CHAPTER 1:

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Physical quantities and

measurements
(3 Hours)

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 Learning Outcome:
1.1 Physical Quantities and Units (1 hours)
At the end of this chapter, students should be able
to:
State basic quantities and their respective SI
units: length (m), time (s), mass (kg), electrical
current (A), temperature (K), amount of
substance (mol) and luminosity (cd).
State derived quantities and their respective
units and symbols: velocity (m s-1), acceleration
(m s-2), work (J), force (N), pressure (Pa), energy
(J), power (W) and frequency (Hz).
State and convert units with common SI prefixes.

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 1.1 Physical Quantities and Units
Physical quantity is defined as a quantity which can be measured.
It can be categorised into 2 types
Basic (base) quantity
Derived quantity
Basic quantity is defined as a quantity which cannot be derived
from any physical quantities.
Table 1.1 shows all the basic (base) quantities.
Quantity Symbol SI Unit Symbol
Length l metre m
Mass m kilogram kg
Time t second s
Temperature T/ kelvin K
Electric current I ampere A
Amount of substance N mole mol
Table 1.1 Luminous Intensity candela cd 3
 Derived quantity is defined as a quantity which can be expressed
in term of base quantity.
Table 1.2 shows some examples of derived quantity.

Derived quantity Symbol Formulae Unit

Velocity v s/t m s-1
Volume V lwt M3
Acceleration a v/t m s-2

Density m/V kg m-3

Momentum p mv kg m s-1
Force F ma kg m s-2 @ N
Table 1.2 Work kg m2 s-2 @ J
W Fs

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 Unit is defined as a standard size of measurement of
physical quantities.
Examples :
1 second is defined as the time required for
second 9,192,631,770 vibrations of radiation emitted by a
caesium--133 atom.
caesium
1 kilogram is defined as the mass of a platinum-
platinum-iridium
cylinder kept at International Bureau of Weights and
kilogram
Measures Paris.
Paris
1 meter is defined as the length of the path travelled by
light in vacuum during a time interval of
meter 1
s
299,792,458

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 The unit of basic quantity is called base unit
addition unit for base unit:
unit of plane angle - radian (rd)
rad = 180o
180o
1 rad = = 57.296o

unit of solid angle- steradian (sr)

(System
The common system of units used today are S.I unit (System
International/metric system)
system) and cgs unit - UK.
The unit of derived quantity called derived unit
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1.1.1 Unit Prefixes

It is used for presenting larger and smaller values.

Table 1.3 shows all the unit prefixes.

Prefix Multiple Symbol

tera 1012 T
giga 109 G
mega 106 M
kilo 103 k
deci 101 d
centi 102 c
milli 103 m
micro 106
nano 109 n
Table 1.3 pico 1012 p
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 Note:
Line of prefix m, s, N, A, g and etc
method:

Symbol : T G M k Unit d c m n p
Value :1012 109 106 103 100 101 102 103 106 109 1012

How to use?
minus the index - division
1 Ts = ? ps
1 Ts =1012 (12) ps
= 1024 ps
1.1.2 Conversion of Unit
Examples:

5740000 m = 5740 km = 5.74 Mm

0.00000233 s = 2.33 106 s = 2.33 s

Example 1.1 :
Solve the following problems of unit conversion.
a. 15 mm2 = ? m2 b. 65 km h1 = ? m s1
c. 450 g cm3 = ? kg m3

m 2 ; 65 km h 1 = 18 m s 1 ;
ANS. : 1.5 10 5
450 g cm 3 = 4.5 10 5 kg m 3

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 Learning Outcome:
1.2 Scalars and Vectors (2 hours)
At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
Define scalar and vector quantities, unit vectors in Cartesian
coordinate.
Explain vector addition and subtraction operations and their
rules. Visualize resultant vector graphically by applying
commutative rule
associative rule, and
Resolve vector into two perpendicular components (2- (2-D)
Components in the x, and y axes.
Components in the i, j unit vectors.
Define and use dot (scalar) product;



A B = A(B cos ) = B( A cos )
and the magnitude of cross (vector) product;



A B = A(B sin ) = B( A sin )

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1.2 Scalars and Vectors
Scalar quantity is defined as a quantity with magnitude only.
e.g. mass, time, temperature, pressure, electric current,
work, energy and etc.
Mathematics operational : ordinary algebra

