Chapter I

INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS
Outline:
I Why “Physics”?
II Fundamental quantities and standard units
III Conversion of units
IV Dimensional analysis
V Scalar and vector quantities
VI Vector Algebra and Multiplication of Vector

I. Why “PHYSICS”?
According to Crowell, physics tries to answer about the behavior of light and matter,
the two things that the universe is made of. The main objective of physics is to find the
limited number of fundamental laws that govern natural phenomena and to use them to
develop theories that can predict the results of future experiments.

Why study physics? For two reasons. First, physics is one of the most fundamental of
the sciences. Physics is also the foundation of all engineering and technology. Second, the
study of physics is an adventure.

Generally, physics is divided into two main branches. First, classical physics, which
means all the physics principles developed before 1900, includes the theories, concepts,
laws and experiments in classical mechanics, thermodynamics and electromagnetism.
Second, modern physics, new era in physics that began near the end of the 19th century,
which is developed mainly because of the discovery that many physical phenomena could
not be explained by classical physics. The two most important developments in modern
physics were the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics.

Physics is an experimental science. Physics is not simply a collection of facts and

principles; it is also the process by which we arrive at general principles that describe how
the physical universe behaves. The fundamental laws used in developing theories are
expressed in the language of mathematics, the tool that provides a bridge between theory
and experiment.

II. Fundamental Quantities and Standard Units

Since physics is an experimental science, experiments require measurements and

generally described the results using numbers. Any number that is used to describe a
physical phenomenon quantitatively is called a physical quantity. In measuring a quantity, it
is always compared it with some reference standard. Such standards defines a unit of the
quantity.

To make accurate, reliable measurement, units of measurement should not change and
can be duplicated by observers in various location. The system of units used by scientists
and engineers around the world is commonly called the metric system, but since 1960 it has
been known officially as the International System, or SI (the abbreviation for its French
name, Système International). The fundamental units are shown at the table:
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Fundamental
Definition Quantity
Units
Meter (m) -the length equal to the distance traveled by light, in vacuum, Length
in a time of 1/299 792 458 seconds.
Kilogram (kg) -it is equal to the mass of a particular cylinder of Mass
platinum-iridium alloy (international prototype of the
kilogram).
Second (s) -duration of 9 192 631 770 periods of the radiation Time
corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine
levels of the ground state of the cesium-133 atom.
Ampere (A) -the constant current that, if maintained in two straight Electric
parallel conductors of infinite length, of negligible cross Current
sectional section, and placed 1 meter apart in vacuum,
would produce between these conductors a force equal to
2x10-7 newton per meter of length.
Kelvin (K) -the fraction 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of Temperature
the triple point of water.
Candela (cd) -the luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source that Luminous
emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540x1012 hertz Intensity
and that has a radiant intensity in that direction of 1/683
watt per steradian.
Mole (mol) -the amount of substance of a system that contains as many Amount of
elementary entities as there are carbon atoms in 0.012 kg of Substance
carbon 12.

In study of mechanics, only the units of length, mass and time will be concerned. Other
units, like meter squared, meter per second, and Newton, are considered as derived units.
These are the units of the quantities that is the combination of two or more of the
fundamental quantities. For example, velocity is a combination of length (L) and time (T).

The Metric System

Every country in the world besides the U.S. uses a system of units known as the “metric
system." This system is entirely decimal. In deference to France, the system's official name is
the Systéme International, or SI, meaning International System. (The phrase “SI system” is
therefore redundant.) The whole system works with a single, consistent set of Greek and
Latin prefixes that modify the basic units.

