You are on page 1of 52

FHSP1014

Physics I
Please download your syllabus from the WBLE and make your
own lesson plan – plan your own studies.
FHSP1014 Physics 1

 Lecturer: Ms Teen Soh Hong


 Office: CF45, level 9
 Email: teensh@utar.edu.my
Rules
Be punctual

Not to miss/skip classes

If you fall sick, apply for leave within 1 week’s time

Attendance below 80% will be barred → failed

Academic advisory week – Week 7 onward


How Do I Study Physics?
Preparation and hard work are key to any
successful learning endeavor. But a major
factor not often mentioned is organization.

We will discuss
several tips for
learning physics
principles in the
following slides.
Subject Outlines
1. Introduction Test 1
2. Scalar and Vector
3. Translational Kinematics
4. Forces and The Laws of Motion
5. Energy-Work Theorem and Power
6. Momentum and Collisions Test 2
7. Circular Motion, Rotational Motion
and Dynamics
8. Properties of Matter and Fluid Mechanics
9. Temperature and Heat
FHSP1014: Physics I
1.
Assessment
Coursework (50%)
i) Test 1
Percentage
15%
ii) Test 2 15%
iii) 1 full laboratory report 10%
iv) 2 partial lab reports 10%

2. Final Examination (50%)


4 Questions 50%
(each 25 marks)
TOTAL 100%
Reference Books
Main Reference Books:
1. Serway, R.A. & Vuille, C. (2018). College physics (11th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Cengage Learning Brooks/Cole.
2. Knight, R.D. (2015). College physics (3rd ed.). United States of America:
Pearson Addison Wesley.
3. Cutnell, J.D., & Johnson, K.W. (2014). Physics (10th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John
Wiley & Sons.

Additional Reference Books:


5. Paul Dividovits. (2008). Physics in biology and medicine (3rd ed.). Academic
Press.
6. Jay Newman. (2008). Physics of the life sciences. Springer.
7. Walker, J.S. (2010). Physics (4th ed.). San Francisco: Pearson Addison Wesley.
Lecture 1:
Introduction
• Physics vs Biology
• Units and dimensional analysis
• Uncertainty and significant figure
• Coordinate systems
• Idealisation
• Approximation

9
What is Physics?
Physics is the science that investigates the
fundamental concepts of matter, energy,
and space, and the relationships among them.

Physics is the most basic of the


sciences, support all other
disciplines of science, medicine,
and engineering.

Physicists are problem


solvers, often meeting new
NASA challenges and developing new
theories.
What is Biology?
Biologyisisa anatural
Biology naturalscience
scienceconcerned
concerned with
with the
the study
study of lifeofand
life living
and living organisms,
organisms, including their
including their
structure, structure,
function, function,
growth, origin,growth,
evolution,
origin, evolution,
distribution, distribution, and taxonomy.
and taxonomy.
Physical Quantities
A physical quantity is a quantifiable or
assignable property ascribed to a particular
phenomenon, body, or substance.

Length
Electric
Charge Time
Units of Measurements
In order to quantify a physical quantity, we must
compare it with a standard quantity of the same kind
which we consider as one unit so as to obtain its value
(how much).
For example, when we measure
how long an object is, we compare
it with a length equivalent to one
meter which is the standard or
Measuring
established unit for length.
diameter of disk.
Then we can say that the object
has a diameter of, say 0.12 m or
12 centimeters.
Seven Fundamental Units
Website: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/index.html

Quantity Unit Symbol


Length Meter m
Mass Kilogram kg
Time Second s
Electric Current Ampere A
Temperature Kelvin K
Luminous Intensity Candela cd
Amount of Substance Mole mol
Other units like Newton (N) for Force can be
derived from these.
Converting Units
To convert from one unit of the same quantity
to another, we must find its equivalent value
for the same amount and multiply
accordingly:
Example:
To convert from 5 inches to centimeters,(cm)
we know that 1 in = 2.54 cm,

so 5 inches = 5 in x 2.54 cm = 12.7 cm.


