PHYSICS Chapter 01

CHAPTER 1:
Physical quantities and
measurements
(3 Hours)

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Overview:

Physical quantities
and measurements

Basic and Scalar and Vectors

derived vector multiplication
quantities quantities

Unit Addition, Scalar and

conversion subtraction vector
and vector products
resolution
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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Learning Outcome:
1.1 Physical Quantities and units (1 hour)
At the end of this chapter, students should be
able to:
State basic quantities and their respective SI
units: length (m), time (s), mass (kg), electrical
current (A), temperature (K), amount of
substance (mol) and luminosity (cd).
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).
Convert units with common SI prefixes.

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

1.1 Physical Quantities and Units

Physical quantity is defined as a quantity which can be measured.
It can be categorised into 2 types
Basic (base) quantity

Derived quantity

Basic quantity is defined as a quantity which cannot be derived

from any physical quantities.
Table 1.1 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
Table 1.1 Luminous Intensity Iv candela cd 4
 PHYSICS Chapter 01
Derived quantity is defined as a quantity which can be
derived from basic quantity.
Table 1.2 shows some examples of derived quantity.
Derived quantity Symbol Formulae SI Unit
Velocity v s/t m s-1
Volume V lwt m3
Acceleration a v/t m s-2
Density m/V kg m-3
Momentum p mv kg m s-1
Force F ma kg m s-2 @ N
Work W Fs kg m2 s-2 @ J
Table 1.2
Power P W/t kg m2 s-3 @ W
Frequency f 1/T s-1 @ Hz
Pressure P F/A kg m-1 s-2 @ Pa 5
 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Unit is defined as a standard size of measurement of

physical quantities.
Examples :
1 second is defined as the time required for
9,192,631,770 vibrations of radiation emitted by a
caesium-133 atom.

1 kilogram is defined as the mass of a platinum-iridium

cylinder kept at International Bureau of Weights and
Measures Paris.

1 meter is defined as the length of the path travelled by

light in vacuum during a time interval of
1
s
299,792,458
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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

The unit of basic quantity is called base unit

addition unit for base unit:

unit of plane angle - radian (rad)

rad 180o
180o
1 rad 57.296o

unit of solid angle- steradian (sr)

The common system of units used today are S.I unit (System
International/metric system) and cgs unit - UK.
The unit of derived quantity called derived unit
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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

1.1.1 Unit Prefixes

It is used for presenting larger and smaller values.
Table 1.3 shows all the unit prefixes.
Prefix Multiple Symbol
tera 1012 T
giga 109 G
mega 106 M
kilo 103 k
deci 101 d
centi 102 c
milli 103 m
micro 106
Table 1.3 nano 109 n
pico 1012 p
Examples:
5740000 m = 5740 km = 5.74 Mm

0.00000233 s = 2.33 106 s = 2.33 s 8

 PHYSICS Chapter 01
Note:
Line of prefix: m, s, N, A, g and etc

Symbol : T G M k Unit d c m n p
Value :1012 109 106 103 100 101 102 103 106 1091012

How to use?
minus the index - division
1 Ts = ? ps
1 Ts =1012 (12) ps
= 1024 ps

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01
1.1.2 Conversion of Unit
Example 1.1 :
Solve the following problems.
a. 45 mm2 = ? m2 b. 37 km h1 = ? m s1
c. 30 g cm3 = ? kg m3 d. 29 m = ? m
e. 23 m h1 = ? m s1
Solution :
a. 45 mm 45 1 mm
2 2

2
3
45 10 m
45 mm 2 45 106 m 2 or 4.5 105 m 2
b. 1st method : 1 37 103
m
37 km h
1h
37 103m

3600 s
37 km h 1 10.3 m s 1 10
 PHYSICS Chapter 01

1 37 km
2nd method : 37 km h
1 h
37 km 1000 m 1 h

1 h 1 km 3600 s
37 km h 1 10.3 m s 1
c.

