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CHAPTER 1
PHYSICAL QUANTITIES & MEASUREMENTS
[ 6 Periods ]
1.1 Base
quantities and SI
units (1)
1.2 Dimensions
of
physical
quantities (1)
1.4 Uncertainties
in
SI Unit
- Systeme International d Unites (SI Unit)
- has been agreed internationally.
Base Quantities
- fundamental quantity __________________________
in terms of other physics quantities.
Base
Quantity
Name of SI Unit
unit
symbol
Length , l
Mass, m
Time, t
Electric current, I
Temperature, T
Amount of substance, n
Luminous intensity
4
Defining
equation
v=s/t
Derived
unit
m s-1
kg m-3
Name
(Abbreviation)
--Hz (hertz)
f=1/T
F = ma
P=F/A
Work
Charge
Q = It
Quantity
Symbol
Derived Unit
Name
(Abbreviati
on)
Area
Volume
Speed of velocity
Acceleration
Density
Force
Newton (N)
Pressure
Pascal (Pa)
Frequency
Hertz (Hz)
Energy of work
E or W
Joule (J)
Power
Watt (W)
Electric Charge
Potential
Difference
As
Coulomb (C)
6
Volt (V)
Prefixes
Multipl
e
1012
109
106
103
Prefix ( &
abbreviatio
n)
Multipl
e
1015
1012
109
106
103
102
10-1
10-2
10-3
10-6
Prefix ( &
abbreviatio
n)
10-9
10-12
10-15
For example:
Wavelength of an Xray
= 0.000 000 001
m
=
=
Base
Quantity
Dimension
Symbol of
Dimension
Length
Mass
Time
Electric
current
Temperature
Amount of
substance
10
Example
Find the dimensions and units of each of the
following quantities:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Area
Velocity
Force
Pressure
Frequency
Solution :
(a) Area =
[ Area ] = [ length ] [ width ]
=LL
= L2
SI units : m2
prepared:MBM,SMKTK,Physics' Notes, Term 1
11
(b) velocity, v =
(c) Force, F =
[F]=
[v]=
=
SI units :
(d) Pressure, P =
[P]=
=
SI units :
=
SI units :
(e) Frequency, f =
[f]=
=
SI units :
12
Use of Dimensions
1. To check the homogeneity of physical
equations
2. To construct an physics equation with the
give quantities.
3. To deduce the correct SI unit of a derived
quantity or a constant of a physic equation.
13
1 2
s ut at
2
relates the distance s
travelled by an object in time
t, u is initial velocity and a is
acceleration.
prepared:MBM,SMKTK,Physics' Notes, Term 1
14
( * _____________________ )
All the terms have same dimension
equation is homogenous
- This however does not
guarantee that equation is
physically correct.
- There could be an incorrect
coefficient, a missing or extra
term or simply a wrong +ve /
-ve sign.
prepared:MBM,SMKTK,Physics' Notes, Term 1
15
16
Example
A professor puts 2 equations on the board.
(a)
v vo a t
(b)
v
x
2a
17
Solution
(a)
v vo a t
RHS :
LHS :
LHS
=RHS?
18
(b)
v
x
2a
RHS :
LHS :
LHS
=RHS?
19
2.
20
Example
21
Solution
Suppose that:T m x l y g z
Write in mathematic form:T k m x l y g z
where x, y, z power factors to be determined
k dimensionless constant
The dimensions on both sides of an
equation must be the same.
22
l
Tkg
Equating indices of M:
x0
Equating indices of L:
yz 0
Equating indices of T:
y -z
1 2 z
1
z
2
1
y
2
Hence T k m 0 l 1 / 2 g 1 / 2
23
Example
Obtain an expression which shows how
critical velocity v of liquid which flows
through a narrow tube depends on coeffi cient
of viscosity, of liquid, radius r of the tube
and density of liquid.
( unit of is kg m-1 s-1 )
Solution
Suppose that:
Write in mathematic form:
The dimensions on both sides of an
equation must be the same.
24
Equating indices of T:
Equating indices of L:
Equating indices of M:
25
Hence
Follow Up Exercise
E
vkd
26
27
Scalar Quantity
- Quantity which has only _______________.
- Example: mass, distance, speed, work.
Vector Quantity
- Quantity which has both _________________________.
- Example: displacement, velocity, force,
momentum
prepared:MBM,SMKTK,Physics' Notes, Term 1
28
Representing vectors
- Symbols for vectorsare ___________________or use an
arrow over a letter, A
29
A &
- 2 vectors
are equal if they have the
____________________and ___________________________
30
Negative of a vector
B
- The vector
____________
as
B
31
SUM OF VECTORS
32
Use a
suitable
scale, draw
the vector P
Step 2 :
From the
________of vector
P, draw the vector
Q
33
Step 3 :
34
35
SUBTRACTION OF VECTORS
Step 1 :
Use a
suitable
scale, draw
the vector P
Step 2 :
36
Step 3 :
37
SUBTRACTION OF VECTORS
Step 1 :
Use a
suitable
scale, draw
the vector P
Step 2 :
38
Step 3 :
39
40
b
prepared:MBM,SMKTK,Physics' Notes, Term 1
41
42
RIGHT HAND
43
44
Ax
cos
A
Ay
sin
A
Magnitude of vector A :
Direction of vector A :
45
Example
A force of 800 N is exerted on a bolt A as
shown in Fig. below. Determine the horizontal
and vertical components of the force.
