Introduction to Science and

the Realm of Physics, Physical

Quantities, and Units
PHY 10: Physics for Engineers

ENGR. ARBIE MARIZ A. REVILLA

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Department of Civil Engineering

Introduction to
Physics
Science and the Realm of Physics
• Science consists of the
theories and laws that are
the general truths of nature as
well as the body of
knowledge they encompass.
Scientists are continually
trying to expand this body of
knowledge and to perfect the
expression of the laws that
describe it.
Science and the Realm of Physics
Physics is concerned with
describing the interactions of
energy, matter, space, and time,
and it is especially interested in
what fundamental mechanisms
underlie every phenomenon. The
concern for describing the basic
phenomena in nature essentially
defines the realm of physics.
Applications of Physics
• Physics is the foundation of
many important disciplines
and contributes directly to
others. Most branches of
engineering are applied
physics.
• In civil engineering, physics is
at the heart of structural
stability.
Models, Theories, and Laws; The Role of
Experimentation
A model is a representation of
something that is often too
difficult (or impossible) to
display directly. While a model is
justified with experimental
proof, it is only accurate under
limited situations.
Models, Theories, and Laws; The Role of
Experimentation
A theory is an explanation for
patterns in nature that is
supported by scientific evidence
and verified multiple times by
various groups of researchers.
Some theories include models to
help visualize phenomena,
whereas others do not.
Models, Theories, and Laws; The Role of
Experimentation
A law uses concise language to
describe a generalized pattern in
nature that is supported by
scientific evidence and repeated
experiments. Often, a law can be
expressed in the form of a single
mathematical equation.
The Evolution of Natural Philosophy
into Modern Physics
• The word physics comes from Greek word, “Phusis” meaning
nature. The study of nature came to be called “natural
philosophy.”
• Physics as it developed from the Renaissance to the end of the 19th
century is called classical physics.
• It was transformed into modern physics by revolutionary
discoveries made starting at the beginning of the 20th century.
The Evolution of Natural Philosophy
into Modern Physics
LIMITS ON THE LAWS OF CLASSICAL PHYSICS
For the laws of classical physics to apply, the following criteria must be
met: Matter must be moving at speeds less than about 1% of the speed
of light, the objects dealt with must be large enough to be seen with a
microscope, and only weak gravitational fields (such as the field
generated by the Earth) can be involved.
The Evolution of Natural Philosophy
into Modern Physics
• Modern physics itself consists of the two revolutionary theories,
relativity and quantum mechanics.
• Relativity must be used whenever an object is traveling at greater
than about 1% of the speed of light or experiences a strong
gravitational field such as that near the Sun.
• Quantum mechanics must be used for objects smaller than can be
seen with a microscope.
Physical Quantities
and Units
 Physical Quantity
• We define a physical quantity either by specifying
how it is measured or by stating how it is calculated
from other measurements.
• Measurements of physical quantities are expressed in
terms of units, which are standardized values.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Department of Civil Engineering

Units
• There are two major systems of units used in the world: SI units
(also known as the metric system) and English units (also known
as the customary or imperial system).
• English units were historically used in nations once ruled by the
British Empire and are still widely used in the United States.
• Virtually every other country in the world now uses SI units as the
standard; the metric system is also the standard system agreed upon
by scientists and mathematicians. The acronym “SI” is derived from
the French Système International.
SI Units: Fundamental and
Derived Units
• The most fundamental physical quantities can be defined only in
terms of the procedure used to measure them. The units in which
they are measured are thus called fundamental units.
• For this class, the fundamental physical quantities are taken to be
length, mass, and time.
• All other physical quantities, such as force, can be expressed as
algebraic combinations of length, mass, and time(for example,
speed is length divided by time); these units are called derived
units.
Units of Time, Length, and Mass: The
Second, Meter, and Kilogram
The Second
• The SI unit for time is the
second (abbreviated s).
• The time required for Cesium
atom to vibrate 9,192,631,770
times.
Units of Time, Length, and Mass: The
Second, Meter, and Kilogram
The Meter
• The SI unit for length is the meter (abbreviated m).
• In 1983, the meter was given its present definition (partly for greater
accuracy) as the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of
a second.
Units of Time, Length, and Mass: The
Second, Meter, and Kilogram
The Kilogram
• The SI unit for mass is the kilogram (abbreviated kg).
• It May 2019, kilogram was defined based on the Planck constant. The
kilogram is measured on a Kibble balance. When a weight is placed on
a Kibble balance, an electrical current is produced that is proportional
to Planck’s constant.
Metric Prefixes
• SI units are part of the metric system. The metric system is
convenient for scientific and engineering calculations because the
units are categorized by factors of 10.
• The term order of magnitude refers to the scale of a value expressed
in the metric system. Each power of 10 in the metric system
represents a different order of magnitude.
Metric Prefixes
Prefix Symbol Value Prefix Symbol Value
exa E 1018 deci d 10−1
peta P 1015 centi c 10−2
tera T 1012 milli m 10−3
giga G 109 micro 𝜇 10−6
mega M 106 nano n 10−9
kilo k 103 pico p 10−12
hecto h 102 femto f 10−15
deka da 101 atto a 10−18
Unit Conversion and Dimensional
Analysis
• Unit conversions involve changing a value expressed in one type of
unit to another type of unit. This is done by using conversion
factors, which are ratios relating equal quantities of different units.
• Let us say that we want to convert 80 meters (m) to kilometers
(km).