Vector quantity is defined as a quantity with both magnitude

& direction.
e.g. displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, momentum,
electric field, magnetic field and etc.
Mathematics operational : vector algebra

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1.2.1 Vectors
Vector A
Length of an arrow magnitude of vector A
Direction of arrow direction of vector A

Table 1.6 shows written form (notation) of vectors.

displacement velocity acceleration

s v a
s v a
s (bold) v (bold) a (bold)
Table 1.4
Notation of magnitude of vectors.


v =v


a =a
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 Two vectors equal if both magnitude and direction are the same.
(shown in figure 1.1)


Q




P P=Q
Figure 1.1

a scalar quantity k
If vector A is multiplied by
Then, vector A is kA



kA
A


A
if k = +ve,
+ve the vector is in the same direction as vector A.
if k = -ve,
ve the vector is in the opposite direction of vector A. 13
1.2.2 Direction of Vectors
Can be represented by using:
a) Direction of compass,
compass i.e east, west, north, south, north-east,
north-west, south-east and south-west
b) Angle with a reference line
e.g. A boy throws a stone at a velocity of 20 m s-1, 50 above
horizontal.

y

v
50
0 x

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c) Cartesian coordinates
2-Dimension (2-D)


s = ( x, y ) = (1 m, 5 m)
y/m

5


s

0
x/m
1

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d) Polar coordinates

(
F = 30 N,150 )


F
150

e) Denotes with + or signs

signs.
+

- +

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-
 1.2.3 Addition of Vectors
There are two methods involved in addition of vectors graphically i.e.
Parallelogram
Triangle


For example : A + B

A B

Parallelogram Triangle

A+ B A+ B
B

B
O
O

A A 17
 Triangle of vectors method:
a) Use a suitable scale to draw vector A.
b) From the head of vector A draw a line to represent the vector B.
c) Complete the triangle. Draw a line from the tail of vector A to the
head of vector B to represent the vector A + B.

A+ B = B + A Commutative Rule

A


B


B+ A
O

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 If there are more than 2 vectors therefore



Use vector polygon and associative rule. E.g. P+Q+ R



Q

P R

(P+Q + R )





P
(
P+Q )

R


Q







( )
P+Q +R = P+ Q+R ( ) Associative Rule
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 1.2.4 Subtraction
of Vectors


For example : CD

C
D
D





C D =C + D ( )
Parallelogram Triangle



C C
O O







CD CD D
D

Vectors subtraction can be used

to determine the velocity of one object relative to another object
i.e. to determine the relative velocity.
to determine the change in velocity of a moving object.
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1.2.5 Resolving a Vector
1st method :
2nd method :

y y

R
R
Ry Ry


x
x
0 0
Rx Rx

Adjacent component Opposite component

Rx Rx
= cos Rx = R cos = sin Rx = R sin
R R
Opposite component Adjacent component
Ry Ry
= sin R y = R sin = cos R y = R cos
R R
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 The magnitude of vector R :


R or R = (R x ) 2
( )
+ Ry
2

Direction of vector R :

1
Ry Ry
= tan
or
tan =
Rx Rx
Vector R in terms of unit vectors written as


R = Rx i + R y j

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Example 1.2 :
A car moves at a velocity of 30 m s-1 in a direction north 60 west.
Calculate the component of the velocity
a) due north. b) due west.

ANS. : vN = 15 m s 1 ; vW = 26 m s 1

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Example 1.3 : 210
x
S

F
A particle S experienced a force of 100 N as shown in figure above.
Determine the x-component and the y-component of the force.

ANS. : Fx = 86.6 N; Fy = 50 N

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Example 1.4 :
Figure below shows two coplanar vectors lying on the x-y plane
act on a particle P.

70o
D = 80 cm x
P
C = 60 cm

Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector.

ANS. : 82.0 cm ; 23.4o from +x-axis
Example 1.5 :
y

F3 (40 N )
O
x
60o


F1 (10 N )

F2 (30 N )

The figure above shows three forces F1, F2 and F3 acted on a particle
O. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant force on
particle O.

ANS. : Fr = 29.7 N ; 32.6

32.6 from positive x-
x-axis
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1.2.6 Unit Vectors
notations a , b
E.g. unit vector a a vector with a magnitude of 1 unit in the direction
of vector A.



A A
a =
= 1
A a
Unit vectors are dimensionless.

