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Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Units, Physical
Quantities, and Vectors
PowerPoint Lectures for
University Physics, Thirteenth Edition
Hugh D. Young and Roger A. Freedman
1
The nature of physics
Physics is an experimental science in which
physicists seek patterns that relate the phenomena of
nature.
The patterns are called physical theories.
A very well established or widely used theory is
called a physical law or principle.
2
Standards and units
Length, time, and mass are three fundamental
quantities of physics.
The International System (SI for Systme
International) is the most widely used system of
units.
In SI units, length is measured in meters, time in
seconds, and mass in kilograms.
Unit prefixes
Table 1.1 shows some larger and smaller units for the
fundamental quantities.
3
Unit consistency and conversions
An equation must be dimensionally consistent. Terms to be added
or equated must always have the same units. (Be sure youre
adding apples to apples.)
Always carry units through calculations.
Convert to standard units as necessary. (Follow Problem-Solving
Strategy 1.2)
Follow Examples 1.1 and 1.2.
4
Estimates and orders of magnitude
5
Drawing vectorsFigure 1.10
Draw a vector as a line with an arrowhead at its tip.
The length of the line shows the vectors magnitude.
The direction of the line shows the vectors direction.
Figure 1.10 shows equal-magnitude vectors having the same
direction and opposite directions.
6
Adding more than two vectors graphicallyFigure 1.13
Subtracting vectors
Figure 1.14 shows how to subtract vectors.
7
Multiplying a vector by a scalar
If c is a scalar, the
product cA has
magnitude |c|A.
8
Components of a vectorFigure 1.17
Adding vectors graphically provides limited accuracy. Vector
components provide a general method for adding vectors.
Any vector can be represented by an x-component Ax and a y-
component Ay.
Use trigonometry to find the components of a vector: Ax = Acos and
Ay = Asin , where is measured from the +x-axis toward the +y-axis.
9
Finding componentsFigure 1.19
We can calculate the components of a vector from its magnitude
and direction.
Follow Example 1.6.
Refer to Problem-Solving
Strategy 1.3.
10
Adding vectors using their componentsFigure 1.22
Follow Examples 1.7 and 1.8.
11
The scalar productFigures 1.251.26
The scalar product
(also called the dot
product) of two
vectors
r r is
AgB = AB cos.
12
Finding an angle using the scalar product
13
Calculating the vector productFigure 1.32
Use ABsin to find the
magnitude and the right-hand
rule to find the direction.
14