Areas of Physics

Mechanic

is the oldest and

most basic branch of physics. It deals with
such ideas as inertia, motion, force, and
energy. Mechanics includes the properties
and laws of both solids and fluids, of point
masses, and of continuous matter.

Heat
includes the principles of temperature
measurement, that is, the effects of
temperature on the properties of materials,
heat flow, and thermodynamics, this is the
study of transformation involving heat and
work.

Sound
is concerned with vibrations and waves and
with their recording, transmission, and
perception, as in music and speech.

Optics
concerned with the nature of propagation
of light, including the refraction that occurs
when light passes through prisms and lenses.
Of importance also are the discussions of the
separation of white light such as interference,
diffraction, and polarization.

Electricity and Magnetism

Deal with still other aspect matter and
space in which the key concepts are electric
charge and current.

Modern Physics
-1900
-x-rays
-radioactivity
-electron
-formulation of quantum theory
-Theory of relativity

Measurements
The scientific method is an
effective approach to solving
problems, providing that several
conditions have been met.
(1) That the observations made in
the study be valid and relevant,
(2) that the conclusion require
that techniques of measurement
be developed

Measurements
Measuring anything means comparing
it with a standard to determine its
relationship to the standard. For
example, we may be interested in
knowing how an objects size or mass
compares with a standard size or mass.

Measurements
Prefixes

Symbols

1x1012

tera

1x109

giga

1x106

mega

1x103

kilo

1x102

hecto

1x101

deka

da

Multiples and Sub

multiples

1x100

Measurements
Prefixes

Symbols

1x10-1

deci

1x10-2

centi

1x10-3

milli

1x10-6

micro

1x10-9

nano

1x10-12

pico

1x10-15

femto

1x10-18

atto

Multiples and Sub

multiples

Units
There are two common systems of
units:
SI units (Systeme International d Unites)
E.g. metre, kilogram, second
The British engineering system (a.k.a imperial
system of units)
E.g. foot, pound, second

Why SI units?
Two reasons:
1. Facilitates international trade and
communications
2. Facilitates exchange of scientific findings
and information

Physical Quantities
These may be divided into base
quantities and derived quantities
Base quantities are expressed in based units
Derived quantities are expressed in derived
units
There are seven base quantities and thus
seven base units.

SI Base Quantities and Units

Quantity

Symbol

Unit

Abbreviation

Length

metre

Mass

kilogram

kg

Time

seconds

Electric current

ampere

Thermodynamic
Temperature

kelvin

Amount of
substance

mole

mol

Luminous
intensity

Iv

candela

cd

Conversion Between multiples and

submultiples of a base unit
How do you convert from kilometre to
meter?
E.g. Convert 3 km to metre
Solution
3 km=3kiloxmetre
=3x1000x1m
=3000 m

Conversion Between multiples and

submultiples of a base unit
How do you convert from metres
to kilometres?
E.g. Convert 70 m to kilometre
Solution
1 km=1000 m 1m 1 km
1000
Recognise that

Conversion Between multiples and

submultiples of a base unit

1
70m 70 x
km
1000
0.07 km

Conversion Between multiples and

submultiples of a base unit
How do you convert millimetre to
metres?
E.g. Convert 45mm to metres
Solution:

1
45mm 45 x
xmetre
1000
1
45 x
x1m
1000
45
m
1000
0.045m

Conversion Between multiples and

submultiples of a base unit
How do you convert from
millimetres to centimetres?
E.g. 13 mm to centimetres
Solution:

1
13mm 13 x
xmetre
1000
1
1
13 x
x1mx
100
10
1.3cm

Scalar and Vector Quantities

A Scalar quantity has magnitude only and is
completely described by a certain number
with appropriate units
E.g. The distance is 7m
Other examples are scalar quantities include
mass, time and temperature.

Scalar and Vector Quantities

A vector quantity has both a magnitude and a
direction can be represented by straight line
in a particular direction.
E.g. The displacement is 5m in the direction
of 45o .
Other examples of vector quantities include
velocity, force and momentum.

Scalar and Vector Quantities

Why is it useful to understand which quantity
is a vector and which quantity is a scalar?
Consider the following formula where v is the
final velocity u, is the initial velocity, a is the
acceleration and t is the time for which the
vehicle accelerated:

v u at