PHYS I

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

PHYSICS
// foundation upon which the other sciencesastronomy, biology, chemistry, and geologyare based.
// is an experimental science.

PHYSICS IN MEDICAL FIELD

// It is basically a way of using our physics knowledge to develop tools and treatments that help humans live
longer and be healthier.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF PHYSICS

// identify fundamental laws that govern natural phenomena and develop theories that can predict the result
of experiments.

The study of physics can be divided into six main areas:

1. Classical mechanics concerns with the motion of objects that are large relative to atoms and move at
speeds much slower than the speed of light.
2. Relativity a theory describing objects moving at any speed, even speeds approaching the speed of light.
3. Thermodynamics - deals with heat, work, temperature, and the statistical behavior of systems with large
numbers of particles.
4. Electromagnetism concerns with electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic fields.
5. Optics - the study of the behavior of light and its interaction with materials.
6. Quantum mechanics - a collection of theories connecting the behaviour of matter at the sub microscopic
level to macroscopic observations.

Basic concepts of Physics:

1. Matter anything that occupies space
2. Mass the amount or quantity of matter in a body
3. Unit a quantity chosen as a standard in terms of which other quantities may be expressed
4. Motion the displacement of a body with reference to another body
5. Force - any interaction that, when unopposed, will change the motion of an object

PHYS 1A COVERAGE
Generally deals with two forms of energy. Mechanical energy and heat. Mechanical energy covers the
subject Mechanics. Mechanics deals with areas such as Statics, Dynamics, and Mechanical properties of matter.
Heat tackles about Thermometry, Heat Transfer, Phase Changes and Thermodynamics.

MEASUREMENTS

PHYSICAL QUANTITY
// any number that is used to describe a physical phenomenon quantitatively
// describes the physical characteristics of objects
// it is either FUNDAMENTAL or DERIVED quantity

Fundamental Quantity
// physical quantities used to define mass, length, time, temperature, electric current, luminous intensity, and
the amount of substance.

Derived Quantity
// combination of two or more base unit from the fundamental quantity e.g. area, volume, speed, acceleration.

1 | Reference: Serway, R. A. , Jewett, J. J. Jr., University Physics, 9 th Edition

Engr. Van Gabon
 PHYS I

SYSTEM OF UNITS

Metric System
// also called SI (Systme International), since 1960
// its fundamental units of length, mass, and time are the meter, kilogram, and second, respectively.

English System
// also called British System
// these units are used only in the United States and a few other countries

Table 1. Fundamental quantity and unit in Metric to English System

QUANTITY METRIC SYSTEM ENGLISH SYSTEM
UNIT SYMBOL UNIT SYMBOL
Length meter m foot ft
Mass kilogram Kg pounds lbs
Time second S second s
Temperature Kelvin K
Electric Current Ampere A
Luminous Intensity Candela Cd Candela cd
Amount of substance mole Mol mole Mol

Table 2. Derived quantity and unit in Metric System

QUANTITY METRIC SYSTEM
UNIT SYMBOL
Speed Meter per second

Density Kilogram per cu. Meter
3
Force Newton ;
Power Watt ;

Energy Joules ;

Pressure Pascal 2 ;

Work Newton -meter ;

Table 3. SI Prefixes
Power Prefix Abbreviation Power Prefix Abbreviation
-24 1
10 yocto y 10 deka da
10-21 zepto z 102 hecto h
10-18 atto a 103 kilo k
10-15 femto f 106 mega M
10-12 pico p 109 giga G
10-9 nano n 1012 tera T
10-6 micro m 1015 peta P
10-3 milli m 1018 exa E
10-2 centi c 1021 zetta Z
10-1 deci d 1024 yotta Y

2 | Reference: Serway, R. A. , Jewett, J. J. Jr., University Physics, 9 th Edition

Engr. Van Gabon
 PHYS I

UNIT CONSISTENCY AND UNIT CONVERSION

Unit Consistency
// means that in a physical equation, each side of the expression should have the same units otherwise the
equation is an error.

Unit Conversion
// process of changing the unit of a quantity to another one within the same system.

1 inch = 2.54 cm 1 kg = 2.204 lb

1 foot = 12 in 1 ton = 1000 kg
1 meter = 3.28 ft 1 liter = 1000 ml
1 mile = 1.609 km = 1000 cc
= 5280 ft 1 gal = 3.785 li
1 yard = 3 ft = 4 quarts

ACCURACY, PRECISION, AND SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

Accuracy
// how close it is likely to be to the true value.

Accuracy in two ways

// by writing the number, the symbol and a second number indicating the uncertainty of the measurement
e.g. 816.92 0.02 mm

// in terms of the maximum likely fractional error or percent error (also called fractional uncertainty and percent
uncertainty)
e.g. 816.92 mm 20%

Precision
// how close the measured values are to each other.

Significant Figures
// indicates a number of meaningful digits in the measured value.
e.g. 0.0016 g
1 600 g
1.6 x 103 g
1.60 x 103 g
1.600 x 103 g

Percent of Error
// an absolute value of the difference between the true value and estimated value divided by the true value
multiplied by 100.

% = 100%

3 | Reference: Serway, R. A. , Jewett, J. J. Jr., University Physics, 9 th Edition

Engr. Van Gabon
 PHYS I

Problems:
1. An auditorium measures 40.0 m x 20.0 m x 12.0 m. The density of air is 1.20 kg/m3. What are (a) the volume
of the room in cubic feet and (b) the weight of air in the room in pounds?

2. An ore loader moves 1 200 tons/h from a mine to the surface. Convert this rate to pounds per second, using
1 ton = 2 000 lb.

3. Answer each question by YES or NO. Must two quantities have the same dimensions (a) if you are adding
them? (b) If you are multiplying them? (c) If you are subtracting them? (d) If you are dividing them? (e) If you
are equating them?

4. One student uses a meter stick to measure the thickness of a textbook and obtains 4.3 cm 0.1 cm. Other
students measure the thickness with Vernier Calipers and obtain four different measurements: (a) 4.32 cm
0.01 cm, (b) 4.31 cm 0.01 cm, (c) 4.24 cm 0.01 cm, and (d) 4.43 cm 0.01 cm. Which of these four
measurements, if any, agree with that obtained by the first student?

5. How many significant figures are in the following numbers?

(a) 78.9 0.2

(b) 3.788 x 109
(c) 2.46 x 10-6
(d) 0.0053

6. Why is the metric system of units considered superior to most other systems of units?

4 | Reference: Serway, R. A. , Jewett, J. J. Jr., University Physics, 9 th Edition

Engr. Van Gabon