46
Solution
with the aid of trigonometry:
47
48
49
Example
The magnitudes of the 3 displacement vectors
shown in drawing. Determine the magnitude &
directional angle for the resultant that occurs
when these vectors are added together.
50
Solution
Component x Component y
51
52
Follow Up Exercise
Four forces act on bolt A shown. Determine
the resultant of the forces on the bolt .
Answer :
R = 199.6 N at 4.1 above positive x axis.
prepared:MBM,SMKTK,Physics' Notes, Term 1
53
___________________________
Physical condition of the ___________________
Physical limitations of the _____________________
2 types of error :
1. ____________________ errors
2. __________________________ errors
54
Systematic Error :
Characteristics of _________________________
55
Random Error :
Characteristics of __________________
Magnitude of the error is ________________________
Error can be ______________________________
The measurement may be _________________________
the actual value.
Example :
Read wrongly the scale of an instrument
Wrong count the number of oscillations of a simple
pendulum.
prepared:MBM,SMKTK,Physics' Notes, Term 1
56
Random Error :
Characteristics of _____________________
Magnitude of the error is _________________________
Error can be positive and negative.
The measurement may be ________________________
the actual value.
Example :
____________________________
prepared:MBM,SMKTK,Physics' Notes, Term 1
57
Instrument
Smallest scale
deviation
Uncertainty
Metre rule
Vernier calliper
M. Screw Gauge
Analog
stopwatch
Thermometer
Measuring
cylinder
Voltmeter
Ammeter
prepared:MBM,SMKTK,Physics' Notes, Term 1
58
Example
The single reading from am metre rule used to
measure the length l of a rod is written as
Example
: Length of rod,
Absolute uncertainty,
Fractional uncertainty l is ,
Percentage uncertainty l is ,
59
Example
:
if the two readings are
Product
Example :
and / or division
Fractional uncertainty
Percentage uncertainty
60
SIGNIFICANT FIGURE
The accuracy of a measurement is indicated by the
number of significant figures.
Absolute uncertainty
Significant Digits in Addition and Subtraction
When quantities are being added or subtracted, the
number of decimal places (not significant digits) in the
answer should be the same as the least number of
decimal places in any of the numbers being added or
subtracted.
Example:
5.67 J - (2 DP)
1.1 J
- (1DP)
+ 0.9378 J - (4DP)
61
SIGNIFICANT FIGURE
Significant Digits in Multiplication, Division, Trig.
functions
In a calculation involving multiplication, division,
trigonometric functions, etc., the number of
significant digits in an answer should equal the least
number of significant figures in any one of the
numbers being multiplied, divided etc.
Example :
Evaluating sin(kx),
where k = 0.097 m-1 (2SF) , x = 4.73 m (3SF)
sin (0.097 X 4.73) = 0.00800766
=
62
SIGNIFICANT FIGURE
Non-zero digits are always significant.
22 22.3 With zeroes, the situation is more complicated:
1. Zeroes placed before other digits are not
significant;
0.046
2. Zeroes placed between other digits are always
significant; 4009 kg 3. Zeroes placed after other digits but behind a
decimal point are significant;
7.90 63
SIGNIFICANT FIGURE
4. Zeroes at the end of a number are significant only
if they are behind a decimal point as in (3).
Otherwise, it is impossible to tell if they are
significant.
8200, it is not clear if the zeroes are significant
or not. The number of significant digits in 8200
is _________, but _______________________To
avoid
uncertainty, use scientific notation to place
significant zeroes behind a decimal point:
8.200 X 103
8.20 X 103
8.2 X103
64
SIGNIFICANT FIGURE
Rules for Working with Significant Figures:
1. ____________________are never significant.
_______________________ are always significant.
_________________________ are significant only if
the decimal point is specified.
Hint: Change the number to scientific notation.
It is easier to see.
2. ____________________________:
The last digit retained is set by the first
doubtful digit.
3. _______________________________:
The answer contains no more significant figures
than the least accurately known number.
65
SIGNIFICANT FIGURE
Example Number of
Scientific
Significant
Notation
Figures
0.00682
1.072
300
300.
300.0
66
SIGNIFICANT FIGURE
Notes on Rounding
1. When rounding off numbers to a certain number of
significant figures, do so to the nearest value.
Example: Round to 3 SF 2.3467 x 104 =
Example: Round to 2 SF 1.612 x 103 =
What happens if there is a 5? There is an arbitrary
rule:
If the number before the _______________________
If the number before the _______________________
67
SIGNIFICANT FIGURE
1. Example: Round to 2 SF 2.35 x 102
(Answer: ________________________)
2. Example: Round to 2 SF: 2.45 x 102
(Answer: ________________________)
68