What is Physics?

It isnt math

Even though it seems as it is sometimes

Physics is about the world around us

As ambiguous or imprecise as it may be

We still need to describe it?

How do we describe it?

1. A verbal representation
Using words, we state a physical problem or situation
2. A pictorial representation
Using pictures, we show the situation
3. A physical representation
We model the physics so that we can analyze it, and example is using the
motion diagrams
4. A graphical representation
Using graphs or plots (Positiontime, velocitytime, and accelerationtime
graphs)
5. A mathematical representation
Using equations we can find numerical quantities

Example: E=mc^2
Energy=Mass times speed of light squared
What are E, M, C ?

Symbols representing physical quantities

What are units?

A key or identifier for the many different physical quantities or measurements

SI units (system international dunits) is the international standard

What are significant figures?

The quantify precision

The amount of digits is significant figures
When multiplying significant figures, keep the least number of sig figs
For example 2.7 x 4.44 = 1.1988
But using sig figs the answer would be 1.2

When adding sig figs, the lowest number of decimal places dominates
For example 6.47+1.2=7.67
But using sig figs the answer would be 7.7

What is a motion diagram?

A physical representation of an objects motion

A model of an objects position during equally spaced time intervals
Simplifies and removes all extra things and focuses on the physics
Quick snapshots (similar to taking many photos of a car driving by)
We take away all the fancy stuff so we only have to worry about its motion

Position: where a particle is at a given moment in time

Time: when a particle is at a given position
Change in position: the displacement, how an objects position changes from one
time to the next
Origin: where both X and Y are 0, where x and y axis starts, a reference point
Coordinate system: the pairing of x and y values to describe a location, there are 4
quadrants
Vector vs Scalar: Vector has magnitude and direction whereas scalar only has
magnitude. For example a displacement would be a vector because it states the
direction it is in, while distance is a scalar because it only states the amount.