Chapter 1. Chapter 1.

PHYSICAL QUANTITIES AND MEASUREMENTS PHYSICAL QUANTITIES AND MEASUREMENTS

1.1 Physical Quantities and Units 1.1 Physical Quantities and Units
Learning Outcomes.
a) State basic quantities and their respective SI
units: length (m), time (s), mass (kg),electric
current (A), temperature (K), amount of
substance (mol), and luminosity (cd). substance (mol), and luminosity (cd).
b) State derived quantities and their respective
units and symbols: velocity (m s
-1
), acceleration
(m s
-2
), work (J), force (N), pressure (Pa), energy
(J), power (W) and frequency (Hz).
c) Convert units to common SI prefixes.
Physical quantity Physical quantity is defined as a quantity which can be quantity which can be
measured. measured.
It can be categorised into 2 types
Basic (base) quantity Basic (base) quantity
Derived quantity Derived quantity
Basic quantity Basic quantity is defined as a quantity which cannot quantity which cannot
be derived from any physical quantities. be derived from any physical quantities.
Derived quantity Derived quantity is defined as a quantity which can be quantity which can be
expressed in term of base quantity. expressed in term of base quantity.
Table 1.1 shows all the basic (base)
quantities
Quantity Symbol SI Unit Symbol
Length l metre m
Mass m kilogram kg Mass m kilogram kg
Time t second s
Temperature T/ kelvin K
Electric current I ampere A
Amount of substance N mole mol
Luminous Intensity candela cd
Derived quantity Symbol Formulae Unit
Velocity
v s/t
m s
-1
Volume
V l w t
M
3
Table 1.2 shows some examples of
derived quantity.
Acceleration
a v/t
m s
-2
Density
m/V
kg m
-3
Momentum
p m v
kg m s
-1
Force
F m a
kg m s
-2
@ N
Work
W F s
kg m
2
s
-2
@ J
Unit Prefixes
It is used for presenting larger and smaller values. for presenting larger and smaller values.
Table 1.3 shows all the unit prefixes.
Prefix Value Symbol
tera 10
12
T
giga 10
9
G
mega 10
6
M
kilo 10
3
k kilo 10
3
k
deci 10
-1
d
centi 10
-2
c
milli 10
-3
m
micro 10
-6

nano 10
-9
n
pico 10
-12
p
Examples:
Solve the following problems of unit conversion
a. 30 mm
2
= ? m
2
b. 865 m h
-1
= ? m s
-1
c. 300 g cm
-3
= ? kg m
-3
d. 2.4 x 10
-5
cm
3
= ? m
3
Solution : Solution :
(a) 30 mm
2
= ? m
2
( ) ( )
2
3
2
m 10 mm 1

=
2 6 2
m 10 mm 1

= m 10 mm 1 =
2 5 2 6 2
m 10 3.0 or m 10 30 mm 30

=
(b)
865 m h
-1
= ? m s
-1
1 1
st st
method method

h 1
m 10 865
h km 865
3
1

s 3600
m 10 865
h km 865
3
1
1 1
s m 240 h km 865

=
2 2
nd nd
method method

s 3600
h 1
km 1
m 1000
h 1
km 865
h km 865
1

s 3600
h 1
km 1
m 1000
h 1
km 865
h km 865
1
1 1
s m 240 h km 865

=
(c) 300 g cm
-3
= ? kg m
-3
(d) 2.4 x 10
-5
cm
3
= ? m
3
( )

=
3
3
2 -
3 3 -
3
3 -
m 10
cm 1
g 1
kg 10
cm 1
g 300
cm g 300
-3 5 3
m kg 10 3.0 cm g 300 =

( )
3 11
6 5
3
2 5
m 10 4 . 2
10 10 4 . 2
10 10 4 . 2

=
=
=
1.2 1.2 Scalars and Vectors
Learning Outcomes
a) Define scalar and vector quantities.
b) Perform vector addition and subtraction
operations graphically.
c) Resolve vector into two perpendicular c) Resolve vector into two perpendicular
components (x and y axes).
d) Illustrate unit vectors ( ) in Cartesian
coordinate.

