Physics is devoted to the understanding of all natural phenomena.

Rotational Motion
 Work, Energy, and Power
In physics, we try to understand physical phenomena at all scales —from the
 Impulse and Momentum
world of subatomic particles to the entire universe.
 Elasticity
Despite the breadth of the subject, the various subfields of physics share a
common core. LESSON 1: MEASUREMENTS

The technological devices you use on a regular basis.

Need for measurement in physics
Computers • To understand any phenomenon in physics we have to perform
Smartphones experiments.
global positioning systems (GPSs) • Experiments require measurements, and we measure several physical
MP3 players properties like length, mass, time, temperature, pressure etc.
satellite radio • Experimental verification of laws & theories also needs measurement of
physical properties.
trains
microscopic robots that fight cancer cells in our bodies.
All these groundbreaking advances, commonplace or unbelievable, rely on the Physical Quantity
principles of physics. • A physical property that can be measured and described by a number is
called physical quantity.
 Physics, which comes from the Greek phusis, meaning “nature,” is
concerned with describing the interactions of energy, matter, space, and
Types of physical quantities
time to uncover the fundamental mechanisms that underlie every
phenomenon. 1. Fundamental quantities: The physical quantities which do not depend on
any other physical quantities for their measurements are known as
 This concern for describing the basic phenomena in nature essentially fundamental quantities.
defines the scope of physics. Examples: Mass, Length, Time, Temperature
2. Derived quantities: The physical quantities which depend on one or more
 TOPICS
fundamental quantities for their measurements are known as derived
 Measurement and Vectors quantities.
 Resultant of Forces and Statics Examples: Area, Volume, Speed, Force
 Kinematics
Distance and Displacement Units for measurement
Speed and Velocity The standard used for the measurement of a physical quantity is called a unit.
Uniform Accelerated Motion Examples: metre, foot, inch for length
Free-Falling Body kilogram, pound for mass second,
Acceleration due to Gravity Projectile Motion minute, hour for time
 Dynamics fahrenheit, kelvin for temperature
Newton's Laws of Motion
Friction Characteristics of units
Circular Motion • Well – defined
Gravitation • Suitable size

• Reproducible
• Invariable Two supplementary units
• Indestructible 1. Radian: It is used to measure plane angle θ
• Internationally acceptable = 1 radian
360 degrees = 2Π rad
CGS Systems of units
• This system was first introduced in France. It is also known as 2. Steradian: It is used to measure solid angle Ω
Gaussian system of units.It is based on centimeter, gram and second = 1steradian
as the fundamental units of length, mass and time. Ω = (180/Π)²
SI prefixes
MKS system of units
This system was also introduced in France. It is also known as French system
of units. It is based on meter, kilogram and second as the fundamental units of
length, mass and time.

FPS system of units

This system was introduced in Britain. It is also known as British system of
units. It is based on foot, pound and second as the fundamental units of
length, mass and time.

Definition of metre
The metre is the length of the path travelled by light in a vacuum during a time
interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second.
Some practical units for measuring area
Definition of kilogram
The kilogram is the mass of prototype cylinder of platinum-iridium alloy Acre = It is used to measure large areas in British system of units.
preserved at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, at Sevres, 1 acre = 208’ 8.5” x 208’ 8.5” = 4046.8 m2
near Paris.
Hectare = It is used to measure large areas in French system of
Definition of second units.
One second is the time taken by 9,192,631,770 oscillations of the light emitted 1 hectare = 100 m x 100 m = 10000 m2
by a cesium–133 atom.
Barn = It is used to measure very small areas, such as nuclear cross
sections. Accuracy of measurement
1 barn = 10−28 m2 It refers to the closeness of a measurement to the true value of the physical
quantity.
Example:
True value of mass = 25.67 kg
Mass measured by student A = 25.61 kg
Mass measured by student B = 25.65 kg
Some practical units for measuring mass The measurement made by student B is more accurate.
1 atomic mass unit = 1/12 x mass of single C atom
Precision of measurement It refers to the limit to which a
1 atomic mass unit = 1.66 x 10−27 kg
physical quantity is measured.

Example:
Time measured by student A = 3.6 s
Time measured by student B = 3.69 s
Time measured by student C = 3.695 s
The measurement made by student C is most precise.

Significant figures
Some practical units for measuring time The total number of digits (reliable digits + last uncertain digit) which are
1 Solar day = 24 h directly obtained from a particular measurement are called significant figures.
1 Sidereal day = 23 h & 56 min
1 Solar year = 365 solar day = 366 sidereal day Rules for counting significant figures
1 Lunar month = 27.3 Solar day 1. All non-zero digits are significant.
1 shake = 10−8 s 2. Zeros between non-zero digits are significant.
3. Terminal zeros in a number without decimal are not significant unless
Dimensions of a physical quantity specified by a least count.
The powers of fundamental quantities in a derived quantity are called
4. Terminal zeros that are also to the right of a decimal point in a number
dimensions of that quantity.
are significant.
5. If the number is less than 1, all zeroes before the first non-zero digit
Uses of Dimension are not significant.
• To check the correctness of equation 6. During conversion of units use powers of 10 to avoid confusion.
• To convert units
• To derive a formula Exact numbers
Exact numbers are either defined numbers or the result of a count.
Least count of instruments
The smallest value that can be measured by the measuring instrument is Significant figures in calculations
called its least count or resolution.
• Addition & subtraction

