Lecture 01

Lecture 01
Study of Basics of Physics
 Agenda
01 Introduction to Physics

02 Fundamental Units

03 Scalers, Vectors, Types of Vectors

04 Addition of Vectors (Graphical Method)

 1.1 What Is Physics?
Branch of science concerned with nature and properties of matter and energy.

The subject matter of physics includes mechanics, heat, light and other radiation,
sound, electricity, magnetism, and the structure of atoms.

Physics seeks to describe observations in terms of quantified measurements.

Physics seeks to discover relationships between different measurements and to

express the relationships in terms of physical laws (i.e. mathematical statements).
Example: F=ma (force = mass x acceleration)
 1.1 Fundamental Units

The fundamental units are the units of the fundamental quantities, as defined
by the International System of Units.

They are not dependent upon any other units, and all other units are derived
from them.
 1.1 Fundamental Units

SI Units for 7 fundamental quantities

• The meter (m), used to measure length.
• The kilogram (kg), used to measure mass.
• The second (s), used to measure time.
• The ampere (A), used to measure electric current.
• The kelvin (K), used to measure temperature.
• The mole (mol), used to measure amount of substance or particles in matter.
• The candela (cd), used to measure light intensity.
 1.2 Scaler and Vectors

The mathematical quantities that are used to describe the motion of objects can be
divided into two categories. The quantity is either a vector or a scalar.
These two categories can be distinguished from one another by their distinct
definitions:

•Scalars are quantities that are fully described by a magnitude (or numerical

value) alone. (e.g. distance, speed, mass, time)

•Vectors are quantities that are fully described by both a magnitude and a

direction. (e.g. displacement, velocity, acceleration, force)
 1.2 Scalers and Vectors

 Representation of Vectors:
• Vectors are denoted bold face small characters such as d, r, and v, another
common way to denote a vector is by putting an arrow head on small letters e.g. , .
• A vector can be represented in many mathematical forms, the most commonly
used representations are Polar form and Graphical Representation.
• Polar Form:
= a˂θ where “a” is magnitude of the vector and “θ” represents direction of
vector from reference point.
 1.2 Scalers and Vectors

• Graphical Representation:
A vector can be represented graphically by drawing a line segment with an arrow head.
• Length of the line segment corresponds to the magnitude of the vector.
• Arrow head represents the direction of the vector from reference point, if
it is directed towards right it represents a positive vector, if arrow directions
Is towards left it shows a vector with direction negative from reference point.

Here vector a and b are in opposite directions, vector a is a positive vector while vector
b is a negative vector.
 1.2 Types of Vectors

 Types of Vectors:
• Unit Vector: A unit vector in a given direction is a vector with magnitude one in
that direction. =a
=
• Null Vector: A vector of zero magnitude and arbitrary direction. e.g. sum of a
vector and its negative vector. =0

• Equal Vectors: Vectors with same magnitude and direction are called equal
vectors.
 1.3 Addition of Vectors

• Head to Tail Rule:

Given two vectors a and b, their sum is obtained by drawing their representative lines in
such a way that ‘tail’ of vector b coincides with ‘head’ of vector a.

• Resultant Vector: The resultant vector of similar vectors is that single vector
which would have the same effect as all the original vectors taken together.

• Commutative: Addition of vectors is commutative, i.e. a+b = b+a

 1.3 Addition of Vectors

• Example:
As we know that R = A+B+C
• Find magnitude of R
• Find angle (θ) of R
 1.3 Addition of Vectors

•  Answer:
Express A,B and C in their components form.
A= (72.4cos 32o )+ (72.4sin 32o ) = 38.4+ 61.4
B= (-57.3cos 36o )+ (-57.3sin 36o ) = -46.4 33.7
C=-17.8
R = A+B+C
R = (38.4 – 46.4) + (61.4 – 33.7 – 17.8)
R = -8.0 + 9.9
R= = 13
θ = = = -510, 1290 (pick correct answer for θ)
 Summary

• What is Physics?
• Fundamental Units
• Vectors (Representation, types and addition)
 References

• University Physics, Roger A. Freedman and Hugh D. Young, 12th edition.

• Fundamentals of Physics, David Halliday, Robert Resnick, and Jearl Walker, 7th Edition.
Thank you