Physics 9702 (AS)

Topic 1
Physical Quantities and Units
Taylor’s College Lakeside
CAL Physics Department
 Learning Outcomes
• 1.1 Physical Quantities
• (a) understand that all physical quantities consist of a numerical magnitude and a unit
• (b) make reasonable estimates of physical quantities included in the syllabuses

• 1.2 SI quantities and base units

• (a) recall the following SI base quantities and their units:
mass (kg), length (m), time (s), current (A), temperature (K), amount of substance (mol)
• (b) express derived units as products or quotients of the SI base units and use the named units listed in this syllabus as appropriate
• (c) use SI base units to check the homogeneity of physical equations
• (d) use the following prefixes and their symbols to indicate decimal submultiples or multiples of both base and derived units:
pico (p), nano (n), micro (μ), milli (m), centi (c), deci (d), kilo (k), mega (M), giga (G), tera (T)
• (e) understand and use the conventions for labeling graph axes and table columns as set out in the ASE publication Signs, Symbols and Systematics (The
ASE Companion to 16–19 Science, 2000)

• 1.4 Scalar and vectors

• (a) distinguish between scalar and vector quantities and give examples of each
• (b) add and subtract coplanar vectors
• (c) represent a vector as two perpendicular components
 1.1(a) Physical Quantities
• A property which is measurable. (eg. Length, weight, or time of fall)
• It has numerical value and unit.
• It is vital to give unit of measurement whenever a quantity is measured or written down.

• Large and small quantities are usually expressed in scientific notation (a simple number
multiplied by a power of ten)
• Examples: 0.00034 = 3.4 x 10-4
154000000 = 1.54 x 108
 1.2(a) SI quantities and base units
• Système International (S.I) based on the metric system of measurement.
• S.I is founded on seven fundamental or base units.
Quantity Unit Symbol
Mass kilogram kg
Length metre m
Time second s
Electric current ampere A
Thermodynamic temperature kelvin K
Amount of substance (only used in A2) mole mol
Luminous intensity (not be used in AS/A2 course) candela cd

Base units : a fundamental unit that is defined arbitrarily and not by combinations of other units.
 1.2(b) Derived Quantities & Units

• A derived quantity is related to the base quantities through a

defining equation.
• A derived unit is the products or quotients of the base units.
• Eg: What are the base units of speed?
Speed = distance / time
[speed] = [m]/[s]
= ms-1
(*division by a unit is shown using negative index, so m/s is not preferred)
 Quantity(symbol) Unit Derived Unit
Frequency (f) hertz (Hz) s-1
Velocity (v) m s-1 m s-1
Acceleration (a) m s-2 m s-2
Some examples of Force (F) newton (N) kg m s-2
derived units which may Energy (E) joule (J) kg m2 s-2
be used in A/AS course Power (P) watt (W) kg m2 s-3
Electric charge (Q) coulomb (C) As
Potential Difference volt (V) kg m2 s-3 A-1
A quantity can be (V)
dimensionless Electrical ohm (Ω) kg m2 s-3 A-2
resistance (R)
when its unit = 1
Density (ρ) kg m-3 kg m-3
Pressure (P) pascal (Pa) kg m-1 s-2
 1.2(c) Checking equations (homogeneity)
• Base units can be used to check the homogeneity of a physical equation.

Units of L.H.S of equation = Units of R.H.S of equation

(Homogenous/ Dimensionally consistent)

• It does not guarantee equation is physically correct.

Incorrect coefficient :
Extra term :
Incorrect sign :
 Example of Homogeneity
• Eg: Use base units to show that following equation is homogenous

L.H.S of equation:
Work done = force x distance moved = kg m s-2 x m = kg m2 s-2

R.H.S of equation:
Kinetic energy = x mass x (speed)2 = kg x (m s-1)2 = kg m2 s-2 (*Any pure number such as ½ has no unit)
G.P.E = mass x gravitational field strength, g x distance = kg x m s-2 x m = kg m2 s-2

All terms have same base units and equation is homogenous

 Now, it’s your turn
A student found four equations that describe how the velocity of ocean waves is related to the
density of seawater, 𝜌, the acceleration of free fall, g, the depth of the ocean, h and the wavelength,
𝜆.
; ;;
Which of these equation could be correct?