Prefix Symbol Value Prefix Symbol Value Prefix Symbol Value

yotta- Y 1024 kilo- k 103 nano- n 10-9
zetta- Z 1021 hecto- h 102 pico- p 10-12
exa- E 1018 deka- da 101 femto- f 10-15
peta- P 1015 deci- d 10-1 atto- a 10-18
tera- T 1012 centi- c 10-2 zepto- z 10-21
giga- G 109 milli- m 10-3 yocto- y 10-24
mega- M 106 micro- μ 10-6

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The English or British System

Other system of unit is the British system, which are used only in the United States and
a few other countries, and in most of these are being replaced by SI units. British units are
now officially defined in terms of SI units. Some of the commonly used conversion factors
are as follows:

Length Time
1 km = 0.6214 mi 1 min = 60 s
1 m = 3.281 ft. = 39.37 in 1 hr = 60 min = 3600 s
1 cm = 0.3937 in 1 day = 24 hrs = 1440 min = 86 400 s
1 in. = 2.540 cm 1 yr = 365.34 d = 3.156 x 107 s
1 ft = 30.48 cm Mass
1 yd = 91.44 cm 1 kg = 0.0685 slug
1 mi = 5280 ft = 1.609 km 1 g = 6.85 x 10-5 slug
1 light year = 9.461 x 1015 m 1 kg = 2.205 lb (when g= 9.80 m/s)
Volume Force
1 gallon = 3.788 liters 1 N = 105 dyn = 0.2248 lb
1 liter=1000cm3 = 0.03531 ft3 = 61.20 in.3 1 lb = 4.448 N = 4.448 x 105 dyn
1 ft3=0.02832m3 = 28.32 liters = 7.477 gal

III Conversion of Units

Unit conversion is important, but it’s also important to recognize when it’s needed.
Units are multiplied and divided just like ordinary algebraic symbols. Conversion factors
should be known by heart.

Example 1.1. Convert (a) 15.0 in to cm and (b) 15.0 cm to in.

(a) 15.0 in → cm (b) 15.0 cm → in
Remember that 1 inch = 2.54 cm.

15.0 in  2.54 cm   38.1 cm

 1 in 
15.0 cm  1 in   5.91 in
 2.54arecm
Not all problems  dimensional. Some are two or even three. Examples in solving
one
these problems are as follows:

Example 1.2. A diamond has a volume of 1.84 cubic inches. What is its volume in cubic
centimeters?
To convert cubic inches to cubic centimeters, we multiply 2.54cm / 1 in  , not just 2.54cm / 1 in .
3

3
1.84 in  2.54 cm   1.84 in 3  2.543 cm
3 3
3   30.15 cm3

 1 in   1 in  3

Try It Yourself!
Convert 30.15 cubic centimeter to cubic meter.

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 Example 1.3. The official world land speed record is 1228.0 km/h, set on Oct. 15, 1997. Express
this speed in meters per second.

1228.0 km/hr 1000 m  1 hr   341.11 m / s

 1 km  3600 s 
Try It Yourself!
Convert 0.85 g/mL to kilograms per cubic meter.

IV. Dimensional Analysis

The word dimension has a special meaning in physics. It usually denotes the physical
nature of a quantity. The symbols used to specify length, mass and time are L, M and T,
respectively. Brackets [ ] are used to denote the dimensions of a physical quantity. For
example, the symbol used for speed is v, and the notation for the dimension of speed is [v]
= L/T. As another example, the dimensions of area, for which the symbol A, are [A]=L2.

In solving problems in physics, there is useful and powerful procedure called

dimensional analysis. This procedure will help minimize the need for rote memorization of
equations. Dimensional analysis makes use of the fact that dimensions can be treated as
algebraic quantities. That is quantities can be added or subtracted only if they have the
same dimensions. Furthermore, terms on both sides of equation must have the same
dimensions. Dimensions and common units of area, volume, speed and acceleration are
shown below:

Area Volume Speed Acceleration

Dimension L2 L3 L/T L/T2
SI Unit m2 m3 m/s m/s2
British Unit ft2 ft3 ft/s ft/s2

Example 1.4. Show that the expression v=at is dimensionally correct, where v represents speed,
a acceleration, and t time interval.

at   
L T  L
  v   L
T2  T T
Try It Yourself!

T  2 l
The period T of a simple pendulum is measured in time units and is described by
g
where l is the length of the pendulum and g is the free fall acceleration. Show that the equation
is dimensionally correct.

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