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Science

Science: is the process of seeking
and applying knowledge about our
universe.

Pursuing knowledge for its own sake is Pure
or Basic Science (Astronomy). Developing
ways to use this knowledge is Applied
Science (Engineering fields)

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 What is Physics?!!!!!!!!!

Physics is the study of the material world. It is a search for

patterns, or rules, for the behavior of objects in the Universe.

Physics is the study of the fundamental structures and
interactions in the physical universe.

This study covers the entire range of material objects,

from the smallest known particles—millions of millions of times
smaller than a marble,

to astronomical objects—millions of millions of times bigger than
our Sun.
Physical Quantities:

All Physical quantities we are going to use
involve measurement (or combination of
measurements) of space, time, and the
properties of matter (mass and charge).

Distance, time, and mass are known as
Fundamental Physical Quantities.

Length, mass, area, volume, force, weight,
velocity, acceleration, torque, temperature,
energy, …………….

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Systems of Measurement
Measurements

The two dominant systems are the English system, based
on the foot, pound, and second, and the metric system,
based on the meter, kilogram, and second.

The metric system has advantages over the British
system and was the system chosen in 1960 by the
General Conference on Weights and Measures. The
official version is known as Le Système
International d’Unités and is abbreviated SI.
Units and Measures

The International System (SI) of Units
comprises seven clearly defined units.
Namely, length, mass, time, electrical current,
thermodynamic temperature, amount of
substance, and luminous intensity, from
which the base units of meter (m), kilogram
(kg), second (s), ampere (A), kelvin (K), mol
(mol), and candela (cd) are derived. Other
units, known as derived units, can be
determined from the seven base units.
Length Standard
Mass Standard

The unit of mass represented by the
International Prototype Kilogram, consists of
a cylinder whose height and diameter are
both 39 mm and is made of 90% platinum
and 10% iridium.
Time Standard

Second is the basic unit of time defined as
the atomic energy of cesium.
Scalars and Vectors

Any quantity that can be expressed as a
single number (magnitude) is called
SCALER.

Quantities that requires two numbers in its
definition (both magnitude and direction) is
called a VECTOR.
Vectors

Graphically, a vector is represented by an arrow,
defining the direction, and the length of the arrow
defines the vector's magnitude. If we denote one end
of the arrow by the origin O and the tip of the arrow
by Q. Then the vector may be represented
algebraically by OQ.

Vectors online

Two vectors,A and B
are equal if they have r r
the same magnitude
and direction,
A B
regardless of whether
they have the same
initial points.

A vector having the same magnitude as A but
in the opposite direction to A is denoted by –
A.
Vector Addition

We can now define
vector addition. The
sum of two vectors, A
and B, is a vector C,
which is obtained by
placing the initial point
r r r
of B on the final point
of A, and then
A+ B = C
drawing a line from
the initial point of A to
the final point of B.
Vector Subtraction

Vector subtraction is defined in the following
way. The difference of two vectors, A - B , is
a vector C , C = A - B
or C = A + (-B).Thus vector subtraction can
be represented as a vector addition.
Chapter 1

The Study of Motion

Units

We can classify almost all quantities in terms
of the fundamental physical quantities:

Length L

Mass M

Time T

For example:
 Speed has units L/T (miles per hour)

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Units, cont’d

SI (Système International) Units:

MKS:

L = meters (m)

M = kilograms (kg)

T = seconds (s)

CGS:

L = centimeters (cm)

M = grams (g or gm)

T = seconds (s)

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Units, cont’d

British (or Imperial) Units:

L = feet (ft)

M = slugs or pound-mass (lbm)

T = seconds (s)

We will use mostly SI but we need to know

how to convert back and forth.

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Units, cont’d

The back of your book provides numerous
conversions. Here are some:

1 inch = 2.54 cm

1m = 3.281 ft

1 mile = 5280 ft

1 km = 0.621 mi

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Units, cont’d

We can use these to convert a compound
unit:

mi 5280 ft 1m 1h 1min
70 × × × ×
h 1 mi 3.281 ft 60 min 60s

m
= 31.2
s
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Converting units

Look at your original units.

