Physics for Engineering I

1210))
(PHYS 1210

Dr. Nasser Mohamed Shelil

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Dept.,
College of Applied Engineering, King Saud University

B.Sc. & M.Sc. , Suez Canal University; PhD, Cardiff University/UK

Course Contents
Chapter 1: Physics and Measurement
Chapter 2: Motion in One Dimension
Chapter 3: Vectors
Chapter 4: Motion in Two Dimensions
Chapter 5: Laws of Motion
Chapter 6: Circular Motion: Applications of Newton's Laws
Chapter 7: Energy and Energy Transfer
Chapter 8: Potential Energy

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 References

1. Serway Jewett, “Physics for Scientists and Engineers”, THOMSON

BROOKS/COLE, 6th Edition. Or 9th Edition.

2. Halliday, Resnick, Walker, “Fundamentals of Physics”, WILEY, 6th

Edition.

3. Young and Freedmann, “University Physics”, PEARSON ADDISON

WESLEY, 11th Edition.

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Assessment

Assessment task
(e.g. essay, test, group project, Week due %
examination etc.)
Attendance, Participation and
1 Every weeks 15
Homework
2 Mid Term Exam 8 20
3 Quizzes … 10
4 Laboratory reports & Tests Every weeks 15
5 Final Exam 17 40

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 Chapter 1:

Physics and Measurement

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Chapter 1:
Physics and Measurement

Units & Dimensions.

Dimensional Analysis.
Conversion of Units.
Density and Atomic Mass.
Estimates and Order-of-Magnitude Calculations.
Significant Figures.

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 Units & Dimensions

Units

SI (metric) English system

kilogram (kg) pound (lb)

meter (m) foot (ft)
second (s) second (s)

lb = 0.45359 kg
ft = 0.3048 m

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Units & Dimensions

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Standards of Length, Mass, and Time
Length: (m)
The meter (m) was redefined as the distance traveled by light
in vacuum during a time of 1/299 792 458 second.

Mass: (kg)
The kilogram (kg), is defined as the mass of a specific
platinum–iridium alloy cylinder kept at the International
Bureau of Weights and Measures at Sèvres, France.

Time: (s)
The second (s) is now defined as 9 192 631 770 times the
period of vibration of radiation from the cesium atom.

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The seven fundamental (or primary)

dimensions and their units in SI
Dimension Unit
Length meter (m)
Mass kilogram (kg)
Time second (s)

Temperature Kelvin (K)

Electric current Ampere (A)
Amount of light candela (cd)
Amount of matter mole (mol)

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Length m Work
Mass kg Heat
Time s Energy
Area m2 Power
Volume m3
Velocity
Acceleration
Density
Specific Volume
Mass flow rate
Discharge
Pressure
Force

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Dimensional Analysis
In physics, the word dimension denotes the physical nature
of a quantity.

the dimensions of Length: L,

Mass: M,
and Time: T.

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 Example 1.1
Show that the expression v = at ,
where v represents speed, a acceleration, and t an instant of time,
is dimensionally correct.

Solution:

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Conversion of Units

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Conversion of Units

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Conversion of Units

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Conversion of Units

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Example 1.2
On an interstate highway in a certain region of KSA, a car is
traveling at a speed of 38.0 m/s. Is the driver exceeding
the speed limit of 75.0 mi/h?

Solution:

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Density
The density ρ of any substance is defined as its mass per
unit volume:

Where:
ρ : the density
m: the mass
V: the volume

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 Atomic Mass
The numbers of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
of an element are related to the atomic mass of the element,
which is defined as the mass of a single atom of
the element measured in atomic mass units (u) where
1 u = 1.660 538 7 x 10-27 kg.

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Example 1.3

A solid cube of aluminium (density 2.70 g/cm3) has a volume of

0.200 cm3. It is known that 27.0 g of aluminium contains 6.02 x
1023 atoms. How many aluminium atoms are contained in the
cube?
Solution:

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Estimates and Order-of-Magnitude Calculations

The estimate may be made even more approximate by

expressing it as an order of magnitude, which is a power of ten.

We use the symbol ∼ , for “is on the order of.”

The orders of magnitude for the following lengths:

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Significant Figures

The number of significant figures in a measurement can be

used to express something about the uncertainty.

Suppose we are asked to measure the radius of a compact disc

using a meter-stick as a measuring instrument. Let us assume the
accuracy to which we can measure the radius of the disc is 6 ± 0.1
cm.

radius lies somewhere between 5.9 cm and 6.1 cm.

Note that the significant figures include the first estimated digit.
Therefore, we could write the radius as (6.0 ± 0.1) cm.

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Zeros may or may not be significant figures.

Those used to position the decimal point in such numbers as

0.03 and 0.0075 are not significant. Therefore, there are one and
two significant figures, respectively, in these two values.

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1500
1.5 x 103 if there are two significant figures in the measured value,
1.50 x 103 if there are three significant figures, and
1.500 x 103 if there are four.

The same rule holds for numbers less than 1,

so 2.3 x 10-4 has two significant figures

(and therefore could be written 0.000 23)

and 2.30 x 10-4 has three significant figures

(also written as 0.000 230)

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When multiplying several quantities, the number of significant

figures in the final answer is the same as the number of
significant figures in the quantity having the smallest number
of significant figures. The same rule applies to division.

When numbers are added or subtracted, the number of decimal

places in the result should equal the smallest number of
decimal places of any term in the sum or difference.

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