[a ] = 1
Unit vector for 3 dimension axes :
x - axis i @ i (bold )
i = j = k = 1
y - axis j @ j (bold )
z - axis k @ k (bold )
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 y

j
x
k
i
z
Vector can be written in term of unit vectors as :


r = rx i + ry j + rz k
Magnitude of vector,

r= (rx )2 + (ry )2 + (rz )2

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 E.g. :


(
s = 4i + 3 j m )
s= (4)2 + (3)2 =5m

y/m

3 j


s
x/m
0 4i

z/m

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Example 1.6 :

( )


Two vectors are given as: a = 2i j m
(
b = i + 2 j m )
Calculate




+ b
and its magnitude,
a) the vector a
b) the vector b a
and its magnitude,


c) the vector 2a + b and its magnitude.

ANS. : 3.16 m; 3.61 m; 11.2 m

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1.2.7 Multiplication of Vectors
Scalar (dot) product
The physical meaning of
the scalar

product can be explained by
considering two vectors A and B as shown in Figure 1.4a.


A

Figure 1.4a


B

Figure 1.4b

shows

the projection of vector B
onto the direction

of
vector A. (

A B = A component of B parallel
to A )
A A
B cos

Figure 1.4b
Figure 1.4c

B
Acos B
Figure 1.4c


shows the projection of vector A onto the direction of




vector B .
(
A B = B component of A parallel to B 31 )
 From the Figure 1.4b, the scalar product can be defined as



A B = A(B cos )
meanwhile from the Figure 1.4c,



B A = B( A cos )
where : angle between two vectors
The scalar product is a scalar quantity.
quantity
The angle ranges from 0 to 180 .
When 0  < < 90  scalar product is positive
9 0  < < 180  scalar product is negative
= 90  scalar product is zero
The scalar product obeys the commutative law of multiplication i.e.





A B = B A

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 Example of scalar product is work done by a constant force where the
expression is given
by


W = F s = F (s cos ) = s(F cos )
The scalar product of the unit vectors are shown below :
y 2
i i = i 2 cos 0 o = (1) (1) = 1
j j = j 2 cos 0 o = (1)2 (1) = 1
j k k = k 2 cos 0 o = (1) (1) = 1
2

x
k
i i i = j j = k k =1
z
i j = (1)(1)cos 90 o = 0
j k = (1)(1)cos 90 o = 0 i j = j k = i k = 0
i k = (1)(1)cos 90 o = 0 33
Example 1.7
:



Calculate the A B and the angle between vectors A and B for the
following

problems.
a)

A = 2i + 2 j
B = i + j ANS.: 4; 1o

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 y
Example 1.8 :

C (1 m )

D(2 m )
25 19
0
x

Figure 1.5
Referring to the vectors in Figure 1.5,
a) determine the scalar product between them.
b) express the resultant vector of C and D in unit vector.

ANS. : 1.44 m 2 ; (0.98i + 1.07 j ) m

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Vector (cross) product

Consider two vectors : A = xi + yj + zk


B = pi + qj + rk
In general, the vector product


is defined

as
A B = C
and its magnitude is given by






A B = C = A B sin = AB sin
where : angle between two vectors
The angle ranges from 0 to 180 so the vector product always
positive value.
Vector product is a vector

quantity.
quantity
The direction of vector C is determined by

RIGHT--HAND RULE
RIGHT
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 For example:
How to use right hand rule :
Point the 4 fingers to the direction of the 1st vector.
Swept the 4 fingers from the 1st vector towards the 2nd vector.
The thumb shows the direction of the vector product.





C A B = C

B



A

B C




B A = C
A








A B B A (
but A B = B A )


Direction of the vector product (C )
always perpendicular


to the plane containing the vectors A and B.
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 The vector product of the unit vectors are shown below :
y
i j = j i = k
j j k = k j = i

k x k i = i k = j
i
i i = i 2 sin 0 o = 0
z
j j = j 2 sin 0 o = 0 i i = j j = k k = 0
k k = k 2 sin 0 o = 0
Example of vector product is a magnetic force on the straight
conductor carrying current places in magnetic field where the
expression is given by



F = I l B( )
F = IlB sin 38
Example 1.9 :

Given two vectors : A
= 3i j
B = 4i + 2 j
Determine



a) A B


b) the angle between


vectors A and B
c) magnitude A B
ANS. : 14; 172 ; 196

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THE END.
Next Chapter
CHAPTER 2 :
Kinematics of Linear Motion

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