1 in
Procedure for Converting Units
1. Write down quantity to be converted.
2. Define each unit in terms of desired
unit.
3. For each definition, form two conversion
factors, one being the reciprocal of the
other.
4. Multiply the quantity to be converted by
those factors that will cancel all but the
desired units.
Example 1: Convert 12 in. to centimeters
given that 1 in. = 2.54 cm.
Step 1: Write down
quantity to be converted. 12 in.

Step 2: Define each


1 in. = 2.54 cm
unit in terms of desired
unit. 1 in.
Step 3: For each
2.54 cm
definition, form two
conversion factors, one 2.54 cm
being the reciprocal/equal 1 in
of the other.
Example 1 (Cont.): Convert 12 in. to
centimeters given that 1 in. = 2.54 cm.
1 in. 2.54 cm
From Step 3. or
2.54 cm 1 in
Step 4: Multiply by those factors that will
cancel all but the desired units. Treat unit
symbols algebraically.
Wrong
 
2
1 in. in.
12 in.    4.72 Choice!
 2.54 cm  cm

 2.54 cm 
12 in.    30.5 cm Correct
 1 in.  Answer!
Unit prefixes
 Once fundamental units are defined, we can introduce
larger and smaller units for the same physical
quantities.
 In the metric system, these other units are related to the
fundamental units by multiples of 10 or 1/10.
 We usually express multiples of 10 or 1/10 in
exponential notation: 1000 =103, 1/1000 = 10-3.
 Names of additional units are derived by adding a prefix
to the name of the fundamental unit.

EXAMPLE SI unit number SI unit

1 nanometer = 1 nm = 10-9 m
number
Prefix Prefix symbol
EXAMPLE
Length
1 nanometer = 1 nm = 10-9 m
1 micrometer = 1  m = 10-6 m
1 millimeter = 1 mm = 10-3 m
1 centimeter = 1 cm = 10-2 m
1 kilometer = 1 km = 103 m

Mass
1 microgram = 1  g = 10-6 g = 10-9 kg
1 milligram = 1 mg = 10-3 g = 10-6 kg
1 gram = 1 g = 10-3 kg

Time
1 nanosecond = 1 ns = 10-9 s
1 microsecond = 1  s = 10-6 s
1 millisecond = 1 ms = 10-3 s
Scientific Notation
Scientific notation provides a short-hand method for
expressing very small and very large numbers.
-9
0.000000001  10 Example (a) :
0.000001  10
-6 93,000,000 m = 9.30 x 107 m
0.001  10
-3 0.00457 m = 4.57 x 10-3 m

1  100 Example (b) :



1000 103
876 m 8.76 x 102 m
v 
1,000,000  106
-3
0.00370 s 3.70 x 10 s
1,000,000,000  109 5
v  2.37 10 m / s
Example 2:
A typical E. coli bacterium is about 5 micrometers (or microns)
in length. Give the length in millimeter and kilometers.
Solution:
5 microns  5m  5  10-6 m
in millimeter :
5 10-6 103 10-3  m  5 10-6 103 10-3 m
 
 5  10-63 10-3  milli m  5  10-3 mm
in kilometer :
 
5  10-6 10-3 103 m  5  10-6 10-3 103 m
 
 5  10-6 -3 103  kilo m  5  10-9 km
Dimensional Analysis
1. Technique to check whether an
equation might be correct.
2. Dimensions (length L, mass M, QUANTITY DIMENSION
time T, combinations) can be Mass M
multiplied and divided but not Length L
added or subtracted. Time T
3. Each term on both sides of the Electric current A
equation must have the same
Temperature θ
dimensions.
Amount of N
4. Cannot give numerical factors: matter
this is its limitation.
5. Allows a check for calculations
which can show up in the units.
Dimensional Analysis
Any valid physical formula must be dimensionally
consistent – each term must have the same dimensions

