PHYSICS

Classical physics
Modern physics
Nuclear physics
Atomic physics
Geophysics
Biophysics
Mechanics
Acoustics
Optics
Thermodynamics
Astrophysics
 What are the
contributions of
physics to the society?
measurements perform
experiments

numbers
hypotheses
Physical Quantities

Units

“metric system”
“International System” or SI
experimental
science units (abbreviation for its French term, Système
International).
 centi c 10-2
PREFIX SYMBOL FACTOR
deci d 10-1
atto a 10-18 deka da 101
femto f 10-15 hecto h 102
kilo k 103
pico p 10-12
mega M 106
nano n 10-9
giga G 109
micro μ 10-6 tera T 1012
milli m 10-3 peta P 1015
exa E 1018
SI and British measurements
reference to estimating a measurement

Why one needs to round off numbers?

simplifying a report of a measurement

Rounding off Numbers
Rules of rounding off numbers:
• a. Know which last digit to keep
• b. This last digit remains the same if the next digit is less than 5.
• c. Increase this last digit if the next digit is 5 or more.
Scientific Notation
• powers-of –10 notation

The distance from the earth to the moon is about

384,000,000 m,
but writing the number in this form doesn't indicate the number
of significant figures
Significant Figures
1. Non-zero numbers are ALWAYS significant
2. “In between” zeroes are ALWAYS significant
3. Leading zeroes are NEVER significant
4. Trailing zeros are SOMETIMES significant
Significant Figures
Conversion of units
Practice Problem
A snail moves 1cm every 20 seconds. What is this in in/s?
Practice Problem
The official world land speed record is 122.0 km/h. Set on
October 15, 1997, by Andy Green in the jet engine car Thrust
SSC. Express this speed in meters per second.
Practice Problem
The world's largest cut diamond is the First Star of Africa
(mounted in the British Royal Scepter and in the Tower of
London). Its volume is 1.84 cubic inches. What is its volume in
cubic centimeters? In cubic meters?
Practice Problem
How many inches are there in 3.00 meters?
How much time would it take for light to travel 10,000 feet?
How many inches would light travel in 10 fs?
How many newtons of force do you need to lift a 34 pound bag?