, , i j k
e) State the physical meaning of dot (scalar)
product:
f) State the physical meaning of cross (vector)
product:
) cos ( ) cos ( A B B A B A = =
r r
product:
Direction of cross product is determined by
corkscrew method or right hand rule.
) sin ( ) sin ( A B B A B A = =
r r
Scalar Scalar quantity is defined as a quantity with quantity with
magnitude magnitude only.
e.g. mass, time, temperature, pressure, electric
current, work, energy and etc.
Mathematics operational : ordinary algebra
Vector Vector quantity is defined as a quantity with both quantity with both
magnitude & direction. magnitude & direction.
e.g. displacement, velocity, acceleration, force,
momentum, electric field, magnetic field and etc.
Mathematics operational : vector algebra
Table 1.6 shows written form (notation) of vectors.
Vectors
Vector A
Length Length of an arrow magnitude magnitude of vector A
displacement velocity acceleration
Direction Direction of arrow direction direction of vector A
15
Notation of magnitude of vectors.
displacement velocity acceleration
s
r
v
r
a
r
s
a v
v v =
r
a a =
r
s (bold)
v (bold)
a (bold)
Table 1.6 Table 1.6
Two vectors Two vectors equal if both magnitude magnitude and direction and direction
are the same. same.
If vector A is multiplied by a scalar quantity k
P
r
Q
r
Q P
r r
=
16
If vector A is multiplied by a scalar quantity k
Then, vector A is
if kk = + = +ve ve, the vector is in the same direction same direction as vector A.
if k k = = - - ve ve, the vector is in the opposite direction opposite direction of vector A.
A k
r
A k
r
A
r
A
r

There are two methods involved in addition of vectors

graphically i.e.
Parallelogram Parallelogram
Triangle Triangle
For example :
Addition of Vectors
B A
r r
+
17
Parallelogram Parallelogram Triangle Triangle
B
r
A
r
B
r
A
r
B A
r r
+
O
B
r
A
r
B A
r r
+
O
Triangle of vectors method:
a) Use a suitable scale to draw vector A.
b) From the head of vector A draw a line to
represent the vector B.
c) Complete the triangle. Draw a line from the tail of
vector A to the head of vector B to represent the
vector A + B.
18
vector A + B.
A B B A
r r r r
+ = +
Commutative Rule Commutative Rule
B
r
A
r
A B
r r
+
O
If there are more than 2 vectors therefore
Use vector polygon and associative rule. E.g. R Q P
r r r
+ +
R
r
Q
r
P
r
19
R
r
Q
r
P
r
( ) Q P
r r
+
( ) ( ) R Q P R Q P
r r r r r r
+ + = + + Associative Rule Associative Rule
( ) R Q P
r r r
+ +
Distributive Rule :
a.
b.
For example :
Proof of case a: Proof of case a: let = 2
( ) B A B A
r r r r
+ = +
( ) A A A
r r r
+ = +
number real are ,
20
Proof of case a: Proof of case a: let = 2
( ) ( ) B A B A
r r r r
+ = + 2
B
r
A
r
B A
r r
+
O
( ) B A
r r
+ 2
B
r
2
B A
r r
2 2 +
B A B A
r r r r
2 2 + = +
21
A
r
2
O
( ) B A B A
r r r r
2 2 2 + = +

Proof of case b: Proof of case b: let = 2 and = 1
A
r
( ) ( ) A A A
r r r
3 1 2 = + = +
A
r
3
22
A
r
3
A A A A
r r r r
1 2 + = +
A
r
2
A
r
+
A 3
=
( ) A A A
r r r
1 2 1 2 + = +

F or example :
1.2.4 Subtraction of Vectors
D
r
C
r
D C
r r

D
r

( ) D C D C
r r r r
+ =
23
Parallelogram Parallelogram Triangle Triangle
O
O
( )
C
r
D
r

D C
r r

C
r
D
r

D C
r r

Vectors subtraction can be used

to determine the velocity of one object
relative to another object i.e. to determine
the relative velocity.
to determine the change in velocity of a
moving object.
24
moving object.
11
st st
method method :
Resolving a Vector
D
r
y
D
r

y
22
nd nd
method method :
D
r
y
D
r

y

25
x
D
r

0
x

D
D
x
cos = D D
x
cos =

D
D
y
sin = D D
y
sin =
x
D
r
0
x
= sin
D
D
x
= sin D D
x
= cos
D
D
y
= cos D D
y
The magnitude of vector magnitude of vector D :
Direction of vector Direction of vector D :
( ) ( )
2
y
2
x
D D D D + = or
r
y
D
= tan or

