CHAPTER 1

Physical Quantities
& Measurements

1
 Learning Outcome:
1.1 Physical Quantities and Units (1 hours)
At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
 State basic quantities and their respective SI units:
2

length (m), time (s), mass (kg), electrical current (A),

temperature (K), amount of substance (mol) and
luminosity (cd).
( Emphasis on units in calculation)

State derived quantities and their respective units and

symbols: velocity (m s-1), acceleration (m s-2), work
(J), force (N), pressure (Pa), energy (J), power (W)
and frequency (Hz).

 State and convert units with common SI prefixes.

2
1.1 Physical Quantities and Units

 Physical quantity is defined as quantities that can

be measured
 It can be categorized into 2 types
 Basic (base) quantity
 Derived quantity

3
Table 1.1 below shows all the basic (base)
quantities.
Quantity Symbol SI Unit Symbol
Length l metre m

Mass m kilogram kg
Time t second s
Temperature T/ kelvin K

Electric current I ampere A

Amount of
substance n mole mol

Light Intensity I candela cd

4
Table 1.1
  Derived quantity is defined as a quantity which can be expressed
in term of base quantity.
 Table 1.2 shows some examples of derived quantity.

Derived quantity Symbol Formulae Unit

Velocity v s/t m s-1

Volume V lwt m3

Acceleration a v/t m s-2

Density  m/V …………….

Momentum p mv kg m s-1
Table 1.2
Force F ma kg m s-2 @ N

Work W Fs ……….. @ J

Pressure P F/A N m-2 @ ……

Frequency f 1/T 5 s-1 @ ……..

 1.1.1 Unit Prefixes
Prefix Multiple Symbol
 It is used for presenting
tera  1012 T
larger and smaller values.
giga  ……. G
 Table 1.3 shows all the unit mega  106 M
prefixes. kilo  103 ………..
 Examples: deci  101 d
 5740000 m = 5740 km = centi  102 c
5.74 Mm milli  103 m
 0.00000233 s = micro  106 ………
nano  ,,,,,,, n
2.33  106 s = 2.33 s
pico  1012 p

Table 1.3
6
Example 1.1 :
Solve the following problems of unit conversion.
a. 15 mm2 = ? m2 b. 65 km h1 = ? m s1
c. 450 g cm3 = ? kg m3
Solution :
a. 15 mm2 = ? m2

1 mm  2   ......m  2
1 mm 2  10 6 m 2
b. 65 km h-1 = ? m s-1  65  10 3
m
1st method : 65 km h  
1


 65 110h 3
m 
65 km h 1   
 .......... s 
 
65 km h  1  ........ m s  1 7
2nd method :
1  65 km 
65 km h  
 1h 
 65 km  .......m  .... h 
1
65 km h     
 1 h  1 ......  3600 s 
65 km h  1  18 m s  1

c. 450 g cm-3 = ? kg m-3

3 3 2 3 3
450 g cm  450(10 )(10 ) kg m
450 g cm  3  4 .5  10 5 kg m  3

8
 Follow Up Exercise

1. A hall bulletin board has an area of 250 cm2. What is this area in
square meters ( m2 ) ?

2. The density of metal mercury is 13.6 g/cm3. What is this density

as expressed in kg/m3

3. A sheet of paper has length 27.95 cm, width 8.5 cm and

thickness of 0.10 mm. What is the volume of a sheet of paper in
m3 ?

4. Convert the following into its SI unit:

(a) 80 km h–1 = ? m s–1
(b) 450 g cm–3 = ? kg m–3
(c) 15 dm3 = ? m3
(d) 450 K = ? ° C
9
 Learning Outcome:
1.2 Scalars and Vectors
At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
a) Define scalar and vector quantities,
b) Perform vector addition and subtraction operations
graphically.
c) Resolve vector into two perpendicular components
(2-D)
 Components in the x and y axes.