Solution:
Unit for v is [ m s-1]
For equation, the unit of R.H.S is ([m s-2]*[m])1/2 = [m s-1] (Homogenous)

For equation , the unit of R.H.S is ([m s-2]/[m])1/2 = [s-1] (Non- homogenous)

For equation the unit of R.H.S is ([kg m-3]*[m s-2]*[m])1/2 = [kg m-1 s-2]1/2 (Non- homogenous)

For equation, the unit of R.H.S is ([m s-2]/[kg m-3])1/2 = [kg-1 m4 s-2]1/2 (Non- homogenous)
 1.2(d) Prefixes
• Each quantity makes use of prefixes to indicate decimal multiple or
submultiples of all units to cater for larger or smaller values.
Prefix Symbol Sub-multiple Prefix Symbol Multiple

femto f 10-15 kilo k 103

pico p 10-12 mega M 106
nano n 10-9 giga G 109
micro μ 10-6 tera T 1012
milli m 10-3 peta P 1015
centi c 10-2 exa E 1018
deci d 10-1
 Conversion units for area and volume
(a) 1 mm2 to m2 ? (b) 1 cm2 to m2 ?
1 mm2 = 1 x (10-3)2 m2 1 cm2 = 1 x (10-2)2 m2
= 1 x10-6 m2 = 1 x10-4 m2
(c) 1 mm3 to m3 ? (d) 1 cm3 to m3 ?

1 mm3 = 1 x (10-3)3 m3 1 cm3 = 1 x (10-2)3 m3

=21 x 10
2 m
(e) 1 km to m ?
-9 3
3= 1 x10 m
(f) 1 km to m ?
3
-6 3

1 km2 = 1 x (103)2 m2 1 km3 = 1 x (103)3 m3

= 1 x 106 m2 = 1 x 109 m3
 Conversion between units
(a) 100 cm in metres (a)(1.00 m)
(b) 52 MA in A (b)(5.2 x 107 A)
(c) 0.030 m in cm (c)(3.0 cm)
(d)(2.0 ns)
(d) 2.0×10−9s in ns
(e)(5.23 x 10-6 km)
(e) 5.23 mm into km (f)(0.28 𝜇g)
(f) 0.00028 mg into 𝜇g (g)(3.28 x 105 cm)
(g) 32.8 Mm into cm (h)(3.86 x 106 ns)
(h) 3.86 ms into ns (i) (6.43 x 10-4 kg)
(i) 643 mg into kg (j)(33.3 m s-1)
(j) 120 km h-1 to m s-1 (k)( 4000 kg m-3)
(k) 4.0 g cm-3 to kg m-3
 Examples:
An atom of gold, Figure 1.6 has a diameter of 0.26 nm and the
diameter of its nucleus is 5.6 x 10-3 pm. Determine the ratio of
the diameter of the atom to that of the nucleus.
 1.1(b) Reasonable estimates
• It is useful to be able to estimate the size, or order of
magnitude, of a quantity.
• For example:
• Mass of a jar of peanut butter = 500 g
• Length of a car = 4.0 m
• Diameter of a hair = 500 μm
• Diameter of an atom = 10-10 m
• Diameter of an nucleus = 10-15 m
 Now it’s your turn
(a) (~50 g to 100 g)
• Estimate the following quantities
(b) (~ 70 kg)
(a) the mass of an orange
(b) the mass of an adult human (c) (~2.1 m)
(c) the height of a room in a house (d) (~ 6.0 mm)
(d) the diameter of a pencil
(e) (~ 160 cm3)
(e) the volume of a tennis ball
(f) (~4000 cm3)
(f) the volume of a human head
(g) weight of an apple (g) (~ 1.0 N)
(h) walking speed (h) (~1 m s-1)
(i) speed of a jumbo jet
(i) ( ~280 m s-1)
(j) temperature of human body
(j) (~ 37 °C)
 1.2(e) Graph axes and table columns.
Column headings
 For example, a length L measured in centimetres may be represented as follows:
L / cm, L (cm) ACCEPTABLE
 If the distinguishing notation between a quantity and its unit are not clear then credit will not be
given. Examples of this are show below:
NOT ACCEPTABLE