=

y
D

1
tan
26
Vector D in terms of unit vectors written as
x
D
= tan or

=
x
D
tan
j D i D D
y x

+ =
r
Example 1 :
y
45
o
O
) ( N 30 F
2
r
) ( N 10 F
1
r
30
o
x
20
27
The figure above shows three forces F
1
, F
2
and F
3
acted on a particle
O. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant force on
particle O.
O
30
o
) ( N 40 F
3
r
Solution : Solution :
O
y
x
45
o
30
o
20
1
F
r
y 1
F
r
x 1
F
r
x 3
F
r
x 2
F
r
28
3
F
r
2
F
r
y 2
F
r
y 3
F
r

+ + = =
3 2 1 r
F F F F F
r r r r r

+ =
y x r
F F F
r r r
x 3 x 2 x 1 x
F F F F
r r r r
+ + =

y 3 y 2 y 1 y
F F F F
r r r r
+ + =

Solution : Solution :
Vector x-component y-component
o
20 F F
1 x 1
cos =
1
F
r
F
r
o
20 10 F
x 1
cos =
N 9.40 =
x 1
F
o
20 F F
1 y 1
sin =
o
20 10 F
y 1
sin =
N 3.42 =
y 1
F
o
45 30 F
x 2
cos =
o
45 30 F
y 2
sin =
29
3
F
r
2
F
r
45 30 F
x 2
cos =
N 21.2 =
x 2
F
45 30 F
y 2
sin =
N 21.2 =
y 2
F
o
30 40 F
x 3
cos =
N 34.6 =
x 3
F
o
30 40 F
y 3
sin =
N 20.0 =
y 3
F
Vector Vector
sum sum
( ) 34.6 21.2 9.40 + + =
x
F
N 4.00 =
x
F
( ) ( ) 20.0 21.2 3.42 + + =
y
F
N 37.8 =
y
F
y
Solution : Solution :
The magnitude of the resultant force is
( ) ( )
2 2

+ =
y x r
F F F
N 38.0 =
r
F
( ) ( )
2 2
37.8 4.00 + =
r
F
o
264
30
x
O
and its direction is

x
y
F
F

1
tan
( ) ise anticlockw axis - x positive from 264 or 84.0
o o
=

=

4.00
37.8
tan
1

r
F
r
y
F
r
x
F
r
84.0
264
Introduction to three perpendicular components (3-D)
3
m 2) 3, 4, ( )

( ) , , ( = = = k j i z y x s
r
y/m
31
s
r
2
4
x/m
z/m
0
Scalar (dot) product Scalar (dot) product
The physical meaning of the scalar product physical meaning of the scalar product can be explained by
considering two vectors and as shown in figure 1.3a.
Multiplication of Vectors
A
r
B
r

A
r
B
r
B
r
Figure 1.3a Figure 1.3a
32
Figure 1.3b shows the projection of vector onto the direction of
vector .
Figure 1.3c shows the projection of vector onto the direction of
vector .
A
r
B
r

A
r
B
r
A
r
B
r
Bcos
Figure 1.3b Figure 1.3b

A
r
B
r
Acos
Figure 1.3c Figure 1.3c
( ) A B A B A
r r r r
to parallel of component =
( ) B A B B A
r r r r
to parallel of component =
From the figure 1.3b, the scalar product can be defined as
meanwhile from the figure 1.3c,
where
The scalar product is a scalar quantity scalar quantity.
( ) B A B A cos =
r r
vectors o between tw angle :
( ) A B A B cos =
r r
33
The scalar product is a scalar quantity scalar quantity.
The angle ranges from 0 to 180 .
When
The scalar product obeys the commutative law of multiplication commutative law of multiplication i.e.
o o
90 0 < <
scalar product is positive positive
o o
180 0 9 < <
scalar product is negative negative
o
90 =
scalar product is zero zero
A B B A
r r r r
=
Example of scalar product is work done work done by a constant force where the
expression is given by
The scalar product of the unit vectors are shown below :
( ) ( ) F s s F s F W cos cos = = =
r
r
y
j

( ) ( ) 1 1 1 cos

2
= = =
o 2
0 i i i
( ) ( ) 1 1 1 cos

2
= = =
o 2
0 j j j
( ) ( ) 1 1 1 cos

2
= = =
o 2
0 k k k
34
x
z
k

1


= = = k k j j i i
( ) ( ) 1 1 1 cos = = = 0 k k k
( )( ) 0 9 cos

= =
o
0 1 1 j i
0

= = = k i k j j i
( )( ) 0 9 cos

= =
o
0 1 1 k i
( )( ) 0 9 cos

= =
o
0 1 1 k j
Calculate the and the angle between vectors and for the
following problems.
a)
Example 1 :
A
r
B A
r r
B
r
k j i A

