Introduction to Physics

What is Physics?

Understanding Physics

A studies of physical and natural phenomena around us through observation. observation But the observation requires imagination. imagination Observation, with a careful experimentation and Observation measurement, is one side of the scientific process measurement The other side is the invention/creation of theories to explain and order observations. Theories: Inspirations that come from the minds of human beings.

Units, Standards and the SI System

Physical Quantities

Base quantities

Derived quantities

Standard form

Prefixes

Conversion of units

Coordination of international units

Physical Quantities

A quantity that can be measured. Example: speed, length, mass, etc Each physical quantity consist of

a) a numerical value (magnitude) b) a unit

Example 1.1 Room temperature
Physical quantity

27 C
Unit

Magnitude

Base Quantities

Physical quantity which cannot defined in terms of other physical quantities. The measuring unit of a base quantity is known as a base unit Table 1.1 shows five base quantities and their respective base units (SI units).
Base quantity Symbol Base unit (SI Symbol of unit) unit metre kilogram second kelvin ampere m kg s K A

Length Mass Time Temperature Currrent

l m t T I

Derived quantities

A physical quantity which derived from the base quantities, through multiplication or derivation or both.

Prefixes

Used to represent physical quantities which are very big or very small in SI units

Example 1 The frequency of the radio wave is 350M Hz. What is the frequency of the radio wave in Hz? Answer Mega (M) = 1,000,000 or 106 Therefore, 350MHz = 350 x 106Hz

Example 2 The thickness of a film is 25nm. What is the thickness in unit meter? Answer nano (n) = 0.000000001 or 10-9 Therefore 25nm = 25 x 10 10-9nm

Normal number to Prefixes

Example 3 0.255 s is equal to how many ms.Answer mili (m) = 0.001 or 10-3 To write a normal number with prefixes, we divide the number with the value of the prefixes 0.0255 s = 0.0255 10-3 = 25.5 ms

Example 4 Convert 265,500,000 W into GW.Answer Gega (G) = 1,000,000,000 or 109 Therefore 265,500,000 W = 265,500,000 109 = 0.2655GW

Scientific Notation (Standard Form)

Scientific notation (also known as Standard index notation) is a convenient way to write very small or large numbers. In this notation, numbers are separated into two parts, a real numberwith an absolute value between 1 and 10 and an order of magnitudevalue written as a power of 10. Physical quantities that are very big or very small need to be written in the standard form so that it is neat, simple and easy to read. Example 1. 2,600 = 2.6 x 103 2. 75,300,000 = 7.53 x 107 3. 0.00023 = 2.3 x 10-4 4. 0.00000004121 = 4.121 x 10-8

Scalar Quantity
Scalars are quantities which are fully described by a magnitude alone. Magnitude is the numerical value of a quantity. Examples of scalar quantities are distance, speed, mass, volume, temperature, density and energy.

Vector Quantity

Vectors are quantities which are fully described by both a magnitude and a direction. Examples of vector quantities are displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, momentum, and magnetic field.

Conversion of Units

In order to solve problems in physics, one needs to convert all parameters given to the same unit system Any quantity we measure, such as length, speed, or an electric current, it is consist of a number and a unit.

Often we are given a quantity in one set of units, but we want it expressed in another set of units. So in this case, we must use a conversion factor.

2.54

x multiplication factor

Prefix

Base Unit

multiplication factor

Converttheunitoflength,areaandvolumebelowtotheunitsgiven. a)7.2m=____________cm b)0.32m2=____________cm2 c)0.0012m3=____________cm3 d)5.6cm=____________m e)350cm2=____________m2 f)45000cm3=____________m3