 Components in the unit vectors in Cartesian

coordinate.
10
 Learning Outcome:
1.2 Scalars and Vectors
At the end of this topic, students should be able to:

d) Define and use dot (scalar) product;

 
A  B  A  B cos θ   B  A cos θ 
e) Define and use cross (vector) product;
 
A  B  A B sin θ   B  A sin θ 

Direction of cross product is determined by corkscrew

method or right hand rule.
11
 1.2 Scalars and Vectors
 Scalar quantity is defined as a quantity with magnitude
only.
 e.g.mass, time, temperature, pressure, electric current,
work, energy and etc.
 Mathematics operational : ordinary algebra
 Vector quantity is defined as a quantity with both
magnitude & direction.
 e.g.
displacement, velocity, acceleration, force,
momentum, electric field, magnetic field and etc.
 Mathematics operational : vector algebra
12
 1.2.1 Vectors
Vector A
Length of an arrow– magnitude of vector A
Direction of arrow – direction of vector A

 Table 1.4 shows written form (notation) of vectors.

displacement velocity acceleration

  
s v a
s v a
s (bold) v (bold) a (bold)
Table 1.4


 Notation of magnitude of vectors.
v v

a a
13
 Two vectors equal if both magnitude and direction are the same. (shown
in figure 1.1)

Q
 
 PQ
P
Figure 1.1
 If vector A is multiplied by a
 scalar quantity k
 Then, vector A is kA

 kA
A

A
 if k = +ve,
+ve the vector is in the same direction as vector A.
14
 if k = -ve,
ve the vector is in the opposite direction of vector A.
 1.2.2 Direction of Vectors
 Can be represented by using:
a) Direction of compass,
compass i.e east, west, north, south, north-east,
north-west, south-east and south-west
b) Angle with a reference line
e.g. A boy throws a stone at a velocity of 20 m s-1, 50 above
horizontal.
y 
v
50

0 x

15
c) Cartesian coordinates
 2-Dimension (2-D)

y/m

5  s  ( x, y )  (1 m, 5 m)
s

0
x/m
1

16
 3-Dimension (3-D)

s  ( x, y , z )  ( 4, 3, 2) m

s  ...i +...j + ..k
y/m
3


s
4
x/m
2 0

17

z/m
Unit vectors
A unit vector is a vector that has a magnitude of 1 with no units.

Are use to specify a given direction in space.

i , j & k is used to represent unit vectors

pointing in the positive x, y & z directions.

| iˆ | = | ĵ | = | k̂ | = 1

18
  
d) Polar coordinates 
F  30 N,150

F
150

+
e) Denotes with + or – signs.
signs

- +

19

-
 1.2.3 Addition of Vectors
 There are two methods involved in addition of vectors graphically
i.e.
 
Parallelogram 
 Triangle A B
 For example :
 
A B

Parallelogram Triangle

   

B A B A B

B
O  O  20

A A
 Triangle of vectors method:
a) Use a suitable scale to draw vector A.
b) From the head of vector A draw a line to represent the vector B.
c) Complete the triangle. Draw a line from the tail of vector A to
the head of vector B to represent the vector A + B.
   
A B  B A Commutative Rule


A

B  
B A
O

21
 If there are more than 2 vectors therefore
  
 Use vector polygon and associative rule. E.g. PQ R

 Q 
P R

   
PQ R 

P   
PQ  
R

Q

 
     
PQ  R  P Q R   22
Associative Rule
 Distributive Rule :

 
   
a.
 A  B   A  B  ,  are real number
  
     A  A   A
b.
 For example :

Proof of case a: let  = 2


 
 
 
 A B  2 A B 
 
A B

B
 
 
O 
A 2 A B
23
    
A  B  2 A  2 B

 
2 A  2B

2B

O 
2A
 
  
2 A  B  2 A  2B

24
 Proof of case b: let  = 2 and  = 1
  
    A   2  1 A  3 A

A

    3A
A   A  2 A  1 A
2A
  
A
 3A

  
 2  1 A  2 A  1A  25
 1.2.4 Subtraction of Vectors
 
 For example : CD

 ......
C 
D
 
   
C DC D
Parallelogram  Triangle
C C
O   O   
 CD CD D
D

26
 Vectors subtraction can be used
 to determine the velocity of one object relative to another
object i.e. to determine the relative velocity.
 to determine the change in velocity of a moving object.
Exercise 1 :
1. Vector A has a magnitude of 8.00 units and 45 above the
positive x axis. Vector B also has a magnitude of 8.00 units and is
directed along the negative x axis. Using graphical methods and
suitable scale to determine
   
a) b) A B
A B
   
c) A  2B d) 2A  B
(Hint : use 1 cm = 2.00 units)
27
1.2.5 Resolving a Vector
 1st method :  2nd method :
y y

 
 R   R 
Ry Ry

 x  x
0 0
Rx Rx

Rx Rx
 cos θ Rx  R cos   sin   R x  R sin 
R R
Ry Ry
 sin θ  Ry  R sin θ  cos   R cos 
R R 28
 The magnitude of vector R :

R or R  Rx  R y

 Direction of vector R :

Ry 1 
Ry 
tan θ  θ  tan  
or

Rx  Rx 
 Vector R in terms of unit vectors written as
  
R  Rx  R y
29
 Example 1.2 :
A car moves at a velocity of 50 m s-1 in a direction north 30 east.
Calculate the component of the velocity
a) due north. b) due east.

