Physics for Engineers (PEN123) Engr. Lyndon SD.

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What is Physics?
Physics is an experimental science that deals with the structure of matter
and the interactions between the fundamental constituents of the observable universe.
Standards and Units
Experiments requires measurements, and we generally use numbers to
describe the measure of measurements. Any number that is used to describe a physical
phenomenon quantitatively is called physical quantity. There are two standards of units:
the SI/metric unit system, and the British/English unit system.
The seven base units:
1. Length – meter (m) / inch (in)
2. Time – seconds (s)
3. Amount of substance – mole (mole)
4. Electric current – ampere (A)
5. Temperature – kelvin (K) / rankine (R)
6. Luminous intensity – candela (cd)
7. Mass – kilogram (kg) / pound (lb)

Unit Prefixes
Unit Conversions
Example in Unit Conversion
1. Convert 3 hrs. to s.

Note: Convert hours to minute, then minute to seconds.

60 𝑚𝑖𝑛 60 𝑠
3 hrs. ( )( ) = 10,800 s
1 ℎ𝑟 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛

2. Convert 1.2 km to cm

Note: Convert kilometer to meter, then meter to centimeter.

1000 𝑚 100 𝑐𝑚
1.2 km ( )( ) = 120,000 cm
1 𝑘𝑚 1𝑚

3. Convert 10 km/hr to m/s

Note: First, convert the hour to second, then kilometer to meter.

𝑘𝑚 1 ℎ𝑟 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛
10 ( )( )= 0.00278 km/s ;
ℎ𝑟 60 𝑚𝑖𝑛 60 𝑠

𝑘𝑚 1000𝑚
0.0278 ( ) = 2.78 m/s
𝑠 1 𝑘𝑚

4. A faucet can fill a 300 mL of glass in 30 s. How many minutes will it take
to fill a gallon of water?

Ans. 6.31 minutes

5. A density of a substance can be determined by the proportion of the mass

and its volume. Determine the density(kg/m3) of a substance contained in a
30 cm spherical ball whose weight is 100 lbs.

Ans. 3207.96 kg/m3

Significant Figures

RULES FOR SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

1. All non-zero numbers ARE significant. The number 33.2 has THREE
significant figures because all of the digits present are non-zero.
2. Zeros between two non-zero digits ARE significant. 2051 has FOUR
significant figures. The zero is between a 2 and a 5.
3. Leading zeros are NOT significant. They're nothing more than "place
holders." The number 0.54 has only TWO significant figures. 0.0032 also has
TWO significant figures. All of the zeros are leading.
4. Trailing zeros to the right of the decimal ARE significant. There are
FOUR significant figures in 92.00. 92.00 is different from 92: a scientist who
measures 92.00 milliliters knows his value to the nearest 1/100th milliliter;
meanwhile his colleague who measured 92 milliliters only knows his value to the
nearest 1 milliliter. It's important to understand that "zero" does not mean
"nothing." Zero denotes actual information, just like any other number. You
cannot tag on zeros that aren't certain to belong there.
5. Trailing zeros in a whole number with the decimal shown ARE
significant. Placing a decimal at the end of a number is usually not done. By
convention, however, this decimal indicates a significant zero. For example,
"540." indicates that the trailing zero IS significant; there are THREE significant
figures in this value.
6. Trailing zeros in a whole number with no decimal shown are NOT
significant. Writing just "540" indicates that the zero is NOT significant, and there
are only TWO significant figures in this value.
7. Exact numbers have an INFINITE number of significant figures. This
rule applies to numbers that are definitions. For example, 1 meter = 1.00 meters =
1.0000 meters = 1.0000000000000000000 meters, etc.
8. For a number in scientific notation: N x 10x, all digits comprising N
ARE significant by the first 6 rules; "10" and "x" are NOT significant. 5.02 x 104
has THREE significant figures: "5.02." "10 and "4" are not significant.
 Vector and Scalar

Scalar Quantity is a physical quantity described by a single

number(magnitude). Ex. 3 km, 5 g, 20, and etc.
Vector Quantity has both magnitude and direction in space. Ex. 3 km to
the north, 4 N downward, 24 degrees north of west, and etc.
Displacement is simply a change in position of an object. It is always a
vector quantity because we must state not only how far the object moves but also in what
direction.

