LESSON 1

Understanding Physics The study of the laws that determine the structure of the universe with reference to the matter and energy of which it consists. The study was divided into separated fields; heat , the properties of matter, light, sound ,wave, electricity, magnetism, mechanics, nuclear physics etc. In physics , there is the need to make careful observations, precise and accurate measurements. Understanding natural phenomena and observing everyday objects such as a table, a mirror etc and discuss how they are related to physics concepts has always been a central aim of physics. The roots of all science are firmly based in experiment. Of course , mastering scientific skills applying scientific knowledge must be the important thing to learn physics. Physical Quantities Physics is based on measurement. We discover physics by learning how to measure the quantities that are involved in physics and we call its as physical quantities. Physical quantities are quantities that can be measured. Examples of physical quantities are time, length, mass, electric current , temperature, force, weight, pressure, force, power, voltage etc. A physical quantity is a property ascribed to phenomena, objects, or substances that be quantified. Example are:

(i) Frequency of oscillation frequency is the quantity and oscillation is the phenomenon (ii) Length of a wooden block Length is the quantity and the wooden block is an object (iii) Density of water density is the quantity and the water is the substance

Type of Physical Quantitites: There are two types of the physical quantities, Base quantities Derived quantities Base Quantities The physical quantities which are used as the basis for the measurement and cant be derived from other physical quantities. There are five base quantities as shown in the following table:
Base quantity Length Mass Time Temperat ure Current Symb ol Unit Unit Abbrevi ation

Derived Quantities The physical quantities which were derived from base quantities by multiplication operation or division operation or both

Examples:
Deriv ed quant ity Area Velocit y Densit y Symb ol In term of the base quantit ies Derived unit

(a)

Area = length x width

(b)

Acceleration = Change in Velocity Time

(c) Force

= mass x acceleration

(d) Work = force x displacement

Example 1 State the following derived quantities in terms of the base quantities. (a)Velocity (Hint: Velocity = displacement ) Time

Scalar and Vector quantities Scalar quantity Scalar is a quantity with size (magnitude) but without specified direction. Examples : mass, time, length, temperature, energy, work, speed and pressure. Vector Quantity A vector is a quantity with size (magnitude) and specified direction. Examples : displacement, weight, force, velocity, acceleration and momentum.

(b) Momentum (Hint : Momentum = mass x velocity )

Example 2 State the base units for the following derived quantities:

3 All derived quantities can be derived from base quantities by A addition operation or subtraction operation B addition operation or subtraction operation or both C multiplication operation or division operation D multiplication operation or division operation or both 4 The S.I. base unit for mass is A C 5 gram kilogram B milligram D microgram

Which one of the base quantities does not involve in force? A C Length B Temperature Time D Mass

Which of the derived quantities is the combination of a base quantity length only? A B C Force Volume Acceleration

TUTORIAL 1
1 Which one of the following is a base quantity? Area Current B Volume D

A C Power

2 Which one of the following is a base unit? A C Watt Kilogram B D Newton Joule

7 Which one of the following pairs is derived quantity? A B C Work and mass Force and current Pressure and temperature

D Weight and potential difference 8 Which of the following statement is measured in base quantity? The weight of an astronaut on the Moons surface is 10 N. B The velocity of a cyclist rides a bicycle is 70 km h-1 C The perimeter of a field is 380 m D The power of a lamp is 60 W. 9 Which one of the base quantities does not involve in acceleration? A B C Length Mass Time A

Physical quantity A Momentu m B Temperat ure C Work D Area

Type of physical quantity Derived quantity Base quantity Derived quantity Base quantity

S.I. Unit kg m s2 o

kg m 2 s -2 m2

13 Which of the following pairs of physical quantities and S.I. units is true? Physical quantity A Area squared B Weight C Power minute D Density S.I. unit foot kilogram Joules per kilogram per metre cubed

10 Which one of the following apparatus is not be used to measure the density of a metal cube? A B C Ruler Stop watch Triple beam balance

14 Which one of the following is true? A B h

-1

11 Which one of the following derived quantities contains length and time only? A Velocity Momentum B Force B D Pressure

The S.I. units of charge is A s The S.I. units of volume is cm 3 The S.I. units of velocity is km

D The S.I. units of acceleration is cm s- 2 15 A physical quantity is given by M=ed2 where the unit of e is unit kilogram and the unit of d is metre. The unit of M is A kg 2 m C kg m 2 E kg 2 m 2 B D kg - 2 m kg m - 2

12 Which one of the following is true?

16 The period of oscillation for an inertia balance is given by

4

= km where T = The period of oscillation and the unit is s , m = Mass and the unit is kg k = constant The unit of k is A s-1 kg s2 C kg s E kg2 s B kg- 1 s 2 D kg- 2

............................................ ........... (b) What is the S.I.units of charge? .................................................. .............

17 Which of the following quantity is a scalar quantity. A C Weight Force Acceleration B D Volume

21 The power of a student to run up a stair is given by the equation Power = force X displacement ti me (a) State the base quantities contain in the equation above. .................................................. .................. (b) State the power in term of base quantities.

18 Which of the following quantity is a vector quantity. A C Work Velocity D B Power Distance

19 Which one of the following pairs of vector quantities is true? A B C Impulse and area Power and pressure Weight and velocity

20 (a) The current flows through a metal conductor is defined by the equation current = charge time

Based on the equation, which of the quantities above are (i) base quantities ............................................ ........... (ii) derived quantities

22 The Newtons law of universal gravitation state, the gravitational attraction force, F is directly proportional to the product of the mass ,m and M of two bodies and inversely proportional to the square of distance ,R between them. The law is given by the equation F=GmM R2 Based on the equation,

(a) give one example of (i) the base quantities .. (ii) the derived quantities. .. (iii) the vector quantities . (b) The S.I. units of F, m ,M and R

(c) The S.I. units of G