30 g 10 kg 1 cm
3 3
3
30 g cm
3
3
3
1 cm 1 g 10 2
m

3 3
30 g cm 3.0 10 kg m
4

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

d.
29 m 29 106 m
29 m 2.9 105 m
e. 23 m 1 h
1
23 m h
1 h 3600 s
1 3 1
23 m h 6.39 10 m s

Note:
Unit conversion is important, but its also important to recognise when
its needed.
Always use the SI unit.

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Example 1.2 :
Calculate the volume in SI unit of a wire of length 125 cm and
diameter 0.65 mm.
Solution :
Given l = 1.25 m ; d =0.65103 m
The radius of the wire is
d 0.65 103
r
2 2 3
r 0.325 10 m
The volume of the cylindrical wire is given by
V r 2l
1.25
2
0.325 10 3

V 4.15 107 m3

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Exercise 1.1 :
Given 1 (angstrom) = 10-10 m
1. Solve all the following problems.

a. 35 cm =_________m f. 24 mm2 =___________m2

b. 20 km =_________m g. 0.03 m2 =____________ mm2
c. 11 Mm =_________m h. 19 km2 =_____________ m2
d. 23 F =_________F i. 56 g cm-3 =_________ kg m-3
e. 0.24 =_________m j. 560 km h-1 =_________ m s-1

2. Convert the following problems into SI unit.

a. 0.249 mm3 b. 5.87 cm2
c. 12 g km h-1 d. 9.78 g cm-3
e. 10 km h-1 f. 8.5 g cm h-2

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Learning Outcome:
1.2 Scalars and Vectors (2 hours)
At the end of this chapter, students should be able
to:
Define scalar and vector quantities.
Perform vector addition and subtraction
graphically.
Resolve vector into two perpendicular
components (x and y axes)
Illustrate unit vectors (i, j , k ) in Cartesian
coordinate.

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Learning Outcome:
1.2 Scalars and Vectors (2 hours)
State the physical meaning of dot (scalar)
product;

A B AB cos B A cos
State the physical meaning of cross (vector)
product;

A B AB sin B A sin
Direction of cross product is determined by
corkscrew method or right hand rule.

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

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, power 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

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

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
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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Two vectors equal if both magnitude and direction are the same.
(shown in figure 1.1)

Q
PQ
P
Figure 1.1

a scalar quantity k
If vector A is multiplied by
Then, vector A is kA

kA
A

A
if k = +ve, the vector is in the same direction as vector A.
if k = -ve, the vector is in the opposite direction of vector A. 19
 PHYSICS Chapter 01

1.2.2 Direction of Vectors

Can be represented by using:
a) Direction of 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

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

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

s ( x, y) (1 m, 5 m)
y/m

5

s

0
x/m
1

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

3-Dimension (3-D)

s ( x, y, z ) (4, 3, 2) m
y/m

s
x/m
0 4

z/m
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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

d) Polar coordinates

F 30 N,150

F
150

e) Denotes with + or signs.

+

- +

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

1.2.3 Addition of Vectors

There are two methods involved in addition of vectors graphically i.e.
Parallelogram

Triangle
For example : A B

A B

Parallelogram Triangle

A B A B
B
B
O O
A A 24
 PHYSICS Chapter 01

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

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

of
1.2.4 Subtraction Vectors
For example : CD

D
C
D

CDC D
Parallelogram Triangle

C C
O O
CD CD D
D

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

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 1.2 :
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) A B b) A B

c) A 2B d) 2A B
(Hint : use 1 cm = 2.00 units)

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

1.2.5 Resolving a Vector

1st method : 2nd method :

y y

R R
Ry Ry

0
x
0
x
Rx Rx

Rx Ry
Adjacent cos Rx R cos cos R y R cos
component R R
Opposite Ry Rx
component sin R y R sin sin Rx R sin
R R
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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

The magnitude of vector R:

R or R Rx 2

Ry
2

Direction of vector R:

1
Ry Ry
tan tan
or

Rx Rx
Vector R in terms of unit vectors written as

R Rx i Ry j

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Example 1.3 :
A car moves at a velocity of 30 m s-1 in a direction north 60 west.
Calculate the component of the velocity
a) due north. b) due west.
Solution :
N a)v v sin 30 v v cos 60

or N
N
30 sin 30 30 cos 60

60 vN vN 15 m s 1
v30
W E
vW v v cos 30 or vW v sin 60

b) W
30 cos 30 30 sin 60
1
vW 26 m s
S

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Example 1.4 : 210

x
S

F
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

Fx
210
S
Fx F cos 30 Fy F sin 30
x 100 cos 30 100 sin 30
30 F
Fy Fx 86.6 N Fy 50 N
F