Conversion factor
Example Problem
The speed limit on some interstate highways is
roughly 100 km/h. (a) What is this in meters per
second? (b) How many miles per hour is this?
Example Problem
A car is traveling at a speed of 33 m/s . (a) What
is its speed in kilometers per hour? (b) Is it
exceeding the 90 km/h speed limit?
Example Problem
American football is played on a 100-yd-long
field, excluding the end zones. How long is the
field in meters? (Assume that 1 meter equals 3.281
feet.)
Example Problem
What is the height in meters of a person who is 6
ft 1.0 in. tall? (Assume that 1 meter equals 39.37
in.)
Accuracy, Precision, and
Significant Figures
Accuracy and Precision of a
Measurement
• Accuracy is how close a
measurement is to the correct value
for that measurement.
• The precision of a measurement
system refers to how close the
agreement is between repeated
measurements (which are repeated
under the same conditions).
Accuracy, Precision, and
Uncertainty
• The degree of accuracy and precision of a measuring system are
related to the uncertainty in the measurements.
• Uncertainty is a quantitative measure of how much your measured
values deviate from a standard or expected value.
• The uncertainty in a measurement, A , is often denoted as 𝛿𝐴
(delta A), so the measurement result would be recorded as 𝐴 ± 𝛿𝐴 .

11 𝑖𝑛 ± 0.2
Accuracy, Precision, and
Uncertainty
Percent Uncertainty
• If a measurement 𝐴 is expressed with uncertainty, 𝛿𝐴, the percent
uncertainty (%𝑢𝑛𝑐) is defined to be

𝛿𝐴
%𝑢𝑛𝑐 = × 100%
𝐴
Example Problem
Suppose that your bathroom scale reads your
mass as 65 kg with a 3% uncertainty. What is the
uncertainty in your mass (in kilograms)?
Example Problem
A good-quality measuring tape can be off by 0.50
cm over a distance of 20 m. What is its percent
uncertainty?
Example Problem
(a) A car speedometer has a 5.0% uncertainty.
What is the range of possible speeds when it
reads 90km/h ? (b) Convert this range to miles
per hour. (1 km=0.6214 mi)
Example Problem
An infant’s pulse rate is measured to be 130±5
beats/min. What is the percent uncertainty in this
measurement?
Accuracy, Precision, and
Uncertainty
Uncertainty in Sums and Differences
If several quantities x, ….., w are measured with uncertainties 𝛿x,….,
𝛿w, and the measured values used to compute:
𝑞 = 𝑥 + ⋯ . . +𝑧 – (𝑢 + ⋯ . +𝑤) ,
Then the uncertainty in the computed value of q is the sum, of all the
original uncertainties
𝛿𝑞 = 𝛿𝑥 + ⋯ + 𝛿𝑧 + 𝛿𝑢 + ⋯ + 𝛿𝑤
Accuracy, Precision, and
Uncertainty
Uncertainty in Products and Quotients
If several quantities x, ….., w are measured with uncertainties 𝛿x,….,
𝛿w, and the measured values used to compute:
𝑥 × ⋯× 𝑧
𝑞= ,
𝑢 ×⋯×𝑤
then the fractional uncertainty in the computed value of q is the sum,
of the fractional uncertainties in x,…,w.
𝛿𝑞 𝛿𝑥 𝛿𝑧 𝛿𝑢 𝛿𝑤
= + ⋯+ + + ⋯+
𝑞 𝑥 𝑧 𝑢 𝑤
Accuracy, Precision, and
Uncertainty
Uncertainty for a measured quantity times exact Number
If the quantity x is measured with uncertainty 𝛿x and is used to
compute the product
𝑞 = 𝐵𝑥,
where B has no uncertainty, then the uncertainty in q is just
𝛿𝑞 = 𝐵 𝛿𝑥
Accuracy, Precision, and
Uncertainty
Uncertainty in Power
If the quantity x measured with uncertainties 𝛿x and the measured
values used to compute the power
𝑞 = 𝑥𝑛
then the fractional uncertainty in q is n times that in x,
𝛿𝑞 𝛿𝑥
=n
𝑞 𝑥
Example Problem
A person measures his or her heart rate by
counting the number of beats in 30s . If 40±1
beats are counted in 30.0±0.5s , what is the heart
rate and its uncertainty in beats per minute?
Example Problem
A marathon runner completes a 42.188-km course
in 2h , 30 min, and 12s . There is an uncertainty of
25m in the distance traveled and an uncertainty of 1 s
in the elapsed time. (a) Calculate the percent
uncertainty in the distance. (b) Calculate the
uncertainty in the elapsed time. (c) What is the
average speed in meters per second? (d) What is the
uncertainty in the average speed?
Example Problem
The sides of a small rectangular box are measured
to be 1.80±0.01cm , 2.05±0.02cm, and 3.1±0.1
cm long. Calculate its volume and uncertainty in
cubic centimeters.
Precision of Measuring Tools and
Significant Figures
• Using the method of significant figures, the rule is that the last
digit written down in a measurement is the first digit with some
uncertainty.
• Significant figures indicate the precision of a measuring tool that
was used to measure a value.
• In order to determine the number of significant digits in a value,
start with the first measured value at the left and count the number
of digits through the last digit written on the right.
Precision of Measuring Tools and
Significant Figures
Zeros
• Zeros are significant except when they serve only as placekeepers.
• The zeros in 0.053 are not significant, because they are only placekeepers
that locate the decimal point.
• The zeros in 10.053 are not placekeepers but are significant—this
number has five significant figures.
• The zeros in 1300 may or may not be significant depending on the style
of writing numbers. They could mean the number is known to the last
digit, or they could be placekeepers. So 1300 could have two, three, or
four significant figures. (To avoid this ambiguity, write 1300 in scientific
notation.)
Precision of Measuring Tools and
Significant Figures
Significant Figures in Calculations
1. For multiplication and division: The result should have the same
number of significant figures as the quantity having the least
significant figures entering into the calculation.
2. For addition and subtraction: The answer can contain no more
decimal places than the least precise measurement.
Example Problem
State how many significant figures are proper in
the results of the following calculations:
106.7 98.2
(a)
46.210 1.01
(b) 18.7 2
(c) (1.60 × 10 − 19)(3712)
Vectors and
Scalars
 Vectors and Scalars
• SCALARS- are quantities that are fully
described by a magnitude alone.
• VECTORS- are quantities that are fully
described by both a magnitude and a direction.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Department of Civil Engineering

