Introduction to Physics

Physics is defined as the study of matter in relation to energy. The laws of Physics are
concerned with the physical causes of observable effects. They are formulated as relationships
between the magnitudes of physical quantities.

Matter is anything that occupied space and has mass where as energy is the ability to do work.

Some of the branches of physics are mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics,
waves and optics, atomic physics, electronics, quantum physics.

MECHANICS

Mechanics is the study of bodies in motion.

Physical quantities and units
Physical quantities are divided into basic (fundamental) and derived quantities. The former can
only be obtained by direct measurements while the latter are obtained by calculations. All
quantities are expressed using a system of units called SI units.
The table 1 shows names and symbols for basic quantities and their units.
Physical quantity SI unit

Length (L) Metre (m)

Mass (m) Kilogram (Kg)

Time (t) Second (s)

Electric current (I) Amphere (A)

Thermodynamic Temperature (T) Kelvin (K)

Luminous intensity (L) Candela (cd)

Amount of Substance (n) Mole (mol)

Table 1: physical quantities and their SI units

Other derived units are obtained by calculation from the basic quantities.
1. Volume = (length)3

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 2. Density = mass per unit length
3. Velocity = rate of change of displacement (length in a specified) direction
4. Acceleration = rate of change of velocity with time
5. Force = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 × 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
6. Pressure = 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 ÷ 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎

Certain quantities are defined as the ratio of two comparable quantities e.g.
1. Strain = 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ ÷ 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ , it is this expressed as a pure number with no units.
2. Trigonometric ratios e.g. 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃, cos 𝜃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 where is a ratio of two sides.

UNITS AND DIMENSIONS

The dimensional formula of a physical quantity shows its magnitude as defined in terms of
fundamental magnitudes, which are usually represented by symbols;
Fundamental quantity Dimensional symbol

Length [L]

Mass [M]

Interval of time [T]

Temperature [θ]

Electric current [I]

For each particular derived quantity, the dimensional formula is obtained by means of the
defining equation. For instance from the definition of force as a mass multiplied by a length and
divided by time squared as seen from 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎. Thus we write
[𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒] = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 × 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ/𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 2 or [𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒] = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 × 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 −2
The powers of the multiplying quantities (mass, length and time here) are the dimensions of the
derived quantity (force in the example used here).
So the dimensions of a quantity are the base quantities from which it is made up in the same way
that the dimensions of a box would be length, width and depth of the box.

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Square brackets are used to indicate “the dimensions of ” and the symbols M,L and T are used
denote mass, length and time when dealing with dimensions. Thus the dimensions of a force are
M,L and T-2 and thus we can write
[𝐹] = 𝑀𝐿𝑇 −2
To decide the dimensions of a quantity, a definition or formula for it is usually required. For
example;
𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒/𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎
𝑀𝐿𝑇 −2
[𝑃] = = ML−1 L−2
L2

Some quantities are dimensionless, e.g. numbers and ratios of similar quantities. An angle is an
example (an angle in radians equaling an arc divided by radius, i.e. a length divided by a length
≡ 𝐿0 .

Dimensions of some derived quantities

Quantity Common Dimensions
Symbol(s)

Geometry Area A 𝐿2

Volume V 𝐿3

Second moment of area I 𝐿4

Kinematics Velocity v 𝐿𝑇 −1

Acceleration a 𝐿𝑇 −2

Angle θ 1 (i.e. dimensionless)