TABLE: Dimensions of Some Common


Physical Quantities
Quantity Dimension
Example:
Distance L From the table:
Area L2
Volume L3
Distance = velocity × time
Velocity L/T Velocity = acceleration × time
Acceleration L/T2
Energy = mass × (velocity)2
Energy ML2/T2
Example 3:
Is the following equation dimensionally correct?
x vt
x  vt
Solution:

x  vt

L
L  (T)  L
T
YES!
 L = length M = mass T = time
Example 4: Analysis of a Power Law
Suppose we are told that the acceleration a of a particle
moving with uniform speed v in a circle of radius r is
proportional to some power of r, say rn, and some power of
v, say vm. Determine the values of n and m.
ar v n m
Let a  krn v m , k is a constant
Solution:
Let a  kr v , k is a constant
n m

m nm
L n L  L
L    m
T
2
T T
n  m  1 and m  2 n  -1
Exercise 1:

Velocity is related to acceleration and distance by


the following expression:

v  2ax
2 p

Find the power p that makes this equation


dimensionally consistent

Answer: p =1
Unit Analysis
 using units instead of symbols in dimensional analysis.
 Unit analysis can be used to determine the units of a
quantity from a correct equation.
Example:
Check the validity of the following equation by using the unit analysis.
v -u
a
t
unit of a  ms -2
v - u ms -1
unit of   ms -2
t s
Uncertainty of Measurement
 Since Physics is based on measurements, and measurements are
never perfect, physics is surely an inexact science and will always
contain uncertainties
 Uncertainty is the maximum difference between the measured
value and true value.
 Significant figures is used to indicated the number of meaningful
digits.
 Example: If you measure the thickness of the cover of a book using
an ordinary ruler, the measurement is reliable only to the
nearest millimeter.
If a micrometer caliper is used, the measurement is
reliable up to the nearest 0.01 millimeter.
 The difference between the above two measuring devices lies in
their uncertainty.
Uncertainty of Measurement
(Cont.)
 The measurement using the micrometer caliper has a
smaller uncertainty as it is more precise.
 We also refer to the uncertainty as the error.
 The accuracy of a measured value can be indicated by
writing the number, the symbol , and a number
indicating the uncertainty of the measurement.
 Example: diameter of a steel rod is 16.46  0.01 mm,
means the true value will lie between 16.45 to 16.47
mm.
 The uncertainty of a number is not stated explicitly but is
indicated by the no. of meaningful digits, or significant
figures, in the measured value.
 Two values with the same number of significant figures
may have different uncertainties.
Uncertainty of Measurement (Cont.)

All measurements are assumed to be


approximate with the last digit estimated.

The length in
“cm” here is
0 1 2 commonly written
as:
1.45

The last digit “5” is determined by the half of


smallest division (i.e 0.05 cm) of the meter rule.
Significant Digits and
Numbers
When writing numbers, zeros used ONLY to help in
locating the decimal point are NOT significant —
others are. See examples.

 0.0062 cm 2 significant figures


 4.0500 cm 5 significant figures
 0.1061 cm 4 significant figures
 50.0 cm 3 significant figures
 50,600 cm 3/4/5 significant figures
To know whether the zeroes in the last example are significant, we
can use scientific notation, eg. 5.060 x 105 indicates 4 sig. figures.
Rule 1. When approximate numbers are multiplied or
divided, the number of significant digits in the final
answer is the same as the number of significant digits in
the least accurate of the factors.
2sf
Example:
3sf
4sf
Least significant factor (45) has only two (2) digits so
only two are justified in the answer.

The appropriate way to


write the answer is: P = 7.0 N/m2
Rule 2. When approximate numbers are added or
subtracted, the number of decimal places (of the
answer) should equal the smallest number of decimal
places of any term in the sum or difference.

Ex: 9.65 cm + 8.4 cm – 2.89 cm = 15.16 cm = 15.2 cm


Note that the least precise measure is 8.4 cm. Thus,
the answer must be to the nearest tenth of a cm even
though it requires 3 significant digits.

The appropriate way to


write the answer is: 15.2 cm
Example 5:
Find the area of a metal plate that is 8.71 cm by 3.2 cm.
Solution: 3sf 2sf
A = LW = (8.71 cm) x (3.2 cm) = 27.872 cm2

Only 2 digits are justified: A = 28 cm2

Example 6:
Find the perimeter of the plate that is 8.71 cm long and 3.2
cm wide.
Solution:
2dp 1dp 2dp 1dp
p = 8.71 cm + 3.2 cm + 8.71 cm + 3.2 cm

Ans. to tenth of cm: p = 23.8 cm


Further Reminder on Significant Figures:
In making calculations
involving exact figures, values
of exact numbers do not
affect the significant figures of
the results. 1.2 times is an exact figure,
not a measured value. It does
Example: not have uncertainty and so
will not affect the overall
Q. The speed of a car is 50.5 km/h. precision of the results.