Solution : N a) v N  v sin 60  or

 
vN 30
v
60
W  E
vE b)

S
30
 Example 1.3 :

F
150
x
S
A particle S experienced a force of 100 N as shown in figure above. Determine
the x-component and the y-component of the force.
Solution :
y Vector x-component y-component
F   F cos 30 F  F cos 60
x


y
 
F Fy
 Fx   8 6 .6 N Fy  50 N
150
30
x F or or

S Fx  F cos150 
Fy  F sin 150
Fx
Fx  100 cos150  Fy  100 sin 150
F x   8 6 .6 N Fy  50 N31
Example 1.4 : y


F1 (10 N)
x
30o O

30
o
F2 (30 N)

F3 ( 40 N)

The figure above shows three forces F1, F2 and F3 acted on a particle
O. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant force on
particle O.
32
 y
Solution : 
 F2 y
F2 
30o F1
 
F3 x F2 x 60o
x
30o O


 F3 y
F3

33
 Solution :
Vector x-component y-component

 F1 y  F1
F1 F1 x  0 N
F1 y  1 0 N
 F2 y  30 sin 60 
F2 F2 y  2 6 N
 F3 x   40 cos 30 
F3
F3 x   34.6 N

Vector F x  .......... ....... F y  .......... ........

sum

34
Solution :
The magnitude of the resultant force is

Fr   F    F 
x
2
y
2

Fr  ................
Fr  52.1 .... y
 
and Fr  Fy
θ  tan

1   Fy 
 162 

  Fx  18
x

θ  tan 1 
16 
  18
  Fx
O

  49.6 
Its direction is 162 from positive x-axis OR 18 above
35
negative x-axis.
 Exercise2 : 
1. Vector A
has components Ax = 1.30 cm, Ay = 2.25 cm; vector has B
components Bx = 4.10 cm, By = -3.75 cm. Determine
 
a) the components of the vector sum  ,A  B
b) the magnitude and direction of ,A B
c) the components of the vector B,  A
d) the magnitude and direction of .B  A (Young & freedman,pg.35,no.1.42)
ANS. : 5.40 cm, -1.50 cm; 5.60 cm, 345; 2.80 cm, -6.00 cm;
6.62 cm, 295  
2. For the vectors A and B in Figure 1.2, use the method of vector
resolution to determine
 themagnitude and direction of y
a) the vector sum A B ,
 
 -1
b) the vector sum B  A  ,  B 18.0 m s
c) the vector difference , A  B
d) the vector difference. B  A
 
 -1
(Young & freedman,pg.35,no.1.39) A 12.0 m s 37.0
ANS. : 11.1 m s-1, 77.6; U think; 36 x
0
28.5 m s-1, 202; 28.5 m s-1, 22.2 Figure 1.2
Exercise 2 :
 
3.  B points at an
Vector A points in the negative x direction. Vector
angle of 30 above the positive x axis. Vector C has a magnitude of
15 m   in a direction 40 below the positive x axis. Given
and points 
that A  B  C  0 , determine the magnitudes of A and B .
(Walker,pg.78,no. 65)

ANS. : 28 m; 19 m
4. Given three vectors P, Q and R as shown in Figure 1.3.
y
 

P 35 m s  2
 

Q 24 m s  2

 
 50
R 10 m s  2
0
x
Figure 1.3
Calculate the resultant vector of P, Q and R.
ANS. : 49.4 m s2; 70.1 above + x-axis 37
1.2.6 Unit Vectors

 notations – aˆ , bˆ, cˆ
 E.g. unit vector a – a vector with a magnitude of 1 unit in the
direction of vector A. 

