GENERAL PHYSICS

PHYSICS
▪ a branch of science which studies physical and natural phenomena around us
▪ an experimental science where physicists perform experiments to test
hypothesis. Conclusions in experiment are derived from measurement.
▪ deals with the matter, energy, and their relationship

PHYSICAL QUANTITIES
▪ quantities used to describe laws of physics

SI UNITS
▪ known as the International System of Units or Système Internationalé (SI)
▪ used in scientific work and in everyday measurements in many parts of the
world

SEVEN FUNDAMENTAL UNITS

PHYSICAL SYMBOL FOR UNIT SYMBOL FOR UNIT
QUANTITY QUANTITY
Length L Meter m
Mass m Kilogram kg
Time t Second s
Electric Current I Ampere A
Temperature T Kelvin K
Luminous Intensity lu Candela cd
Amount of n Mole mol
Substance
UNIT CONSISTENCY AND CONVERSION OF UNITS
TWO MAJOR SYSTEMS OF UNITS
1. METRIC SYSTEM
2. ENGLISH SYSTEM

CONVERSION FACTOR
▪ a conversion factor relating meter to kilometer
▪ is a ratio expressing how many of one unit is equal to another unit
▪ is simply a fraction equal to 1
▪ you can multiply any number by 1 and get the same value
EXAMPLE:

1 foot = 12 inches

1 m = 100 cm

1 cm = 0.001 m

1 min = 60 s

1 hr = 60 min
 A. To convert 0.28 m to mm:
Conversion factor to be used: 1 m = 1000 mm
Solution: 0.28 × 1000 mm/1 m = 280 mm
B. To convert 90 km/h in m/s:
Conversion factors to be used: 1 km = 1000 m; 1 hr = 60 min; 1 min = 60 s
Solution: 90 km/h × 1000 m/km × 1 hr/60 min × 1 min/60 s = 25 m/s
C. To convert 50 kg/m3 to g/cm3:
Conversion factors to be used: 1 kg = 1000 g; 1 m = 100 cm
Solution: 50 kg/m3 × 1000 g/1 kg × [1 m/100 cm]3 = 0.05 g/cm3

SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
▪ also called as exponential notation
▪ a convenient way of writing values using the power of ten notation wherein we
can determine the number of significant digits as well as the place value of the
digit

Format: m x 10n
where: m – a number greater than 1 but less than 10

10 – base

n – exponent (can be positive or negative)

Rules in expressing standard notation to scientific notation:

1. When the decimal point is moved from right to left, the result is positive
exponent.
Ex: 7806.123 = 7.806123 × 103 = 7.81 × 103
2. When the decimal point is moved from left to right, the result is negative
exponent.
Ex: 0.00007806123 = 7.806123 × 10-5 = 7.81 × 10-5
Rules in converting scientific notation back to standard notation:

1. Move the current decimal point according to the number of places based on
the exponent.
(+) positive exponent – move to the RIGHT
Ex: 3.7962 × 104 = 37,962
(˗) negative exponent – move to the LEFT
Ex: 2.56 × 10-8 = 0.0000000256

Rules in Addition and Subtraction involving scientific notation

1. When two or more quantities are added or subtracted, make sure the
exponents are the same. If not, choose one to adjust the decimal and
exponent. Use LARS (Left Add, Right Subtract).
2. Add/Subtract the number. Keep the exponent the same.
Ex: (a) (6.2 × 103) + (1.74 × 103) = (6.2 + 1.74) × 103 = 7.94 × 103
 Rules in Multiplication and Division involving scientific notation

1. Powers of ten are added in multiplication

Ex: (1.5 × 102) (1.2 × 103) = (1.5) (1.2) × 102+3 = 1.8 × 105
2. Powers of ten are subtracted in division
Ex: 1.5 × 102/1.2 × 103 = (1.5/1.2) × 102-3 = 1.25 × 10-1

ACCURACY
▪ the measure of how close a measurement is to the true value
▪ refers to the closeness of the measurement to the true value or accepted value

PRECISION
▪ refers to the closeness among a series of measurements that have been
obtained in the same way

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
▪ the digits in a number that indicates reliability of a measurement
▪ includes all the digits that are known, plus one last digit that is estimated
▪ includes one doubtful digit

Rules in Determining the Number of Significant Figure

1. All non-zero digits are significant.

2. All zeros between non-zero digits are significant.
3. All zeros at the left of the number are not significant.
4. When zeros are at the right of the number:
a. If there is no decimal, the zeros are NOT significant.
b. If there is a decimal, the zeros are significant
PREFIXES USED WITH SI UNITS
Prefix Symbol Meaning Scientific
Notation
exa- E 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 1018
peta- P 1,000,000,000,000,000 1015
tera- T 1,000,000,000,000 1012
giga- G 1,000,000,000 109
mega- M 1,000,000 106
kilo- k 1,000 103
hecto- h 100 102
deka- da 10 101
unit ― 1 100
deci- d 0.1 10-1
centi- c 0.01 10-2
milli- m 0.001 10-3
micro- μ 0.000001 10-6
nano- n 0.000000001 10-9
pico- p 0.000000000001 10-12
femto- f 0.000000000000001 10-15
atto- a 0.000000000000000001 10-18