Tutorial 1 – Units, Sci.

Notation, Physical
Quantities, Graphs and Vectors
What we learned in Week 1:
• SI Units, scientific notation, significant figures
• Vectors – addition, subtraction, and resolving into components:
−𝑏𝑏 cos(𝜙𝜙) 𝑥𝑥�
𝑎𝑎 𝜙𝜙
−𝑏𝑏 sin(𝜙𝜙) 𝑦𝑦�
𝑎𝑎 sin(𝜃𝜃) 𝑦𝑦� 𝑏𝑏
𝜃𝜃
𝑎𝑎 cos(𝜃𝜃) 𝑥𝑥�
𝑏𝑏
𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏 = 𝑎𝑎 cos(𝜃𝜃) 𝑥𝑥� + 𝑎𝑎 sin(𝜃𝜃) 𝑦𝑦� + �−𝑏𝑏 cos(𝜙𝜙) 𝑥𝑥� − 𝑏𝑏 sin(𝜙𝜙) 𝑦𝑦��
= (𝑎𝑎 cos(𝜃𝜃) − 𝑏𝑏 cos(𝜙𝜙))𝑥𝑥� + (𝑎𝑎 sin(𝜃𝜃) − 𝑏𝑏 sin(𝜙𝜙))𝑦𝑦� 𝑎𝑎

−𝑏𝑏
𝑎𝑎 − 𝑏𝑏 = 𝑎𝑎 cos(𝜃𝜃) 𝑥𝑥� + 𝑎𝑎 sin(𝜃𝜃) 𝑦𝑦� − �−𝑏𝑏 cos(𝜙𝜙) 𝑥𝑥� − 𝑏𝑏 sin(𝜙𝜙) 𝑦𝑦��
= (𝑎𝑎 cos(𝜃𝜃) + 𝑏𝑏 cos(𝜙𝜙))𝑥𝑥� + (𝑎𝑎 sin(𝜃𝜃) + 𝑏𝑏 sin(𝜙𝜙))𝑦𝑦� 𝑎𝑎

Equations and Graphs of Motion

• Distance vs displacement, speed vs velocity and
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
average velocity 𝑣𝑣𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = ,
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
average speed=
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡
• Graphs of motion:

For constant velocity:

Graph 𝑟𝑟 − 𝑡𝑡 is a line, the slope of line is 𝑣𝑣.
Graph 𝑣𝑣 − 𝑡𝑡 is horizontal line. Area under line = distance/displacement
For constant acceleration:
Graph 𝑟𝑟 − 𝑡𝑡 is a parabola.
Graph 𝑣𝑣 − 𝑡𝑡 is line. Slope of the line = acceleration
Area under line = displacement/distance
Graph 𝑎𝑎 − 𝑡𝑡 is a horizontal line.

• Equations of Motion for constant acceleration:

𝑎𝑎𝑡𝑡 2
𝑠𝑠 = 𝑟𝑟 − 𝑟𝑟0 = 𝑣𝑣0 𝑡𝑡 +
2
𝑣𝑣 = 𝑣𝑣0 + 𝑎𝑎𝑡𝑡
𝑣𝑣 2 = 𝑣𝑣02 + 2𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
𝑣𝑣0 + 𝑣𝑣 𝑠𝑠
𝑣𝑣𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = =
2 𝑡𝑡

• If velocity is constant, 𝑎𝑎 = 0, equations simplify to: 𝑣𝑣 = 𝑣𝑣0 , 𝑠𝑠 = 𝑟𝑟 − 𝑟𝑟0 = 𝑣𝑣𝑡𝑡

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Maths you need to know
For Right Angled Triangle:
• trigonometry (SohCahToa, sine and cosine rules) and Pythagoras Theorem
𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
cos(𝜃𝜃) =
ℎ𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒
𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
opposite

sin(𝜃𝜃) =
ℎ𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒
𝜃𝜃 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
tan(𝜃𝜃) =
adjacent 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎

(ℎ𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒)2 = (𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎)2 + (𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜)2

For Any Triangle:

𝑐𝑐 2 = 𝑎𝑎2 + 𝑏𝑏 2 − 2𝑎𝑎𝑏𝑏 cos (𝐶𝐶)

