MAHSA University

Foundation in Science
(Physics I)

Topic 1:
Physical Quantities
1.1 Unit Quantities
1.2 Scalar and Vectors
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 Learning Outcomes
(a)Know the differences between basic and
derived quantities
(b)Know and be familiar with the S.I prefix
(c)Able to solve a conversion of any units
given
(d)Know the differences between scalar and
vector quantities
(e)Able to solve any vector addition and
subtraction by using geometrical method and
analytical method
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 WHAT IS PHYSICS
The word ‘physics’ comes from the Greek word which
means_________. Physics was conceived as a study
of the natural phenomena around us.
Each theory in physics involves:
A few concept or physical quantities

Assumptions in order to obtain a mathematical

model
Procedures to relate mathematical models to actual
measurement from experiments
Relationships between various physical concepts

Experimental proofs to devise explanations to

natural phenomena
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UNIT AND QUANTITIES
o Physics is based on quantities known as physical
quantities.
 Physical quantity is ____________________.
Example: length, mass and time.
 A physical quantity is clearly defined with a
numerical value and a unit.
 In this text, we emphasize the system of units
known as SI units, which stands for the French
phrase ”Le Systeme International d’Unites”

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UNIT AND QUANTITIES
Physical quantity can be categorised into 2 types
Basic (base) quantity
Derived quantity

1)Basic quantities
•___________________________________
•_______________________________________________
•Examples: length, time, mass, temperature, electric
current, amount of substance and luminous intensity

2) Derived quantities
•____________________________________
•_______________________________________________
•Examples: density, area, acceleration
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UNIT AND QUANTITIES
Units
 A unit is a scale with which _________________________.
 A standard system of units based on the metric system known as
the International System or S.I is used where each basic quantity
is assigned with a particular basic unit as shown in table below
Basic quantity Base unit Symbol
Length
Mass
Time
Electric current
Thermodynamic temperature
Quantity of matter
Luminous intensity
Base quantities and their SI base units 6
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UNIT AND QUANTITIES
• The term dimension is used to refer to the physical
nature of quantity and the type of unit used to specify it.
• The dimension of a physical quantity relates the physical
quantity to the base quantities
Parameter Dimension Unit
Distance (x) [L]
Time (t) [T]
Mass (m) [M]
Speed (v) m/s
Acceleration (a) m/s2

Force (F) Kgm/s2

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UNIT AND QUANTITIES
Example 1
Determine the dimension and the S.I unit for the
following quantities:
(a)Velocity
(b)Acceleration

Answer:

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UNIT AND QUANTITIES
Derived Quantity Derived Unit Relationship
Area A m2 length x width
Volume Vol m3 length x width x height
Density ρ kg m-3 mass/ volume
Velocity v ms-1 displacement/ time
Acceleration a ms-2 velocity/ time
Frequency f Hz (hertz) -
Force F N (newton) mass x acceleration
Pressure P Pa (pascal) force/ area
Energy E J (joule) force x length
Power p W (watt) energy/ time
Electric charge Q C (coulomb) electrical current x time
Voltage V V (volt) power/ electrical current
Resistance R Ω (ohm) voltage/ electrical current

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UNIT AND QUANTITIES
 In the metric system, larger or smaller units for
the same physical quantity are related to the
fundamental units by multiples of 10 or 1/10
 The names of these units are derived by adding a
prefix to the unit of the physical quantity
 Examples: the prefix “kilo” always means a unit
larger by a factor of 1000, thus
• 1 kilometer = 1 km = 1000 meters = 103 m
• 1 kilogram = 1 kg = 1000 grams = 103 g
• 1 kilojoule = 1 kJ = 1000 Joules = 103 J

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UNIT AND QUANTITIES
Prefixes Used in S.I Units
Prefix Multiplying Factor Symbol
f
p
n
µ
m
c
k
M
G
T
P
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UNIT AND QUANTITIES
• Sometimes, it is necessary to convert one system of units to
another. This is done using the conversion factors.
• Or to carry out a calculation, it is requires to convert
measurements using units in different forms to a common form
o 1 mile=1609 m =1.609 km , 1 km = 0.621 mile
o 1 ft =0.3048 m =30.48 cm
o 1 m = 39.37 in
SI to C.G.S C.G.S to SI

1km=1000m 1m=10-3 km

1m2 = 104 cm2 1 cm2 = 10-4 m2

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UNIT AND QUANTITIES
Some Conversion Factor with S.I. Unit
Name of Unit Symbol Relation to S.I. Unit

angstrom Å ≡ 0.1 nm

atmosphere atm ≡ 101 325 Pa

electron volt eV ≈ 1.6 × 10−19 J

mile (international) mi ≡ 1 609.344 m

degree Celsius °C K ≡ °C + 273.15

gallon (Imperial) gal (Imp) ≡ 4.54609×10−3 m3

litre L ≡ 0.001 m3

atomic mass unit u; AMU ≈ 1.66 × 10−27 kg

tonne (mts unit) t = 1 000 kg

1 inch in = 2.54 cm

standard gravity g = 9.806 65 m/s2

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UNIT AND QUANTITIES
Example 2:
A proton car may attain maximum speed of 200 km/h.
Convert the speed into S.I unit

Solution:

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UNIT AND QUANTITIES
Example 3:
Undergraduate of Mahsa rides a motorcycle at 50 km/h.
Express this speed in
(a)m/s (b) mile per hour

Solution:

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UNIT AND QUANTITIES
Example 4:
1.Express the following quantities in term of S.I units
(a) 4.5 cms-1
(b) 1.45 gcm-3
(c) 0.12 cm-2
(d) 2.15 gmm-3

2.The sides of a rectangle are 5.5 in and 10.5 in. Find the
area of rectangle in meter unit [1 in = 2.54 cm]

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UNIT AND QUANTITIES
Example 5
a)Find the volume of cubic which have side 12 in in m3

b) Solve the following problems of unit conversion

i.30 mm2 = m2
ii.865 km/h = m/s
iii.300 g/cm3 = kg/m3
iv.24 mi/h = km/s

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UNIT AND QUANTITIES
[Answer :
1. a) 4.5 x 10-2ms-1, b) 1.45 x 10-3 kgm-3,c) 1.2 x 10-3 m-2,d)
2.15 x 106 kgm-3
2. 3.73x 10-2m2]

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 THE END OF TOPIC 1.1:

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