Determine the units you want to have.

Find the conversion you need.

Write the conversion as a fraction that
replaces the original unit with the new unit.

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Example
Problem 1.1
A yacht is 20 m long. Express this length in feet.

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Example

A yacht is 20 m long. Express this length in feet.

ANSWER:
3.281 ft
20 m × = 20 × 3.281 ft
1m
= 65.62 ft
= 66 ft
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Example
How many liters are in a five gallon bucket?
There are four quarts in a gallon.

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Example

How many liters are in a five gallon bucket?

There are four quarts in a gallon.

ANSWER:

4 qt 0.95 L
5 gal × × = 5 × 4 × 0.95 L
1 gal 1 qt
= 19 L

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Metric prefixes

Sometimes a unit is too small or too big for a
particular measurement.

To overcome this, we use a prefix.

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Metric prefixes, cont’d

Power of 10 Prefix Symbol

1015 peta P
1012 tera T
109 giga G
106 mega M
103 kilo k
10-2 centi c
10-3 milli m
10-6 micro µ
10-9 nano n
10-12 pico p
10-15 femto f
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Metric prefixes, cont’d

Some examples:

1 centimeter = 10-2 meters = 0.01 m

1 millimeter = 10-3 meters = 0.001 m

1 kilogram = 103 grams = 1,000 g

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Frequency and period

We define frequency as the number of
events per a given amount of time.

When an event occurs repeatedly, we say
that the event is periodic.

The amount of time between events is the
period.

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Frequency and period, cont’d

The symbols we use to represent frequency
are period are:

frequency: f

period: T

They are related by

1 1
period = or T =
frequency f
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Frequency and period, cont’d

The standard unit of frequency is the Hertz
(Hz).

It is equivalent to 1 cycle per second.

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Example
Example 1.1
A mechanical stopwatch uses a balance wheel
that rotates back and forth 10 times in 2
seconds. What is the frequency of the
balance wheel?

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Example
Example 1.1
A mechanical stopwatch uses a balance wheel
that rotates back and forth 10 times in 2
seconds. What is the frequency of the
balance wheel?

ANSWER:
10 cycles
f = = 5 Hz.
2s

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Speed

Speed is the rate of change of distance from
a reference point.

It is the rate of movement.

It equals the distance something travels
divided by the elapsed time.

total distance
average speed =
total elapsed time

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Speed, cont’d

In mathematical notation,
total distance = d final − dinitial = d f − di
total elapsed time = tfinal − tinitial = t f − ti

So we can write speed as
d final − dinitial d f − di
v= =
tfinal − tinitial t f − ti
∆d
=
∆t

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Speed, cont’d

The symbol ∆ is the Greek letter delta and
represents the change in.

As the time interval becomes shorter and
shorter, we approach the instantaneous
speed.

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Speed, cont’d

If we know the average speed and how long
something travels at that speed, we can find
the distance it travels:

d = vt

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Speed, cont’d

We say that the distance is proportional to
the elapsed time:

d ∝t

Using the speed gives us an equality, i.e., an
equal sign, so we call v the proportionality
constant.

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Speed, cont’d

Note that speed is relative.

It depends upon what you are measuring your
speed against.

Consider someone running on a ship.

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Speed, cont’d

If you are on the boat, she is moving at

vas seen on ship = 8 mph

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Speed, cont’d

If you are on the dock, she is moving at

vas seen on dock = 8 mph + 20 mph

= 28 mph

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Example

When lightning strikes, you see the flash almost

immediately but the thunder typically lags
behind. The speed of light is 3 × 108 m/s and
the speed of sound is about 345 m/s. If the
lightning flash is one mile away, how long
does it take the light and sound to reach you?