The final result would round to the same decimal place as the least precise 2. Absolute error
number. • The magnitude of the difference between mean value and each
• Multiplication & division individual value is called absolute error.
The final result would round to the same number of significant digits as the 3. Mean absolute error
least accurate number. • The arithmetic mean of all the absolute errors is called mean absolute
error.
Errors in measurement 4. Reporting of result
Difference between the actual value of a quantity and the value obtained by a • The most common way adopted by scientist and engineers to report a
measurement is called an error. result is: Result = best estimate ± error
Error = actual value – measured value 5. Relative error
• The relative error is defined as the ratio of the mean absolute error to
Types of errors the mean value.
1. Systematic errors 6. Percentage error
• These errors are arise due to flaws in experimental system. • The relative error multiplied by 100 is called as percentage error.
• The system involves observer, measuring instrument and the percentage error = relative error x 100
environment. Least count error
Least count error is the error associated with the resolution of the instrument.

Types of systematic errors Estimation

1. Personal errors- These errors are arise due to faulty procedures Estimation is a rough calculation to find an approximate value of something
adopted by the person making measurements. that is useful for some purpose.
2. Instrumental errors- These errors are arise due to faulty construction Order of magnitude
of instruments. The approximate size of something expressed in powers of 10 is called order
3. Environmental errors- These errors are caused by external conditions of magnitude.
like pressure, temperature, magnetic field, wind etc.
LESSON 2: SCALAR AND VECTORS
2. Gross errors
• These errors are caused by mistake in using instruments, recording data THE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS-are defined in relation to a right angle.
and calculating results. For the right tri-angle shown in the figure, by definition

3. Random errors
• These errors are due to unknown causes and are sometimes termed as
chance errors. Scalar- a physical quantity that has only a magnitude.
• Due to unknown causes, they cannot be eliminated. Examples:
Mass, Length, Time, Temperature, Volume, Density
Error analysis
1. Mean value Vector- a physical quantity that has both a magnitude and a direction.
• The average of all the five readings gives the most probable value for Examples:
time period. Position, Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration, Momentum, Force
 FORCES- A MECHANICAL EFFECT OF THE ENVIRONMENT ON AN
Types of Vectors (on the basis of orientation) OBJECT. IT IS EITHER PUSH OR PULL ON AN OBJECT, AND HAS BOTH
• Parallel Vectors -Two vectors are said to be parallel vectors, if they have A MAGNITUDE AND DIRECTION.
same direction.
• Equal Vectors-Two parallel vectors are said to be equal vectors, if they TWO BASIC EFFECTS ON AN OBJECT
have same magnitude. • IT CAN CHANGE THE MOTION OF THE OBJECT (NEWTON’S 2ND
• Anti-parallel- Vectors Two vectors are said to be anti-parallel vectors, if LAW)
they are in opposite directions. • IT CAN DISTORT THE SHAPE OF AN OBJECT S SUCH AS BY
• Negative Vectors -Two anti-parallel vectors are said to be negative STRETCHING, COMPRESSING OR TWISTING
vectors, if they have same magnitude.
• Collinear Vectors- Two vectors are said to be collinear vectors, if they act THE RESULTANT OF A SYSTEM OF FORCES
along a same line.
• THE VECTOR SUM OF THE FORCES ACTING ON AN OBJECT IS
• Co-initial Vectors- Two or more vectors are said to be co-initial vectors, if
CALLED THE RESULTANT FORCE ON THE OBJECT.
they have common initial point.
• Co-terminus Vectors- Two or more vectors are said to be co-terminus
LINE OF ACTION
vectors, if they have common terminal point.
• Coplanar Vectors- Three or more vectors are said to be coplanar vectors, • WHEN A FORCE ACTS AT A POINT IN AN OBJECT, ONE CAN
if they lie in the same plane. DRAW AN IMAGINARY LINE THROUGH THAT POINT AND
PARALLEL TO THE FORCE
• Non-coplanar Vectors- Three or more vectors are said to be non-coplanar
vectors, if they are distributed in space. • RIGID BODY REFERS TO AN OBJECT THAT DOESN’T CHANGE
ITS SHAPE WHEN FORCES ACT ON IT.

Types of Vectors (on the basis of effect)

Parallelogram Law
• Polar Vectors- Vectors having straight line effect are called polar vectors.
• Axial Vectors- Vectors having rotational effect are called axial vectors.

Resultant- Sum of a number of vectors of a particular type - single vector that

would have the same effect as all the original vectors taken together.

Unit vectors- A given vector can be expressed as a product of its magnitude
and a unit vector.
Resolution of a Vector- t is the process of splitting a vector into two or more
vectors in such a way that their combined effect is same as that of the given
vector.
LESSON 3: FORCES AND EQULIBRIOUM
LESSON 4: DISTANCE AND DISPLACEMENT
KINEMATICS-The study of the physical quantities that describe the motion of
an object.
Distance is the measure of "how much ground an object has covered during
its motion," whereas displacement refers to the measure of "how far out of
place is an object."

Distance is considered a scalar property, meaning it refers only to the total

magnitude and does not account for start or endpoints.

Distance = Speed x Time

Displacement accounts for the magnitude as well as the direction of an

object's travel, making it a vector quantity.

Displacement is represented by the symbol which is defined as the change in

special location.

ABSOLUTE DISPLACEMENT
• It is the location as measured from the origin.
• It also a magnitude and a sign.
• Its magnitude is the straight-line distance from the origin to the
location of the particles.

RELATIVE DISPLACEMENT
• The location of particles as measured from an arbitrary point of axis.