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Example 1.5 :
y

F3 40 N
O
x
60o
F1 10 N
F2 30 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.
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 PHYSICS Chapter 01
y
Solution :
F2 y
F2

60o
O
F3
x
F2 x
F1

Fr

F F1 F2 F3

Fr


Fx

Fy

Fx

F1x F2 x F3 x

Fy F1 y F2 y F3 y
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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Solution :

Vector x-component (N) y-component (N)

F1 0 F1 10

30 cos 60 30 sin 60
F2
15 26

F3 F3 40 0

Vector F x 0 15 40 F 10 26 0
y
sum 25 16

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Solution :
The magnitude of the resultant force is

Fr F F
x
2
y
2

252 162
Fr 29.7 N y

F
and

tan 1 y Fy Fr

F x

32.6
x

16
O
1
tan 32.6 Fx
25
Its direction is 32.6 from positive x-axis OR

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Exercise 1.3 :
1. Vector A has components Ax = 1.30 cm, Ay = 2.25 cm; vector B
has 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
themagnitude and directionyof
resolution to determine
B

a) the vector sum A ,
b) the vector sum B A
-1
, B 18.0 m s
c) the vector difference A B ,
d) the vector difference B A.
(Young & freedman,pg.35,no.1.39)
A 12.0 m s -1 37.0
x
ANS. : 11.1 m s-1,
77.6; U think;
0
28.5 m s-1, 202; 28.5 m s-1, 22.2 36
Figure 1.2
 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Exercise 1.3 :

3. Vector A points in the negative x direction. Vector
B points at an
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


R 10 m s 2 50

0
x
Figure 1.3
Calculate the resultant vector of P, Q and R.
ANS. : 49.4 m s2; 70.1 above + x-axis
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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

1.2.6 Unit Vectors

notations a , b, c
E.g. unit vector a a vector with a magnitude of 1 unit in the
A.

direction of vector

A A
a 1
A a
Unit vectors have no unit.
Unit vector for 3 dimension axes :

x - axis i @ i(bold)
y - axis j @ j (bold) i j k 1
z - axis k @ k (bold)

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01
y

j
x
k
i
z
Vector can be written in term of unit vectors as :

r rx i ry j rz k
Magnitude of vector,

r rx 2 ry 2 rz 2
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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

E.g. :


s 4i 3 j 2k m
s 42 32 22 5.39 m

y/m

3 j
s
x/m
2k 0 4i

z/m

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Example 1.6 :
Two vectors are given as:


a 2i j 3k m


b i 2 j 4k 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 2 1 3i

a b
x x x

a y by 1 2 j

y

a b z az bz 3 4 7k


a b 3i j 7 k m
The magnitude, ab 32 12 7 2 7.68 m
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 PHYSICS Chapter 01


b) b a b a 1 2 i
x

x x

b a y by a y 2 1 3 j


b a z bz az 4 3 k


b a i 3 j k m
The magnitude, ba 12 32 12 3.61 m

c)
2a b x 2ax bx 22 1 5i


2a b y 2a y by 2 1 2 0 j


2a b z 2az bz 2 3 4 10k


2 a b 5i 10k m
The magnitude, 2a b 52 102 11.2 m
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 PHYSICS Chapter 01
1.2.7 Multiplication of Vectors
Scalar (dot) product
The physical meaning ofthe scalar
product can be explained by
considering two vectors A and B as shown in Figure 1.4a.

A

Figure 1.4a

B
shows
Figure 1.4b the projection of vector B onto the direction
of

vector A. A B A componentof
B parallel to A
A A
B cos

Figure 1.4b Figure 1.4c
B Acos B

shows
Figure 1.4c the projection of vector A onto the direction of


vector B . A B B componentof A parallel to B 43


 PHYSICS Chapter 01

From the Figure 1.4b, the scalar product can be defined as

A B AB cos
meanwhile from the Figure 1.4c,

B A B A cos
where : angle between two vectors
The scalar product is a scalar quantity.
The angle ranges from 0 to 180 .

