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Chap 1
Chap 1
Chap 1
1
Evaluation
• Assignments/exercises: 10 %
• Quiz (2-4): 10 %
• Mid semester exam: 30 % (early September)
• Final exam: 50 % (25 October – 14 November)
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CHAPTER 1
Introduction
Why do we study physics?
• The most basic knowledge in science
• Related with the fundamental principles of the universe;
ranging from the astronomically large, such as solar
system, to the microscopically small, such as the atom.
• Foundation to other sciences eg. astronomy, chemistry,
medicine, geology etc.
• Physicists scrutinized and want to understand in detail
how something happens. Among them are:
o Particles elements, atom, nucleus, molecule,
macromolecule
o Solid, liquid, gas, plasma
o Living cells, living organisms, human brain
o Planet, atmosphere, planets, stars, galaxies,
universe
• Contributed to the modern technology and give impact to
our lives:
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o Electronics and computer industries
o Transportation industries
o Telecommunications
o Medical field
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• What does physics education offer?
o Fundamental theories in physics
o Mathematical skills
o Develop computer programmes
o Design Instrumentation
o Materials fabrication
• Science seems very hard and difficult to be understood
but with a good understanding of the fundamental
physics, phenomena and complicated devices can be
analyzed and described.
• The skills in physics can also be used in other fields:
Computer
Medical Biology
Chemistry Geology
Physics
Materials
Mathematics
Electronics
Astronomy
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• The importance of applied physicists:
o Fundamental research: creating new technologies
from fundamental physics understanding
o Research and development in industries, government
sectors and higher education: designing new devices
and techniques
• Example:
o Medical physics – medical tools eg. nuclear radiation,
imaging, laser techniques
o Materials physics – new materials with high quality
and cheap production cost
• Where will I go after graduated from UKM?
o Teacher
o Continue studies
o Researchers
o Engineers
o Medical physicist
o Develop computer simulation software
o Testing and characterization of materials
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Physics and Measurement
• Physics is based on:
o Observation
o Identify fundamental laws governing the phenomena
o Develop theories quantitatively
o Mathematical formulations to link theories and
experiments
o Predict future experiments/reproduce measurements
• Physical quantities must be standard to be understood and
used by different people
• 1960: international Physics unit: Systѐme International)
• Fundamental units:
• Length (m), mass (kilogram), time (second), temperature
(kelvin), current (A), luminous intensity (candela),
amount of substance (mole)
• Quantity - Fundamental quantities
- Derived quantities
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Dimensional Analysis
• Dimension – physical nature of quantity (symbol: [ ])
• Eg. acceleration
o Symbol- a = v/t
o Dimension – [a] = [v] /[t] = LT-1/T = LT-2
Significant Figures
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For multiplication or division: the no. of s.f. in the final
answer is the same as the no. of s.f. in the quantity having the
smallest no. of s.f.
• Example:
o 2.35 + 111 = 113 (not 113.35)
o 2.008 – 0.991 = 1.017
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Exercises 1:
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