Units, Physical Quantities

and Vectors

Physics 71 Lecture 01
10 November 2011
Dr. Jeffrey C. De Vero
jeffrey.devero@gmail.com
Physical Quantity

Any number that is used to describe a
physical phenomenon quantitatively.

Physical NUMBER UNIT

= +
Quantity (magnitude)
(based on a
standard)

Example: Mass Units are

m= 77 kg useful and
number unit important!
Fundamental Units

For repeatability of measurements

SI Units are commonly used
Table 1. SI Base Units

Quantity Name of Unit Symbol

Length meter m
Mass kilogram kg
Time second s
Electric current ampere A
Thermodynamic temperature kelvin K
Amount of substance mole mol
Luminous intensity candela cd
10 megameter Common SI prefixes 10 nanometer
1 nano- = 10-9
(10 Mm) 1 micro- = 10-6 (10 nm)
1 milli- = 10-3
1 centi- = 10-2
1 kilo- = 103
1 mega- = 106
Unit Consistency and
Conversions

Quantities must be the same no matter how it is
reported

Ex. HEIGHT = 163 cm = 1.63x10-2 m = 5 ft 4 in

• Be consistent on units when you operate quantities.

Add length : L = 100 m + 0.25 in

 m Convert!
Acceleration: a = vt =  2 (0.26hr )
 s
British Systems

Used by Americans and other countries.
Length: 1 in = 2.54 cm
Force: 1 pound = 4.448 N

Let’s try this:

Convert 160 cm to ft.
 Significant Figures

Operation Rule Example

Addition/ Follow least number of

decimal places. 1.0 m + 1 m = 2 m
Subtraction

Multiplication/ Follow least number of 1.0 m / 1.00 s = 1.0 m/s

Division significant figures.
Convert!
57 cm ft

1.822 ft

1 ft +0. 822 ft
Gul Mohammed (40 yrs old)

inch
9.864 inch~ 10 inch
1 ft 10 inch 1 cm= 0.032 ft
1 ft= 10 inch
Vectors
Vector quantity

Quantites that both has magnitude and direction.

Represented by characters with arrowhead

A
Where are you?
2 meters from me
north(?) south(?) east(?) west(?)
Scalar vs Vector

Scalar : magnitude + units

Ex. m = 5 kg, T = 45 K

Vector : magnitude + units + direction

Ex. x = 45 m, 260 north of east
direction
 velocity, acceleration, force, torque
Vectors
Vectors can be reported in two
ways:
• Using a BEARING : angle with respect to a
chosen axis
• Using components and unit vectors
(split it in its x, y, z components)
Using a BEARING

4m

θ = 45 0

d= 4 m, 450 North of East

4 m, 450 wrt the horizontal
Using UNIT VECTORS

Unit – magnitude
is “1”

Vector – points to
a specific direction
x-axis  iˆ
y-axis  ĵ
z-axis  k̂
  Split the vector into its x, y and/or z components

y
Forms a right triangle!
y component

4m
θ
θ = 45°
x
x component
y
If θ = 450
Apply the unit

y component
vector for each
component

4m
θ
θ = 45°
x
x component

SAME!
4 m, 450 North of East
Example:

Write the following vector in component
form:
y

A = 59.27cm iˆ − 46.30cm ˆj
θ = 38 0 x

75.21 cm
A = 75.21cm, 380 South of East
A
 Addition and
Subtraction of Vectors
Addition and Subtraction of Vectors

NOT as simple as addition/subtraction of

magnitudes.

Add/subtract components having the same unit
vector.

Recall:

d + d = 4 2 miˆ + 4 2 mˆj
d −d =0
 Example:
Naruto bikes a 5 km trail which is 300 N of E
from his starting point and then bikes another
2 km trail westward. How far and in what
direction is he from his starting point?
Answer:

Component T total = 2.33km iˆ + 2.5km ˆj

Form
or
Bearing
T total = 3.42km, 47.020 North of East
Quiz #1: (10 pts)
Consider the vectors shown.
What are the
components of the vector

E =C+B
In your paper, draw the resultant
vector.

ASSIGNMENT: What are the components of vector R:

R = A + B+ C+ D
Draw the resultant vector.