Angular velocity ω 𝑇 −1

Quantity of flow Q 𝐿3 𝑇 −1

Mass flow rate 𝑚̇ 𝑀𝑇 −1

Dynamics Force F 𝑀𝐿𝑇 −2

Moment, torque M, 𝜏 𝑀𝐿2 𝑇 −2

Energy, work, heat E, W, Q 𝑀𝐿2 𝑇 −2

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 Power P 𝑀𝐿𝑇 −3

Pressure, stress P, σ 𝑀𝐿−1 𝑇 −2

Fluid Density ρ 𝑀𝐿−3

properties
Viscosity μ 𝑀𝐿−1 𝑇 −1

Kinematic viscosity ν 𝐿2 𝑇 −1

Surface tension σ 𝑀𝑇 −2

Thermal conductivity k 𝑀𝐿𝑇 −3 Θ−1

Specific heat cp, cv 𝐿2 𝑇 −2 Θ−1

Bulk modulus K 𝑀𝐿−1 𝑇 −2

Important properties of dimensions

The dimensions of a unit must be the same as for the quantity to which it applies. So in the place
of [𝐹] = 𝑀𝐿𝑇 −2
We can write
[𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑡𝑜𝑛] = [𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚][𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑒][𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑]−2
or [𝑁] = [𝑘𝑔][𝑚][𝑠]−2
and kg m s-2 is a suitable unit of force.

Exercise 1
What are the dimensions of (a) force (b) moment (c) work (d) pressure?

Solutions:
a. MLT-2 b. ML2T-2 c. ML2T-2 d. ML-1T-2
Exercise 2
Which one of the following has different dimensions from the others?
a. Stress × 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛

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 b. Stress/strain
c. Pressure
d. Potential energy per unit volume
e. Torque.

Solution: E

Exercise 1
1. What are the dimensions of:
a. density
b. area
c. cubic feet per minute
d. power (2mks)
2. what are the dimensions of:
a. distance/ velocity
b. force × 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
c. angle moved per second? (3mks)
3. What are the dimensions of magnetic flux density? (5mks)

DERIVING AN EQUATION BY USE OF DIMENSIONS

Suppose it is known that a quantity w is related to quantities x ,y and z by an equation of the
form;
𝑤 = 𝐶𝑥 𝑝 𝑦 𝑞 𝑧 𝑟
where C is a dimensionless constant, i.e. just a number.
We can use the knowledge of dimensions to determine p, q and r.

Example
A liquid having a small depth but large volume is forced by an applied pressure P above it to
escape with velocity v through a small hole below. v is given by
𝑣 = 𝐶𝑃 𝑥 𝜌 𝑦
where 𝜌 is the liquid’s density and C, x and y are dimensionless constants

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 a. Determine x and y
b. If 𝑣 = 14𝑚𝑠 −1, when 𝑃 = 1.0 × 105 𝑃𝑎 and 𝜌 = 1000𝑘𝑔𝑚−3 , deduce C.
Solution
a. 𝑣 = 𝐶𝑃 𝑥 𝜌 𝑦
The dimensions are
[𝑣] = 𝐿𝑇 −1 , [𝑃] = 𝑀𝐿−1 𝑇 −2 and [𝜌] = 𝑀𝐿−3
Putting these dimensions into the equation gives
(𝐿𝑇 −1 )1 = (𝑀𝐿−1 𝑇 −2 )x (𝑀𝐿−3 )y
Equating the powers of L we get
1 = −𝑥 + (−3𝑦)
For M
0 = 𝑥+𝑦
For T we get
−1 = −2𝑥
1
The equation for T gives 𝑥 = 2
1 1
Then using the M equation 0 = 2 + 𝑦 gives 𝑦 = − 2
√𝑃
b. 𝑣 = 𝑃0.5 𝜌−0.5 = 𝐶
√𝜌

√𝜌 √1000 1 14
So 𝐶 = 𝑣 = 14 × = 14 × √100 = 10 = 1.4
√𝑃 √100000

Example
It is suggested that pressure P at depth h in a liquid of density 𝜌 is 𝑃 = 𝐶ℎ𝜌g, where g is the
acceleration due to gravity. Show that this equation is dimensionally correct.
Solution
We need to show that, writing 𝑃 = 𝐶ℎ𝑝 𝜌𝑞 𝑔𝑟 , the values of p,q and r are each 1.
The dimensions are;
[𝑃] = 𝑀𝐿−1 𝑇 −2
[ℎ]𝑃 = 𝐿𝑝
[𝜌]𝑞 = (𝑀𝐿−3 )𝑞
[𝑔]𝑟 = (𝐿𝑇 −2)𝑟
∴ 𝑀𝐿−1 𝑇 −2 = 𝐿𝑝 (𝑀𝐿−3 )𝑞 (𝐿𝑇 −2 )𝑟

