PHYSICS 231

INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS I
www.pa.msu.edu/courses/phy231

Scott Pratt
prattsc@msu.edu
(517) 355-9200, ext. 2016
Office Hours:
Monday, 9-10:30 AM in 1248 BPS
 Course Information

http://www.pa.msu.edu/courses/phy231
 Succeeding in Physics 231

1) Do your homework (yourself)!

2) Use the help room (1248 BPS) !
3) Make sure you understand both “why” and “why
not”
4) Interrupt the lecturer!
General Physics
• First Semester (Phy 231)
• Mechanics
• Thermodynamics
• Simple harmonic motion
• Waves

Second Semester (Phy 232)

• Electromagnetism
• Relativity
• Modern Physics
• (Quantum Mechanics, …, etc.)
 Mechanics
• Half the course
• Quantified largely by Galileo
• Problems involve:
velocity, acceleration, mass, momentum, energy,
torque, angular momentum, moment of inertia…
 UNITS (Systéme Internationale)
Dimension SI (mks) Unit Definition

Length meters (m) Distance traveled by light in

1/(299,792,458) s

Mass kilogram (kg) Mass of a specific platinum-

iridium allow cylinder kept by
Intl. Bureau of Weights and
Measures at Sèvres, France
Time seconds (s) 9,192,631,700 oscillations of
cesium atom
Standard Kilogram
at Sèvres
 Dimensional Analysis
Dimensions & units can be treated algebraically.

Variable from Eq. x m t v=(xf-xi)/t a=(vf-vi)/t

dimension L M T L/T L/T2

 Dimensional Analysis
Checking equations with dimensional analysis:

1 2
x f  xi  vi t  at
2
(L/T2)T2=L
L (L/T)T=L

• Each term must have same dimension

• Two variables can not be added if dimensions
are different
• Multiplying variables is always fine
• Numbers (e.g. 1/2 or p) are dimensionless
Example 1.1
Check the equation for dimensional consistency:
2
mc
mgh   mc 2

1  (v / c ) 2

Here, m is a mass, g is an acceleration,

c is a velocity, h is a length
Example 1.2
Consider the equation:

v2 Mm
m G 2
r r

Where m and M are masses, r is a radius and

v is a velocity.
What are the dimensions of G ?

L3/(MT2)
 Example 1.3
Given “x” has dimensions of distance, “u” has
dimensions of velocity, “m” has dimensions of
mass and “g” has dimensions of acceleration.

Is this equation dimensionally valid?

(4 / 3)ut
x
1  (2gt 2 / x) Yes

Is this equation dimensionally valid?

vt
x No
1  mgt 2
 Units vs. Dimensions
• Dimensions: L, T, M, L/T …
• Units: m, mm, cm, kg, g, mg, s, hr, years …
• When equation is all algebra: check dimensions
• When numbers are inserted: check units
• Units obey same rules as dimensions:
Never add terms with different units
• Angles are dimensionless but have units
(degrees or radians)
• In physics sin(Y) or cos(Y) never occur unless Y
is dimensionless
Example 1.3

Grandma traveled 27 minutes at 44 m/s.

How many miles did Grandma travel?

44.3 miles
 Prefixes

In addition to mks units,

standard prefixes can be used,
e.g., cm, mm, mm, nm
 Example 1.4a

40 m  11cm  ?
The above expression yields:

a) 40.11 m
b) 4011 cm
c) A or B
d) Impossible to evaluate (dimensionally invalid)
 Example 1.4b

1.5 m  3.0 kg  ?
The above expression yields:

a) 4.5 m kg
b) 4.5 g km
c) A or B
d) Impossible to evaluate (dimensionally invalid)
 Example 1.4b

1.5 m-3.0 kg m/s  ?

The above expression yields:

a) -1.5 m
b) -1.5 kg m2
c) -1.5 kg
d) Impossible to evaluate (dimensionally invalid)