Axes Label
 It is expected that each axis will be labelled with the quantity (including unit) which is being plotted.
 The quantity may be represented by a symbol or written in words.
 There must be some kind of distinguishing notation between the quantity and the unit.
 Learners should be encouraged to use solidus notation, but a variety of other notations are
accepted.
For example:
T / °C , T (°C) , T in °C are all acceptable as axis labels
1.4(a) Scalar & Vector quantities
 Scalar Quantity Vector Quantity

distance displacement
speed velocity
temperature acceleration
energy force
power momentum
mass weight
density moment
pressure torque
volume electric field strength
time gravitational field strength
electric current magnetic flux density
 1.4(a) Vector quantities
• A vector in general can be represented by an arrow whose
length is proportional to its magnitude and its direction by
the direction of the arrowhead.
• A vector V can be multiplied by any ordinary number to
increase or decrease its length or to reverse its direction.
 1.4(b) Addition & Subtraction of Colinear Vectors
• Vectors can be added or subtracted by finding the resultant or
the vector sum of two or more vectors.

Addition of vectors in same direction Addition of vectors in opposite direction

(Vector’s subtraction)

R=A+B R=A−B
 1.4(b) Addition & Subtraction of Coplanar Vectors
• Two or more coplanar vectors can be added by
using the parallelogram method or “head-to-tail” method
Parallelogram method “Head-to-tail” method
3 vectors addition (orders not important)
 Resultant vector = 0?
• If three vectors form a closed loop triangle, the resultant
vector will be zero.
 1.4(c) Resolution of vectors
• A single vector can be resolved into two perpendicular
components.

Horizontal component, FH = F cos Ɵ

Vertical component, FV = F sin Ɵ

Horizontal component of F , FH = F cos α or F sin Ɵ

Vertical component of F , FV = F sin α or F cos Ɵ

Analytical method of vector addition

The x –components of all individual vectors are

added together to give x –component of the
resultant vector, Rx .

The y –components of all individual vectors are

added together to give y –component of the
resultant vector, Ry .

A = Ax + Ay
+ + +
= +
B Bx By

R = Rx + Ry
Example: Vector addition (analytical)
Vectors X-components Y-components
A Ax = A cos ƟA Ay = A sin ƟA
Ax = 53.0 cos 20° Ay = 53.0 sin 20°
= 49.8 m = 18.1 m

B Bx = B cos ƟB By = B sin ƟB
Bx = 34.0 cos 63° By = 34.0 sin 63°
= 15.4 m = 30.3 m

R Rx = Ax + Bx Ry = Ay + By
Rx = 49.8 + 15.4 Ry = 18.1 + 30.3
= 65.2 m = 48.4 m
 Now, it’s your turn
1. Two forces, F1 and F2 of magnitude 15.0 N and 10.0 N respectively are
applied at point O. Both forces are inclined at angle of 50° to the x-axis.
Calculate
(a)the x and y components of each of the forces;
(b)The vector sum of the x-components of these forces;
(c)The vector sum of the y-components of these forces;
(d)The resultant of these forces.
y

F1

F2

50° 50°
x
O
 Solutions
(a) F1x = 15.0 cos 50° = 9.64 N (d) Resultant F =
F1y = 15.0 sin 50° = 11.5 N =
F2x = 10.0 cos 50° = - 6.43 N = 19.5 N

F2y = 10.0 sin 50° = 7.66 N

(b) Vector sum of the x-components, tan Ɵ =
Fx = F1x + F2x tan Ɵ =
= 9.64 + (-6.43) = 3.21 N Ɵ=
(c) Vector sum of the y-components,
Ɵ= °
Fy = F1y+ F2y
= 11.5 + 7.66 = 19.2 N
2. A ship is travelling due north with a speed of 12 km h-1 relative to water.
There is a current in the water flowing at 4.0 km h-1 due east. Determine the
velocity of the ship by
(a) Scale drawing
(b) Calculation
Trigonometry in Vector’s addition
 Tutorial Questions
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