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Example

ANSWER:
d sound 1600 m
For the thunder: tsound = =
vsound 345 m/s
= 4.6 s
dlight 1600 m
For the flash: tlight = =
vlight 3 × 108 m/s
= 0.0000053 s

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Velocity

Velocity is the speed in a particular direction.

It tells us not only “how fast” (like speed) but
also how fast in “what direction.”

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Velocity, cont’d

In common language, we don’t distinguish
between the two.

This sets you up for confusion in a physics
class.

During a weather report, you might be given
the wind-speed is 15 mph from the west.

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Velocity, cont’d

The speed of the wind is 15 mph.

The wind is blowing in a direction from the
west to the east.

So you are actually given the wind velocity.

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Vector addition

Quantities that convey a magnitude and a
direction, like velocity, are called vectors.

We represent vectors
by an arrow.

The length indicates
the magnitude.

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Vector addition, cont’d

Consider again someone running on a ship.

If in the
same
directions,
the vectors
add.

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Vector addition, cont’d

Consider again someone running on a ship.

If in the
opposite
directions,
the vectors
subtract.

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Vector addition, cont’d

What if the vectors are in different directions?

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Vector addition, cont’d

The resulting velocity of the bird (from the
bird’s velocity and the wind) is a combination
of the magnitude and direction of each
velocity.

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Vector addition, cont’d

We can find the resulting magnitude of the
Pythagorean theorem.

2 2 2
c = a +b c
a
2 2
c = a +b
b

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Vector addition, cont’d

Let’s find the net speed of the bird?
(Why didn’t I say net velocity?)

6
2 2
6 + 8 = 100 8
10
= 10

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Vector addition, cont’d

Here are more examples, illustrating that
even if the bird flies with the same velocity,
the effect of the wind can be
constructive
or destructive.

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Acceleration

Acceleration is the change in velocity
divided by the elapsed time.

It measures the rate of change of velocity.

Mathematically,

∆v
a=
∆t

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Acceleration, cont’d

The units are

L /T L L
a= = = 2
T T ×T T

In SI units, we might use m/s2.

For cars, we might see mph/s.

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Acceleration, cont’d

A common way to express acceleration is in

terms of g’s.

One g is the acceleration an object
experiences as it falls near the Earth’s
surface: g = 9.8 m/s2.

So if you experience 2g during a collision,
your acceleration was 19.6 m/s2.

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Acceleration, cont’d

There is an important point to realize about
acceleration:

It is the change in velocity.

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Acceleration, cont’d

Since velocity is speed and direction, there
are three ways it can change:

change in speed,

change in direction, or

change in both speed & direction.

The change in direction is an important case
often misunderstood.

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Acceleration, cont’d

If you drive through a curve with the cruise
control set to 65 mph, you are accelerating.

Not because your speed changes.

But because your direction is changing.

There must be an acceleration because items on
your dash go sliding around.

More on this in chapter 2.

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Example
Example 1.3
A car accelerates from 20 to 25 m/s in
4 seconds as it passes a truck. What is its
acceleration?

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Example
Example 1.3

ANSWER: vi = 20 m/s
The problem gives us v f = 25 m/s
∆t = 4 s

The acceleration is:

∆v v f − vi
a= =
∆t ∆t
25 m/s − 20 m/s
= = 1.25 m/s 2
4s 68
Example
Example 1.3

CHECK:
Does this make sense?
The car needs to increase its speed
5 m/s in 4 seconds.
If it increased 1 m/s every second, it would
only reach 24 m/s.
So we should expect an answer slightly more
than 1 m/s every second.

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Example
Example 1.4
After a race, a runner takes 5 seconds to come
to a stop from a speed of 9 m/s. Find her
acceleration.

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Example
Example 1.3

ANSWER: vi = 9 m/s
The problem gives us v f = 0 m/s
∆t = 5 s

The acceleration is:

∆v v f − vi
a= =
∆t ∆t
0 m/s − 9 m/s
= = −1.8 m/s 2
5s 71
Example
Example 1.3

CHECK:
Does this make sense?
If she was traveling at 10 m/s, reducing her
speed 2 m/s every second would stop her in
5 seconds.

