Reviewer for Physics -technique of converting between

units
PHYSICS
-unit quality/conversion factor: an
-main objective is to study and try to
equation that shows the equivalent
understand the universe and
amount of different units
everything in it
1 inch = 2.54 cm
BRANCHES OF PHYSICS
1 centimeter = .00001 km
1. Mechanics
1 gallon = 3.78 liters
-deals with motions under the
influence of forces 1 calorie = 4.186 joules

-linear, circular, fluid, and oscillatory 1 atmosphere = 101,325 pascals

motions
1 foot = 12 inches
2. Geometrical Optics
1 mile = 5,280 feet
-behavior of light in various media
1 slug = 14.59 kg
3. Electricity and Magnetism
1 Newton = 0.2248 lb
-interaction between electric fields
Examples:
and magnetic fields

4. Thermodynamics

-how heat as a form of energy is

transformed to other forms of energy

5. Atomic Physics

-behavior of particles of the nucleus

and the accompanying energy
charges

6. Waves

-propagation of energy thru space

SYSTEMS OF MEASUREMENT

1. English/British system (pound,

yard, ounce) (metric system based
on power of 10)

2. SI or International System of
Units (set of 7 metric units that are
called base units)

-Unit prefixes: group of letters added

at the beginning of the base word
(tera, giga, mega, kilo, centi, etc.)

DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
SCIENTIFIC NOTATION Example #1:

Examples: Five of your classmates measured the

1. 234,675.9 = 2.35 x 105
2. 0.00000000000000008765 = 8.77 x 10−17
3. 675.876987 = 6.76 x 102
4.-0.00000000000000008655= -8.65 x 10 −17
5. 0.00000000000006 = 6.00 x 10−14
-If you move the decimal point to the right,
the exponent should be negative
-If you move the decimal point to the left,
the exponent should be positive
Scientific notation to number:
1. 5.42 x 10−9 meter = 0.00000000542 m
diagonal length of the blackboard.
Classmate A measured it as 2.54 m;
classmate B as 2.46 m; classmate C as
2.65 m; classmate D as 2.55 m;
classmate E as 2.39 m. Find the
variance and standard deviation of the
measurements. Also, express the
average measurement in a form that
includes uncertainty.
Solution:
First Step: Compute the mean or
average of the measurements

2. 6.87 x 106 grams = 6,870,000 g

3. 7.85 x 10−12 joules = 0.00000000000785 j

4. 2. 76 x 10−6 calories = 0.00000276 cal
5. 3.78 megasecond = 3,780,000 s
✓ If the power was positive, you would move
the decimal to the right.
Second Step: Make a table for the
calculation of deviations (x-X) and
square of deviations (x-X)2

✓ If the power was negative, you would

move the decimal to the left.

PRECISION

-the set of measurements are

precise when it is consistent

-values are close to one another

ACCURACY

-closeness of the measurement to

the specific value
Third Step: Get the standard
VARIANCE deviation by getting the square root
of the variance
-numerical description of consistency
(precision) of measurements

Fourth Step: To get the standard

error of the mean (SEM), divide the
STANDARD DEVIATION standard deviation with the square
-square root of the variance root of the number of measurements
RANDOM ERROR

-uncertain disturbances that occur in

the experiment

-the magnitude of error varies from

one reading to another

-inconsistent and occur in both

directions 2. Polygon Method
SYSTEMATIC EROR -head-to-tail method
-constant error in an experiment Example:
because of the imperfection of the
mechanical structure of the
apparatus

-arise because of the incorrect

calibration of device

-Instrumental error (misuse of

apparatus, imperfection in the
mechanical structure of apparatus,
loading effect)

-Environmental error

-Observational error

SCALAR AND VECTOR

QUANTITIES

1. Scalar: physical quantity that can

only be described by its magnitude
such as time, mass, & temperature

2. Vector: physical quantity that are

characterized by both magnitude and
direction such as velocity,
acceleration, force, momentum, &
electric field

ADDITION OF VECTORS USING

THE GRAPHICAL METHOD

1. Parallelogram Method

-tail-to-tail method

Example: