass, and time = three fundamental
quantities (dimensions) of physics.
The SI (Systme International) is the most widely
used system of units.
Meeting ISO standards are mandatory for
some industries. Why?
In SI units, length is measured in meters, mass in
kilograms, and time in seconds.

Unit consistency and conversions

An equation must be dimensionally consistent.
Terms to be added or equated must always
have the same units. (Be sure youre adding
apples to apples.)
OK: 5 meters/sec x 10 hours =~ 2 x 102 km
(distance/time) x (time) = distance

Unit consistency and conversions

An equation must be dimensionally consistent.
Terms to be added or equated must always
have the same units. (Be sure youre adding
apples to apples.)
OK: 5 meters/sec x 10 hours =~ 2 x 102 km
5 meters/sec x 10 hour x (3600 sec/hour)
= 180,000 meters = 180 km = ~ 2 x 102 km

Unit consistency and conversions

An equation must be dimensionally consistent.
Terms to be added or equated must always
have the same units. (Be sure youre adding
apples to apples.)

OK: 5 meters/sec x 10 hours =~ 2 x 102 km

NOT: 5 meters/sec x 10 kg = 50 Joules
(velocity) x (mass) = (energy)

Unit prefixes
Table 1.1 shows some larger and smaller units for the
fundamental quantities.

Learn these and prefixes like Mega, Tera, Pico, etc.!

Skip Ahead to Slide 24 Sig Fig Example

Measurement & Uncertainty

No measurement is exact; there is always
some uncertainty due to limited instrument
accuracy and difficulty reading results.

Measurement & Uncertainty

The precision and also uncertainty - of

a measured quantity is indicated by its
number of significant figures.
Ex: 8.7 centimeters
2 sig figs
Specific rules for significant figures exist
In online homework, sig figs matter!

Significant Figures
Number of significant figures = number of
reliably known digits in a number.
Often possible to tell # of significant figures by the
way the number is written:

23.21 cm = four significant figures.

0.062 cm = two significant figures

(initial zeroes dont count).

Significant Figures
Numbers ending in zero are ambiguous. Does
the last zero mean uncertainty to a factor of
10, or just 1?
Is 20 cm precise to 10 cm, or 1? We need rules!

20 cm = one significant figure

(trailing zeroes dont count w/o decimal point)

20. cm = two significant figures

(trailing zeroes DO count w/ decimal point)

20.0 cm = three significant figures

Rules for Significant Figures

When multiplying or dividing numbers, or
using functions, result has as many sig figs as
term with fewest (the least precise).
ex: 11.3 cm x 6.8 cm = 77 cm.
When adding or subtracting, answer is no
more precise than least precise number used.

ex: 1.213 + 2 = 3, not 3.213!

Significant Figures
Calculators will not give right # of sig
figs; usually give too many but
sometimes give too few (especially if
there are trailing zeroes after a
decimal point).
top image: result of 2.0/3.0
bottom image: result of 2.5 x 3.2

Scientific Notation
Scientific notation is commonly used in
physics; it allows the number of significant
figures to be clearly shown.
Ex: cannot easily tell how many significant
figures in 36,900.
Clearly
and

3.69 x 104
3.690 x 104

has three;
has four.

Measurement & Uncertainty

No measurement is exact; there is always
some uncertainty due to limited instrument
accuracy and difficulty reading results.

Photo illustrates this

it would be difficult to
measure the width of
this board more
accurately than 1 mm.

Uncertainty and significant figures

Every measurement has uncertainty
Ex: 8.7 cm (2 sig figs)
8 is (fairly) certain

8.6? 8.8?
8.71? 8.69?
Good practice include uncertainty
with every measurement!
8.7 0.1 meters

Uncertainty and significant figures

Uncertainty should match
measurement in the least precise
digit:
8.7 0.1 centimeters
8.70 0.10 centimeters
8.709 0.034 centimeters
8 1 centimeters
Not
8.7 +/- 0.034 cm

Relative Uncertainty
Relative uncertainty: a percentage, the ratio of
uncertainty to measured value, multiplied by 100.
ex. Measure a phone to be 8.8 0.1 cm
What is the relative uncertainty in this
measurement?

Uncertainty and significant figures

Physics involves
approximations; these can
affect the precision of a
measurement.

Uncertainty and significant figures

As this train mishap

illustrates, even a small
percent error can have
spectacular results!

Conceptual Example: Significant figures

Using a protractor, you measure an angle to be 30.
(a) How many significant figures should you quote in this
measurement?

Conceptual Example: Significant figures

Using a protractor, you measure an angle to be 30.
(a) How many significant figures should you quote in this
measurement? What uncertainty?
2 sig figs! (30. +/- 1 degrees or 3.0 x 101 +/- 1 degrees)

Conceptual Example: Significant figures

Using a protractor, you measure an angle to be 30.
(b) What result would a calculator give for the cosine of this
result? What should you report?