𝒃𝒃 C
𝑎𝑎 sin(𝐴𝐴) sin(𝐵𝐵) sin(𝐶𝐶)
= =
𝑎𝑎 𝑏𝑏 𝑐𝑐
A B
𝑐𝑐

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Practice Problems
(you should practice all the problems suggested, but the examples we will aim to cover in
the tutorial are in black)

Units, scientific notation, significant figures

1. Unit Conversions (Question 3, Chapter 1, Page 10)
Convert the following:
a) 10.3 m to cm; d) 1.8 mm to m; g) 100 km/h to m/s;
b) 1.25 cm to m; e) 14 cm2 to m2; h) 5 m/s to km/h;
c) 1120 cm to m; f) 4.8 cm3 to m3;

2. Scientific notation (Question 6, Chapter 1, Page 12)

Write the following in scientific notation:
a) 0.000 552;
b) 73 000 000; c) 1.5 million;
d) 0.000 250.
3. Significant figures (Question 12, Chapter 1, page 14)
Calculate the following and express in scientific notation to the correct number of
significant figures:
a) 12.3 m × 34.14 m; c) 1.18 cm × 3.1416 cm;
2 4
b) 3.5 × 10 m × 2.18 × 10 m; d) 2.0 × 10–3 m × 2.0 × 10–4 m.

Vectors - addition, subtraction, and resolving into components

4. Vector & Scalar quantities (Question 4, Chapter 3, page 60)

A red cricket ball of mass 150g is thrown upwards with velocity of 20m/s. Gravitational
acceleration allows the ball to reach a maximum height of 20m in time of 2.0 seconds,
after which it falls to the ground and strikes it 2.0 seconds later. From this statement,
name three scalar and three vector quantities.

5. Vector Addition (similar to Question 2, Chapter 3, page 60)

Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector obtained by adding
a) displacements of 30m S and 20m N; c) forces of 20N NW and 10N N30oE;
b) velocities of 16m/s W and 30m/s S;

6. Vector Subtraction (Question 6, Chapter 3, page 61)

Calculate the change in velocity for each of the following:
Initial velocity Final velocity Initial velocity Final velocity
a) 20m/s south 30m/s north c) 25m/s north 35m/s east
b) 50m/s west 10m/s east d) 50m/s south 20m/s west

7. Resolving vectors (Question 9, Chapter 3, page 62)

A girl is pushing a trolley along a horizontal path with a force of 100N on the
handle. If the angle between the handle and the ground is 30o, calculate the
horizontal and vertical components of the pushing force.
Distance vs displacement, speed vs velocity, and average speed & velocity
8. Distance vs Displacement (Question 1, Chapter 2, Page 28)
In the Figure 1 below:
a) What is the displacement of the competitor at point B? (sB = ?)
b) What is the total distance travelled when at point D?
c) What is the distance travelled when at point C?

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 d) What is the displacement at point C? Remember to include the direction by
stating the value of the angle CAD.

Figure 1

9. Average speed (1 Dimension, 1 direction)

While driving home from school you travel at 95 km/h for 130 km then slow to 65
km/h. You get home in 3 hours and 20 min. How far is your hometown from school
and what is the average speed?

10. Distance & average speed (1 Dimension, 1 direction)

A person takes a trip, driving with a constant speed of 89.5 km/h, except for a 22
min rest stop. If the person's average speed is 77.8 km/h, how much time is spent
on the trip and how far does the person travel?

11. Average velocity (1 Dimension, 2 directions)

In reaching her destination, a backpacker walks with an average velocity of 1.34
m/s, due west. This average velocity results because she hikes for 6.44 km with an
average velocity of 2.68m/s, due west, turns around, and hikes with an average
velocity of 0.447 m/s, due east. How far east did she walk?

12. Displacement, distance & Average speed & velocity (2 Dimensions)

A boat sails north at 10km/h for 2 hours and then N30°𝑊𝑊 at 12 km/h for another
hour. Calculate:
a) Total distance travelled,
b) Final displacement from the starting position,
c) Average sailing speed, and
d) Average velocity.