A A
aˆ    1
A â
 Unit vectors are dimensionless.

 aˆ   1
 Unit vector for 3 dimension axes :

x - axis ⇒ iˆ @ i (bold )
y - axis ⇒ ˆj @ j (bold ) iˆ  ˆj  kˆ  1
z - axis ⇒ kˆ @ k (bold ) 38
 y

ĵ
x
k̂
iˆ
z
 Vector can be written in term of unit vectors as :

r  rx iˆ  ry ˆj  rz kˆ
 Magnitude of vector,

r  rx  2   ry  2   rz  2 39
 E.g. :


s  4iˆ  3 ˆj  2kˆ m 
s  4 2   3 2   2 2  5.39 m

y/m

3 ĵ

s
x/m
2k̂ 0 4iˆ

z/m

40
Example 1.5 :
Two vectors are given as:
 ˆ
 
a  i  2 ˆj  6kˆ m

 
b  4iˆ  3 ˆj  kˆ m
Calculate
 
  b and its magnitude,
a) the vector a
b) the vector b  a and its magnitude,
c) the vector 2a  b and its magnitude.
Solution : 
a)  

a  b  ........................
 a b   ........................
  x

a  b  a  b  6  1  7kˆ
y

z z z

a  b  .........................
The magnitude, a  b  .....................  9.95 m
41
  
 
b) b  a  bx  ax  ............
 
 x
b  a  by  a y  ................
  y

b  a  bz  az  ..................
 z
b  a  .............. m
The magnitude, b  a  .....................
c)   

2a  b  .....................
  x

2a  b  .........................
y

 

2a  b z  2a z  bz  2 6  1  13kˆ


2 a  b  ....................... m
The magnitude, 2 a b  6  2    7  2  13  2
42
 15.9 m
 1.2.7 Multiplication of Vectors
Scalar (dot) product
 The physical meaning of the scalar product can be explained by
 
considering two vectors A and B as shown in Figure 1.4a.

A

Figure 1.4a 

 Figure 1.4b shows the projection of vector
Bonto the direction of
B
A  B  A component of B parallel toA
    
vector .
A 
A A
B cos θ
 
Figure 1.4b  Figure 1.4c 
B  A cos θ B

 shows the projection of vector A onto the direction of
Figure 1.4c
43
vector B.  
 
A  B  B component of A parallel to B


 From the Figure 1.4b, the scalar product can be defined as
 
A  B  A B cos θ 
meanwhile from the Figure 1.4c,
 
B  A  B A cos θ 
where θ : angle between two vectors
 The scalar product is a scalar quantity.
quantity
 The angle ranges from 0 to 180 .
 0  θ  90
When 
scalar product is positive
9 0  θ  180  scalar product is negative
θ  90  scalar product is zero

 The scalar product obeys the commutative law of multiplication

i.e.    
A B  B  A 44
  Example of scalar product is work done by a constant force where
the expression
 is given by

W  F  s  F  s cos θ   s  F cos θ 
 The scalar product of the unit vectors are shown below :
y
iˆ  iˆ  i 2 cos 0 o  1 1  1
2

ˆj  ˆj  j 2 cos 0 o  1 2 1  1

kˆ  kˆ  k 2 cos 0 o  1 1  1
2
ĵ
x
k̂
iˆ iˆ  iˆ  ˆj  ˆj  kˆ  kˆ  1
z
iˆ  ˆj   1 1 cos 90 o  0
ˆj  kˆ   1 1 cos 90 o  0 iˆ  ˆj  ˆj  kˆ  iˆ  kˆ  0
iˆ  kˆ   1 1 cos 90 o  0
45
 y
Example 1.7 : 
C 1 m 
25
0 19 x
D 2 m 
Figure 1.5
Referring to the vectors in Figure 1.5,
a) determine the scalar product between them.
b) express the resultant vector of C and D in unit vector.
Solution :
a) The angle between vectors C and D is
θ  180  25  19  174
Therefore  
C  D  CD cos θ
 ...................
  46

C  D   1 .99 .......
Vector (cross) product
 Consider two vectors : 
A  xiˆ  yˆj  zkˆ

B  piˆ  qˆj  rkˆ
 In general, the vector product is defined as
  
A B  C
and its magnitude is given by
    
A  B  C  A B sin θ  AB sin θ

where θ : angle between two vectors

 The angle  ranges from 0 to 180  so the vector product always
positive value.
 Vector product is a vectorquantity.
quantity
 The direction of vector
C is determined by

RIGHT-HAND RULE 47
 For example:
 How to use right hand rule :
 Point the 4 fingers to the direction of the 1st vector.
 Swept the 4 fingers from the 1st vector towards the 2nd vector.
 The thumb shows the direction of the vector product.

   
C A B  C 
B

 A 
B C   
 B A  C
A    
A B  B  A but
   

A B   B  A 

 Direction of the vector product (C ) always perpendicular

to the plane containing the vectors A and
48
B.
 THE END…
Next Chapter…
CHAPTER 2 :
Kinematics of Linear Motion

49