Conceptual Example: Significant figures

Using a protractor, you measure an angle to be 30.
(b) What result would a calculator give for the cosine of this
result? What should you report?

0.866025403, but to two sig figs, 0.87!

1-3 Accuracy vs. Precision

Accuracy is how close a measurement comes
to the true value.
ex. Acceleration of Earths gravity = 9.81 m/sec2
Your experiment produces 10 1 m/sec2

You were accurate! How accurate? Measured

by ERROR.

|Actual Measured|/Actual x 100%

| 9.81 10 | / 9.81 x 100% = 1.9% Error

Accuracy vs. Precision

Accuracy is how close a measurement comes
to the true value
established by % error
Precision is a measure of repeatability of the
measurement using the same instrument.
established by uncertainty in a measurement
reflected by the # of significant figures

Accuracy vs. Precision

Accuracy vs. Precision

Accuracy vs. Precision ?

Accuracy vs. Precision ?

Use leastsquares fit to
find line that
minimizes
deviation

Large error bars

(uncertainty in
measurements) = not
very precise

Lots of data
IMPROVES fit
and overall
precision

Accuracy vs. Precision Example

Example:
You measure the acceleration of Earths gravitational
force in the lab, which is accepted to be 9.81 m/sec2
Your experiment produces 8.334 m/sec2
Were you accurate? Were you precise?

Accuracy vs. Precision

Accuracy is how close a measurement comes
to the true value. (established by % error)
ex. Your experiment produces 8.334 m/sec2
for the acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/sec2)
Accuracy: (9.81 8.334)/9.81 x 100% = 15% error
Is this good enough? Only you (or your
boss/customer) know for sure! J

Accuracy vs. Precision

Precision is the repeatability of the
measurement using the same instrument.
ex. Your experiment produces 8.334 m/sec2
for the acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/sec2)
Precision indicated by 4 sig figs
Seems (subjectively) very precise and precisely
wrong!

Accuracy vs. Precision

Better Technique: Include uncertainty
Your experiment produces
8.334 m/sec2 +/- 0.077 m/sec2
Your relative uncertainty is
.077/8.334 x 100% = ~1%
But your error was ~ 15%

NOT a good result!

Accuracy vs. Precision

Better Technique: Include uncertainty
Your experiment produces
8.3 m/sec2 +/- 1.2 m/sec2
Your relative uncertainty is
1.2 / 8.3 x 100% = ~15%
Your error was still ~ 15%

Much more reasonable a result!

Accuracy vs. Precision

Precision is a measure of repeatability of the
measurement using the same instrument.
established by uncertainty in a measurement
reflected by the # of significant figures
improved by repeated measurements!

Statistically, if each measurement is independent

make n measurements (and n> 10)
Improve precision by (n-1)
Make 10 measurements, % uncertainty ~ 1/3

1-6 Order of Magnitude: Rapid Estimating

Quick way to estimate calculated quantity:
round off all numbers in a calculation to
one significant figure and then calculate.
result should be right order of magnitude
expressed by rounding off to nearest
power of 10
104 meters
108 light years

Order of Magnitude: Rapid Estimating

Example: Volume of a lake

Estimate how much

water there is in a
particular lake, which is
roughly circular, about 1
km across, and you
guess it has an average
depth of about 10 m.

Order of Magnitude: Rapid Estimating

Example: Volume of a lake

Volume = p x r2 x depth
= ~ 3 x 500 x 500 x 10
= ~75 x 105
= ~ 100 x 105
= ~ 107 cubic meters

Order of Magnitude: Rapid Estimating

Example: Volume of a lake

Volume = p x r2 x depth
= 7,853,981.634 cu. m
~ 107 cubic meters

1-6 Order of Magnitude: Rapid Estimating

Example: Thickness of a page.

Estimate the thickness

of a page of your
textbook.
(Hint: you dont need
one of these!)

Solving problems in physics

The textbook offers a systematic problem-solving strategy
with techniques for setting up and solving problems
efficiently and accurately.

Solving problems in physics

Step 1: Identify relevant concepts, variables, what is
known, what is needed, what is missing.

Solving problems in physics

Step 2: Set up the Problem MAKE a SKETCH, label it,
act it out, model it, decide what equations might apply.
What units should the answer have? What value?

Solving problems in physics

Step 3: Execute the Solution, and EVALUATE your
answer! Are the units right? Is it the right order of
magnitude? Does it make SENSE?