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Equating the M dimensions gives
1=𝑞
Equating the L dimensions gives
−1 = 𝑝 − 3𝑝 + 𝑟
Equating the T dimensions gives
−2 = −2𝑟
𝑞 = 1, 𝑟 = 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 1 = 𝑝 − 3 + 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑝 = 1

Further exercise
1. Evaluate α and β in the equation E = 𝐶𝑚α 𝑣 β , where E is kinetic energy, 𝑚 is the mass,
𝑣 is the velocity and C is a dimensionless constant.
2. The force of attraction F between two particles of masses 𝑚1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚2 situated a distance
d apart is given by 𝐹 = 𝐺𝑚1 𝑚2 /𝑑 2. Show that the dimensions of G are
𝑀−1 𝐿3 𝑇 −2
𝑑𝑈
3. From the definition of 𝜏 = 𝜇 𝑑𝑦 , determine the dimensions of viscosity.

Dimensions of thermal quantities

The magnitude of thermal quantities are defined in terms of four fundamental dimensions
[𝑄] = 𝑀𝛼 𝐿𝛽 𝑇 𝛾 𝜃 𝛿
where the fourth dimension 𝛿 is defined with respect to the [𝜃]of temperature. Dimensional
formulae for some thermal quantities in terms of [M], [L], [T] and [𝜃]are obtained from the
defining equations as follows

• Quantity of heat [𝑄] = 𝑀𝐿2 𝑇 −2 (since heat is a form of energy)

• Enthalpy [𝐻] = 𝑀𝐿2 𝑇 −2
• Entropy [𝑆] = 𝑀𝐿2 𝑇 −2 𝜃 −1
• Specific heat [𝑐𝑣 ] = [𝑐𝑝 ]= 𝐿2 𝑇 −2𝜃 −1

Dimensions of some electrical quantities

With [M], [L], [T] and [I] as fundamental magnitudes, the dimensional formulae for various
electric and magnetic quantities take the form

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 [𝑄] = 𝑀𝛼 𝐿𝛽 𝑇 𝛾 𝐼 𝛿

Note however that the electric charge is often regarded as having a fundamental magnitude [q],
so that the dimensional formulae

[𝑄] = 𝑀𝛼 𝐿𝛽 𝑇 𝛾 𝑞𝛿

can be adopted.

The dimensional formulae of some relevant electric and magnetic quantities can be readily
derived from their defining equations
𝐹
• Electric field [𝐸] = [𝑞 ] = 𝑀𝐿𝑇 −2 𝑞−1 = 𝑀𝐿𝑇 −3 𝐼 −1
• Electric potential [𝑉] = [𝐸𝐿] = 𝑀𝐿2 𝑇 −2𝑞−1 = 𝑀𝐿2 𝑇 −3 𝐼−1
𝑞2
• Permittivity [𝜀] = [𝐹𝐿2] = 𝑀−1 𝐿−3 𝑇 2 𝑞2 = 𝑀−1 𝐿−3 𝑇 4 𝐼 2
𝐹
• Magnetic induction [𝐵] = [𝐼𝐿] = 𝑀𝑇 −1𝑞−1 = 𝑀𝑇 −2𝐼 −1
𝐼
• Magnetic field [𝐻] = [ ] = 𝐿−1 𝐼 =
𝐿
𝐵
• Permeability [𝜇] = [ ] = 𝑀𝐿𝑞−2 = 𝑀𝐿𝑇 −2𝐼 −2
𝐻

Example

The theory of heat conductivity in an isotropic medium is based on experimental facts which
𝑑𝑄
establish proportionality between the rate of heat transfer across a surface A and the
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝜃
temperature gradient which , can be written as:
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑄 𝑑𝜃
= −𝐾𝐴
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥
Where K is a coefficient characteristic of the medium and called the thermal conductivity.
Show that the dimensional formula for thermal conductivity is [𝐾] = 𝑀𝐿𝑇 −3 𝜃 −1.

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