+ =
r
k j i B

5

2 + =
r
35
Solution Solution : :
a)
The magnitude of the vectors:
( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( ) k k j j i i B A

5 3

1 2

2 1 + + =
r r
( ) ( ) ( )
15 2 2 = B A
r r
19 = B A
r r
36
The angle ,
( ) ( ) ( ) 14 3 2 1
2 2 2
= + + = A
( ) ( ) ( ) 30 5 1 2
2 2 2
= + + = B
AB B A cos =
r r

=

30 14
19
cos cos
1 1
AB
B A

r r
o
158 =
Vector (cross) product Vector (cross) product
Consider two vectors :
In general, the vector product is defined as
and its magnitude magnitude is given by
k r j q i p B

+ + =
r
k z j y i x A

+ + =
r
C B A
r r r
=
AB B A C B A sin sin = = =
r r r r r
37
where
The angle ranges from 0 to 180 so the vector product always
positive positive value.
Vector product is a vector quantity vector quantity.
The direction of vector is determined by
vectors o between tw angle :
RIGHT RIGHT- -HAND RULE HAND RULE
C
r
For example:
How to use right hand rule :
Point the 4 fingers to the direction of the 1
st
vector.
Swept the 4 fingers from the 1
st
vector towards the 2
nd
vector.
The thumb shows the direction of the vector product.
C
r
B
r
C B A
r r r
=
38
Direction of the vector product always perpendicular to the
plane containing the vectors and .
A
r
B
r
A
r
B
C
r
C A B
r r r
=
A B B A
r r r r
but ( ) A B B A
r r r r
=
B
r
) (C
r
A
r
The vector product of the unit vectors are shown below :
x
y
k

i j k k j

= =
k i j j i

= =
j k i i k

= =
39
Example of vector product is a magnetic force on the straight a magnetic force on the straight
conductor carrying current places in magnetic field conductor carrying current places in magnetic field where the
expression is given by
z
i
0


= = = k k j j i i
0 in

= =
o 2
0 s i i i
0 in

= =
o 2
0 s j j j
0 in

= =
o 2
0 s k k k
( ) B l I F
r r r
=
IlB F sin =
The vector product can also be expressed in determinant form as
1 1
st st
method : method :
r q p
z y x
k j i
B A

=
r r
( ) ( ) ( )k yp xq j zp xr i zq yr B A

+ =
r r
40
2 2
nd nd
method : method :
Note : Note :
The angle between two vectors The angle between two vectors can only be determined by
using the scalar (dot) product. scalar (dot) product.
( ) ( ) ( )k yp xq j zp xr i zq yr B A

+ =
( ) ( ) ( )k yp xq j xr zp i zq yr B A

+ + =
r r
Given two vectors :
Determine
a) and its magnitude
b)
Example 2:
B A
r r

B A
r r

k j i A

5 + =
r
k j i B

5

+ + =
r
A
r
B
r
41
c) the angle between vectors and .
A
r
B
r
Solution Solution : :
a)
5 1 1
4 2 5

=
k j i
B A
r r
42
The magnitude,
5 1 1
( )( ) ( )( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( )( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( )( ) ( )k j i B A

1 2 1 5

1 4 5 5

1 4 5 2 + =
r r
k j i B A

21

4 1 + =
r r
( ) ( ) ( )k j i B A

2 5

4 25

4 10 + + =
r r
2 . 26 = B A
r r
( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 2
7 21 14 + + = B A
r r
b)
c) The magnitude of vectors,
( ) ( ) k j i k j i B A

5 + + + =
r r
23 = B A
r r
( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( ) k k j j i i B A

5 4

1 2

1 5 + + =
r r
20 2 5 + = B A
r r
( ) ( ) ( ) 45 4 2 5
2 2 2
= + + = A
43
Using the scalar (dot) product scalar (dot) product formula,
AB B A cos =
r r

=

27 45
23
cos cos
1 1
AB
B A

r r
o
7 . 48 =
( ) ( ) ( ) 45 4 2 5
2 2 2
= + + = A
( ) ( ) ( ) 27 5 1 1
2 2 2
= + + = B