When 0 90 scalar product is positive
90 180 scalar product is negative
90 scalar product is zero
The scalar product obeys the commutative law of multiplication i.e.

A B B A

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Example of scalar product is work done by a constant force where the

expression is givenby

W F s F s cos sF cos
The scalar product of the unit vectors are shown below :
y
i i i 2 cos 0 o 1 1 1
2

j j j 2 cos 0 o 12 1 1
k k k 2 cos 0 o 1 1 1
2
j
x
k
i i i j j k k 1
z
i j 11cos 90 o 0
j k 11cos 90 o 0 i j j k i k 0
i k 11cos 90 o 0 45
 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Example 1.7 :
Calculate the A B and the angle between vectors A and B for the
problems.
following
a) A 2i 2 j 3k A
4i 3 j k
b)

B i j 3k B 2 j 3k ANS.:3; 99.4
:
Solution
a) A B 21i i 21 j j 3 3k k

A B 2 2 9
A B 5
The magnitude of the vectors: A 2 2 3 17
2 2 2

The angle ,
B 1 1 3
2 2 2
11

A B AB cos

1 A B
1 5
cos cos


AB 17 1146
112
 PHYSICS Chapter 01
y
Example 1.8 :
C 1 m
D2 m
25 19
0
x

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

180 25 19 136


Therefore
C D CD cos

12 cos 136

C D 1.44 m 2 47
 PHYSICS Chapter 01

b) Vectors C and
D in unit vector are
C C x i C y j

1cos 25 i 1sin 25 j

C 0.91i 0.42 j m

and


D 2 cos 19 i 2 sin 19 j
D 1.89i 0.65 j m

Hence C D 0.91 1.89i 0.42 0.65 j

0.98i 1.07 j m

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Vector (cross) product Note:

Consider two vectors : A xi yj zk The angle between
two vectors can only
B pi qj rk be determined by
using the scalar (dot)

is defined
In general, the vector product as product.
A B C
and its magnitude is given by

A B C A B sin AB sin
where : angle between two vectors
The angle ranges from 0 to 180 so the vector product always
positive value.
quantity.
Vector product is a vector
The direction of vector C is determined by

RIGHT-HAND RULE
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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

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 B.
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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

The vector product of the unit vectors are shown below :

y
i j j i k
j k k j i
j
k x k i i k j
i
i i i 2 sin 0 o 0
z
j j j 2 sin 0 o 0 i i j j k k 0
k k k 2 sin 0 o 0
Example of vector product is a torque (moment of force) on a metre
rule where the expression is given by
Vector form: r F
Magnitude form: rF sin 51
 PHYSICS Chapter 01
Example 1.9 :

Given two vectors : 3i j
A
B 4i 2 j 2k
The angle between both vectors is 155 degree.
Determine
magnitude
a) the of A B and its direction.
b) A B
Solution : =155
a) The magnitude of vectors,

A 32 12 10
B 42 22 22 24
Apply: A B AB sin
10
24 sin155
A B 6.55 unit 2
52
 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Direction: always perpendicular to plane containing vector A

and B.

b)


A B 3i j 0k 4i 2 j 2k
34i i 12 j j 0 2k k
12 2 0
A B 14 unit 2

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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

Exercise 1.4 :

1. If vector a = 3i + 5 j and vector b = 2i + 4 j , determine
a)

a b b)

a b b
ANS. : 26; 46

follow :
2. Three vectors are given as

a 3i 3 j 2k ; b i 4 j 2k and c 2i 2 j k



Calculate
a) a b
c b) a b c
ANS. : 29; 9

3.
If vector P 3i 2 j k and vector Q 2i 4 j 3k,
determine
a) the direction of P Q

b) the angle between P and Q .
ANS. : U think, 92.8
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 PHYSICS Chapter 01

THE END.
Next Chapter
CHAPTER 2 :
Kinematics of Linear Motion

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