What is the speed of the car if its speed is


increased to 1.2 times the initial speed?

√ Speed of car = 50.5 km/h x 1.2 = 60.6 km/h


ACCURACY AND
PRECISION
Because theories are based on observation and
experiment, careful measurements are very important in
physics. But no measurement is perfect. In describing the
imperfection, one must consider both a measurement’s
accuracy and a measurement’s precision.
Accuracy - a description of how close a measurement is
to the correct or accepted value of the
quantity measured.
Precision - the degree of exactness of a measurement.
ACCURACY AND
PRECISION (cont)
 Do not confuse precision with accuracy.
E.g. : -
 A cheap digital watch which tells time as 10:35:17 is
precise (as time is given in seconds), but if the watch
runs several minutes slow, then it is not accurate.
 Compare this to a grandfather clock which is
accurate (correct time) but it does not have a
seconds hand, so it is not as precise.
 A high-quality measurement is both accurate and
precise.
Types of Coordinate
Systems
Cartesian
Plane polar
2D-Cartesian coordinate
system
 Also called
rectangular
coordinate system
 x- and y- axes
 Points are labeled
(x,y)
Plane polar coordinate
system
 Origin (0,0) and
reference line are
noted
 Point is at distance r
from the origin in the
direction of angle ,
ccw (counterclockwise)
from the reference line
 Points are labeled (r,)
Idealised models
 In physics, a model is a simplified version of a physical
system that would be too complicated to analyze in detail.
 To make an idealised model of the system, we have to
overlook a few minor effects to concentrate on the most
important features of the system.
 When a model is used to predict the behavior of a system,
the validity of our predictions is limited by the validity of
the model.
 When applying physical principles to complex systems,
we always use idealized models and have to be aware of
the assumptions we are making.
Approximation/Estimation
 Sometimes we know how to calculate a certain quantity
but need to guess at the data we need for the calculation.
 Or the calculation might be too complicated to carry out
exactly, so we use rough estimation.
 In both cases, the result is a guess, but it can be useful
even if it is uncertain by a factor of two, ten or more.
 Such calculations are called order-of-magnitude
estimates.
 We use the symbol , for “is on the order of.”
 0.086 m  10-2 m, 0.0021 m  10-3 m, 720 m  103 m
Rounding Numbers
Remember that significant figures apply to
your reported result. Rounding off your
numbers in the process can lead to errors.
Rule: Always retain at least one
more significant figure in your
calculations than the number you
are entitled to report in the result.
With calculators, it is usually easier to just
keep all digits until you report the result.
Rules for Rounding
Numbers
 Rule 1. If the remainder beyond the last
digit to be reported is less than 5, drop
the last digit.
 Rule 2. If the remainder is greater than 5,
increase the final digit by 1.
 Rule 3. If the remainder is exactly 5,
increase the final digit by 1.
Examples
Rule 1. If the remainder beyond the last digit to be
reported is less than 5, drop the last digit.
Round the following to 3 significant figures:

 4.99499 becomes 4.99.


 0.09403 becomes 0.0940.
 95,632 becomes 95600.
 0.02032 becomes 0.0203.
Examples
Rule 2. If the remainder is greater than 5, then
increase the final digit by 1.
Round the following to 3 significant figures:

 2.3462 becomes 2.35.


 0.08757 becomes 0.0876.
 23,680.01 becomes 23,700.
 4.99902 becomes 5.00.
Examples
Rule 3. If the remainder is exactly 5, then increase the
final digit by 1.
Round the following to 3 significant figures:

 3.77500 becomes 3.78.


 0.024450 becomes 0.0245.
 96,650 becomes 96,700.
 5.09500 becomes 5.10.
Problem
Solving
Strategy
-END-

You might also like