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐴⃗

Vector addition and subtraction

Addition 𝐴⃗ + 𝐵
⃗⃗ Subtraction 𝐴⃗ + (−𝐵
⃗⃗)

Components of Vector

𝐴⃗ = 𝐴⃗x + 𝐴⃗y ;

𝐴⃗x = 𝐴⃗ 𝑐𝑜𝑠Ɵ

𝐴⃗y = 𝐴⃗ 𝑠𝑖𝑛Ɵ
Addition of two vectors at right triangles

𝐴⃗ R R2 =(𝐴⃗) 2 + (𝐵
⃗⃗)2

⃗⃗
𝐵
Scalar/Dot Product
⃗⃗
𝐵

Ɵ 𝐴⃗ 𝐴⃗ · 𝐵
⃗⃗ = AB cosƟ

Formula for finding the magnitude of a vector

2
A = √(𝐴𝑥 )2 + (𝐴𝑦 ) ,

For three coordinate directions (xyz plane)

2
A = √(𝐴𝑥 )2 + (𝐴𝑦 ) + (𝐴𝑧 )2
Exercise Problems

1. A cross-country skier skis 1.00 km north and then 2.00 km east on a horizontal
snowfield. How far and in what direction is she from the starting point?

Solution:
The problem involves combining two displacements at right angles to each other.
In this case, vector addition amounts to solving a right triangle, which we can do
using the Pythagorean theorem and simple trigonometry.

Vector diagram:

𝑅 = √(1𝑘𝑚)2 + (2𝑘𝑚)2 ;
= 2.24 km

2
−1
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 (−);
1

= 63.43 degree east of north

2. Determine the x- and y- components in the given figure. The magnitude of the
vector D = 3.00 m, angle α = 45 deg., Vector E = 4.50, and the angle β = 37 deg.
Note:
The angle α and Vector D is measured
Toward the negative y-axis. Therefore,
Angle α = -45 degrees. Then,
Dx = D cos α = 3 m (cos (-45));
Dx = 2.12 m
Dy = D sin α = 3 m (cos (-45));
Dy = -2.12 m
 3. After an airplane takes off, it travels 10.4 km west, 8.7 km north, and 2.1 km up.
How far is it from the takeoff point.
SOLUTION:
Let the + x-axis be east, + y-axis be north and
+ z axis up. Therefore,

Ax = -10.4 km, Ay = 8.7 km, Az = 2.1 km

Vector A = √(−10.4 𝑘𝑚)2 + (8.7 𝑘𝑚)2 + (2.1 𝑘𝑚)2

Vector A = 13.72 km
Unit Vectors (𝑖̂, 𝑗̂, 𝑘̂)
A unit vector is a vector that has a magnitude of 1, with no units. Its only purpose
is to point – to describe a direction in space.

𝐴⃗𝑥 = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖̂

𝐴⃗𝑦 = 𝐴𝑦 𝑗̂

𝐴⃗𝑧 = 𝐴𝑧 𝑘̂
Example problem

𝐿⃗⃗ = (6𝐼̂ + 3𝑗̂) , 𝑀

⃗⃗⃗ = (3𝑗̂ − 4𝐼̂) , 𝑁
⃗⃗ = (−2𝑖 − 5𝑗)

1.) 𝐿⃗⃗ + 𝑀
⃗⃗⃗

First step is to substitute the values for the given vector and then solve for like terms.

Let 𝐿⃗⃗ + 𝑀
⃗⃗⃗ = A

𝐴 = (6i + 3j) + (-4i + 3j);

A = (6-4)i + (3+3)j;
A = 2i + 6j
To solve for its magnitude use the formula.

2
A = √(𝐴𝑥 )2 + (𝐴𝑦 ) ;

A = √(2)2 + (6)2 = 2√10

⃗⃗⃗ − 2𝑁
2.) 𝑀 ⃗⃗
⃗⃗ − 𝐿⃗⃗
3.) 𝑁
ACTIVITY 1:
Direction: Evaluate the following and show your complete solution on a piece of paper.

⃗⃗ − 𝐿⃗⃗
3. ) 𝑁