Solving problems in physics

Good problems to gauge your learning
Test your Understanding Questions throughout
the book
Conceptual Clicker questions linked online
Two dot problems in the chapter
Good problems to review before exams
BRIDGING Problem @ end of each chapter ***

Vectors and scalars

A scalar quantity can be described by a single

number, with some meaningful unit
4 oranges
20 miles
5 miles/hour
10 Joules of energy
9 Volts

Vectors and scalars

A scalar quantity can be described by a single

number with some meaningful unit
A vector quantity has a magnitude and a direction in
space, as well as some meaningful unit.
5 miles/hour North
18 Newtons in the x direction
50 Volts/meter down

Vectors and scalars

A scalar quantity can be described by a single

number with some meaningful unit
A vector quantity has a magnitude and a direction in
space, as well as some meaningful unit.
To establish the direction, you MUST first have a
coordinate system!
Standard x-y Cartesian coordinates common
Compass directions (N-E-S-W)

Drawing vectors
Draw a vector as a line with an arrowhead at its tip.
The length of the line shows the vectors magnitude.
The direction of the line shows the vectors direction
relative to a coordinate system (that should be indicated!)
y

x
z

5 m/sec at
30 degrees from the
x axis towards y in
the xy plane

Drawing vectors
Vectors can be identical in magnitude, direction, and units,
but start from different places

Drawing vectors
Negative vectors refer to direction relative to some standard
coordinate already established not to magnitude.

Adding two vectors graphically

Two vectors may be added graphically using either the head-to-tail
method or the parallelogram method.

Adding two vectors graphically

Two vectors may be added graphically using either the head-to-tail
method or the parallelogram method.

Adding two vectors graphically

Adding more than two vectors graphically

To add several vectors, use the head-to-tail method.
The vectors can be added in any order.

Adding more than two vectors graphicallyFigure 1.13

To add several vectors, use the head-to-tail method.
The vectors can be added in any order.

Subtracting vectors
Reverse direction, and add normally head-to-tail

Subtracting vectors
Figure 1.14 shows how to subtract vectors.

Multiplying a vector by a scalar

If c is a scalar,
the

product cA has
magnitude |c|A.

Addition of two vectors at right angles

First add vectors graphically.
Use trigonometry to find magnitude & direction of sum.

Addition of two vectors at right angles

Displacement (D) = (1.002 + 2.002) = 2.24 km
Direction f = tan-1(2.00/1.00) = 63.4 East of North

Note how the final answer has THREE things!

Answer: 2.24 km at 63.4 degrees East of North

Magnitude (with correct sig. figs!)

Note how the final answer has THREE things!

Answer: 2.24 km at 63.4 degrees East of North

Magnitude (with correct sig. figs!)
Units

Note how the final answer has THREE things!

Answer: 2.24 km at 63.4

degrees East of North

Magnitude (with correct sig. figs!)

Units
Direction

Components of a vector
Represent any vector by an x-component Ax and a y-component Ay.
Use trigonometry to find the components of a vector: Ax = Acos and
Ay = Asin , where is measured from the +x-axis toward the +y-axis.

Positive and negative components

The components of a vector can

be positive or negative numbers.

Finding components
We can calculate the components of a vector from its magnitude
and direction.

Calculations using components

We can use the components of a vector to find its magnitude
Ay
2
2
A = Ax + Ay and tanq =
and direction:
A
x

We can use the components of a

set of vectors to find the components
of their sum:
Rx = Ax + Bx + Cx +L, Ry = Ay + By + C y +L

Adding vectors using their components

Unit vectors

A unit vector has a magnitude

of 1 with no units.
The unit vector points in the
$
+x-direction, $j points in the +ydirection, and $$k points in the
+z-direction.
Any vector can be expressed
in terms of its components as

$
A =Ax+ Ay $j + Az $k.

The scalar product

The scalar
product of two
vectors (the
dot product) is
A B = ABcosf

The scalar product

The scalar product of two vectors (the dot
product) is
A B = ABcosf
Useful for
Work (energy) required or released as force is
applied over a distance (4A)
Flux of Electric and Magnetic fields moving through
surfaces and volumes in space (4B)

Calculating a scalar product

By components, A B = AxBx + AyBy + AzBz
Example: A = 4.00 m @ 53.0, B = 5.00 m @ 130

Calculating a scalar product

By components, A B = AxBx + AyBy + AzBz
Example: A = 4.00 m @ 53.0, B = 5.00 m @ 130
Ax = 4.00 cos 53 = 2.407
Ay = 4.00 sin 53 = 3.195
Bx = 5.00 cos 130 = -3.214
By = 5.00 sin 130 = 3.830
AxBx + AyBy = 4.50 meters
A B = ABcosf = (4.00)(5.00) cos(130-53) = 4.50 meters2

The vector product

The vector product (cross product) A x B of two vectors is a vector
Magnitude = AB sin f
Direction = orthogonal (perpendicular) to A and B,
using the Right Hand Rule

B
z

AxB

The vector cross product

The cross product of two vectors is
A x B (with magnitude ABsinf)
Useful for
Torque from a force applied at a distance away from
an axle or axis of rotation (4A)
Calculating dipole moments and forces from
Magnetic Fields on moving charges (4B)

The vector product

The vector
product (cross
product) of
two vectors has
magnitude
r r
| A B| = ABsinf

and the righthand rule gives

its direction.