Equations of Motion
13. Average speed (Question 8, Chapter 2, Page 31)
A Ferrari Testarossa when driven by an experienced racing driver can cover 400 m
from a standing start in 14.2 s. If it crosses the 400 m line at a speed of 203 km/h,
what is its average speed?

14. Time (Question 14, Chapter 2, page 35)

The highest speed by a rocket-engine wheeled land vehicle was 1046 km h–1 (290 m
s–1) recorded by Gary Gabelich in The Blue Flame on the Bonneville Salt Flats in
1970. His acceleration was measured as 4.2 m s–2 in getting to this speed from rest.
How many seconds would he have taken to reach this speed?

15. Acceleration, Displacement (Question 22, Chapter 2, page 41)

A cyclist starts from rest and attains a velocity of 21 m s–1 in 3.5 seconds. Calculate
a) the acceleration, assumed constant;
b) the displacement.

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Graphs of Motion

16. Motion from 𝑣𝑣 − 𝑡𝑡 graph (Question 18, Chapter 2, page 37)

For the motion of the bungee jumper shown in the
Figure 1:
a) calculate the displacement and distance travelled
after 50 s;
b) calculate the acceleration at 10 s, 30 s and 45 s;
c) sketch an acceleration–time graph.
d) When was he stationary?
e) When was his acceleration constant but not zero?
f) When was his velocity constant but not zero?
Figure 2
g) Describe in words the motion depicted in the
diagram.

17. Interpret 𝑣𝑣 − 𝑡𝑡 graph (Questions 30, Chapter 2, page 46)

What does the slope of the line in the 𝑣𝑣– 𝑡𝑡 graph of Case 1 (Figure 2) represent?

18. Draw 𝑠𝑠 − 𝑡𝑡 graph (Questions 30, Chapter 2, page 46)

Draw a displacement–time graph of the motion of the ball as described in Case 1
(Figure 2) and Case 2 (Figure 3)

Case 1 is that of an object dropped off a

cliff. Figure 2 shows the relationship
between a velocity–time graph (b) and its
corresponding acceleration–time graph
(a) for this type of free-fall motion. The
downward direction is negative.
Figure 3
Case 2 is that of an object thrown
upward into the air and allowed to return
to its starting place. Figure 3 shows the
graphs of motion of a ball thrown in this
manner. Note that the acceleration is
constant, even at the top of flight when
the ball is stationary. Again, down is
negative.

Figure 4

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Short Answers
1.
a) 1030 cm;
b) 0.0125 m;
c) 11.2 m;
d) 0.0018 m;
e) 0.0014 m2;
f) 0.0000048 m3;
g) 27.8 m/s;
h) 18 km/h;

2.
a) 5.52 x 10-4;
b) 7.3 x 107;
c) 1.5 x 106;
d) 2.50 x 10-4.
3.
a) 4.20 x 102 m2;
b) 7.6 x 106 m2;
c) 0.72 m/s;
d) 3.71 cm2;
e) 4.0 x 10-7 m2.
4.
Scalars: time, height, distance travelled, mass
Vectors: initial velocity, gravitational acceleration, displacement (max or total)
5. a) 10m South b) 34m (𝑊𝑊62°𝑆𝑆) c) 25 N (𝑁𝑁22°𝑊𝑊)
6. a) 50 m/s North b) 60 m/s East c) 43 m/s (𝐸𝐸36°𝑆𝑆) d) 54 m.s (𝑊𝑊68°𝑁𝑁)
7. H:87N, V:50N
8. a) 2km North b) 8km c) 6km d) 4.2km (𝑁𝑁63°𝐸𝐸)
9. Distance 260km, average speed 77 km/h
10. Time 2.8 h, distance 218 km.
11. 805m East
12. a) 32km b) 31km (𝑁𝑁11°𝑊𝑊) c) 10.7km/h d) 10.3km/h (𝑁𝑁11°𝑊𝑊)
13. 102 km/h
14. 69s
15. a) 6.0m/s2 b) 37m
16. a) distance 250m, displacement 50m away from the starting point
b) 0.50 m/s2, -1.0 m/s2, 1.0 m/s2 d) at times 0s,30s and 50s
e) intervals 0-20s, 20-40s and 40-50 s f) never
2
17. acceleration=-10m/s

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