General Physics I

Introductory Material

Dimensions & Units

How we measure things!
All things in classical mechanics can be expressed in
terms of the fundamental dimensions:
Length
Mass
Time

For example:

Prefixes to know:
kilo (k) = 103
centi (c) = 10-2
milli (m) = 10-3
micro () = 10-6
nano (n) = 10-9

Speed has units of Length / Time (ex: miles per hour).

Length & Time are dimensions while Miles & Hours are specific
units

Units...
SI ((Systme
Systme International) Units:
mks: L = meters [m], M = kilograms [kg], T = seconds [s]
Also...Volume (V): [m3], Area (A): [m2],
Velocity (v or vo): [m/s], Acceleration (a or g): [m/s2],
Position (x) = distance (d) = displacement (Dx): [m]
cgs: L = centimeters [cm], M = grams [g], T = seconds [s]

British Units:
fps: Inches, feet, miles, pounds, slugs...

We will use mostly SI (m, kg, s) units, but you may run
across some problems using British units. You should
know how to convert back & forth.

Converting between different systems

of units
Useful Conversion factors:

1 inch
1m
1 mile
1 mile
2.2 lb

=
=
=
=
=

2.54
3.28
5280
1.61
1 kg

cm
ft
ft
km

Example: Lets convert miles per hour to meters

per second:
mi
1
=
hr

Unit Analysis
This is a very important tool to check your work
Its also very easy!

Example:
Doing a problem you use the equation:
d = vt 2 (distance = velocity x time2)...did you make
the correct choice?
Units on left side =
Units on right side =

The volume [m3] of an object is given as a function of time [s] by

V = A + B/t + Ct4
Determine the dimension of the constant C.

What about A & B?

Stokes law says

F = 6prhv
Where, F is a force [kg m/s2], r the radius** [m] and v the velocity [m/s].
The parameter h has units of _____?

**What is the formula for the AREA of a circle? _________________

Given the equation:

v = Fx my
Where v = velocity [m/s], F = tension [kg m/s2], and m = mass density
[kg/m]. Determine the exponents x & y that make the equation
dimensionally correct.

TRIGOOMETRY
WE WILL DEAL ONLY WITH RIGHT TRIANGLES

HYPOTENUSE
LEG OPPOSITE TO q

q
LEG ADJACENT TO ANGLE q

LEG OPPOSITE TO ANGLE q

The Pythagorean Formula

Hyp2 = Opp2 + Adj2

q
LEG ADJACENT TO ANGLE q

SINE OF q = LENGTH OF LEG OPPOSITE q

LENGTH OF HYPOTENUSE
COSINE OF q = LENGTH OF LEG ADJACENT TO q
LENGTH OF HYPOTENUSE
TANGENT OF q = LENGTH OF LEG OPPOSITE q
LENGTH OF LEG ADJACENT TO q

SAMPLE RIGHT TRIANGLE PROBLEMS

C

A
q

z
A) sin q = _______

A) The hypotenuse is = ________

B) cos q = _______

B) The opposite side is = ________

C) tan q = _______

C) The adjacent side is = ________

End of
Introductory Material
Lecture