What’s up with the minus sign?

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Centripetal acceleration

Remember that acceleration can result from a
change in the velocity’s direction.

Imagine a car rounding a curve.

The car’s velocity must keep changing toward
the center of the curve in order to stay on the
road.

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Centripetal acceleration

Remember that acceleration can result from

a change in the velocity’s direction.

Imagine a car rounding a curve.

The car’s velocity
must keep
changing toward
the center of the
curve in order to
stay on the road.

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Centripetal acceleration, cont’d

So there is an acceleration toward the center
of the curve.

Centripetal acceleration is the acceleration
associated with an object moving in a circular
path.

Centripetal means “center-seeking.”

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Centripetal acceleration, cont’d

For an object traveling with speed v on a
circle of radius r , then its centripetal
acceleration is

2
v
a=
r

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Centripetal acceleration, cont’d

Note that the centripetal acceleration is:

proportional to the speed-squared
2
a∝v

inversely proportional to the radius
1
a∝
r

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Example
Example 1.5
Let’s estimate the acceleration of a car as it
goes around a curve. The radius of a
segment of a typical cloverleaf is 20 meters,
and a car might take the curve with a
constant
speed of
10 m/s.

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Example
Example 1.5

ANSWER:
The problem gives us
r = 20 m
v = 10 m/s
The acceleration is:
2
v
a= =
2
(10 m/s )
r 20 m
2 2
100 m /s 2
= = 5 m/s
20 m
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Example
Problem 1.18
An insect sits on the edge of a spinning record
that has a radius of 0.15 m. The insect’s
speed is about 0.5 m/s when the record is
turning at
33-1/3 rpm. What is the insect’s acceleration?

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Example
Problem 1.18

ANSWER:
r = 0.15 m
The problem gives us
v = 0.5 m/s
The acceleration is:
2
v
a= =
2
( 0.5 m/s )
r 0.15 m
2 2
0.25 m /s 2
= = 1.7 m/s
0.15 m
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Simple types of motion
— zero velocity

The simplest type of motion is obviously no
motion.

The object has no velocity.

So it never moves.

The position of the object, relative to some
reference, is constant.

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Simple types of motion
— constant velocity

The next simplest type of motion is uniform
motion.

In physics, uniform means constant.

The object’s velocity does not change.

So its position, relative to some reference, is
proportional to time.

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Simple types of motion
— constant velocity, cont’d

If we plot the object’s distance versus time,
we get this graph.

Notice that if we double the time interval, then
we double the object’s distance.

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Simple types of motion
— constant velocity, cont’d

The slope of the line gives us the speed.

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Simple types of motion
— constant velocity, cont’d

If an object moves faster, then the line has a
larger
speed.

So the graph has a
steeper slope.

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Simple types of motion
— constant acceleration

The next type of motion is uniform
acceleration in a straight line.

The acceleration does not change.

So the object’s speed is proportional to the
elapsed time.

speed = acceleration × time

v = at

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Simple types of motion
— constant acceleration, cont’d

A common example is free fall.

Free fall means gravity is the only thing
changing an object’s motion.

The speed is:
2
v = (9.8 m/s ) t
mph
v = (22 )t
s

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Simple types of motion
— constant acceleration, cont’d

If we plot speed versus time, the slope is the
acceleration:
v
a=
t

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Simple types of motion
— constant acceleration, cont’d

For an object starting from rest, v = 0, then
the average speed is

0 + at
average speed =
2
1
= 2 at

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Simple types of motion
— constant acceleration, cont’d

The distance is the average speed multiplied
by the elapsed time:

d = average speed × t
1
= at × t
2
1 2
= at
2

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Simple types of motion
— constant acceleration, cont’d

If we graph the distance
versus time, the curve is
not a straight line.

The distance is
proportional to the
square of the time.

2
d∝t

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