Categorize each quantity as being either a vector or
a scalar.

1. 5m SCALAR
2. 30 m/s, East VECTOR
3. 5 mi., North VECTOR
4. Force VECTOR
5. Temperature SCALAR
6. Mass SCALAR
7. Acceleration VECTOR
Components of a Vector

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Department of Civil Engineering

Review: TRIGONOMETRY

PHYTAGOREAN
THEOREM:

𝒉𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Department of Civil Engineering

Components of a Vector
• Length, angle, and components can be calculated from each other
using trigonometry.
• CONVENTION: We measure 𝜽 COUNTERCLOCKWISE
from the positive x-axis.
Components of a Vector

MAGNITUDE

DIRECTION
 Components of a Vector
• Signs of vector components
90° ≤ 𝜽 ≤ 𝟏𝟖𝟎°

𝟎° ≤ 𝜽 ≤ 𝟗𝟎° 90° ≤ 𝜽 ≤ 𝟏𝟖𝟎° 180° ≤ 𝜽 ≤ 𝟐𝟕𝟎° 270° ≤ 𝜽 ≤ 𝟑𝟔𝟎°

EXAMPLE PROBLEM

A force vector has a magnitude of 100 N directed at an

angle of 30 degrees above the positive x-axis. Calculate
the magnitude x and y components of this force
vector. Express the answer using standard unit vectors.
 ADDING VECTORS
• Triangle Method
• Parallelogram Method
• Analytical Method

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Department of Civil Engineering

TRIANGLE METHOD
Two sides of the triangle REPRESENTS TWO
VECTORS taken in the same order. The third
side of the triangle in opposite order
REPRESENTS THE VECTOR
SUM(RESULTANT VECTOR) of the two
vectors.
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
The screw eye in the
figure is subjected to two
forces, 𝐹1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹2 .
Determine the magnitude
and the resultant force.
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
Resolve the horizontal
600- lb force in the figure
into components acting
along the u and v axes and
determine the magnitudes
of these components.
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
It is required that the
resultant force acting on the
eyebolt in the figure be
directed along the x axis and
that 𝐹2 have a minimum
magnitude. Determine this
magnitude, the angle 𝜃, and
the corresponding resultant
force.
PARALLELOGRAM METHOD
Two components add according to parallelogram
law, yielding a resultant force that forms the
diagonal of the parallelogram.
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
Determine the magnitude
of the component force F
in the figure and the
magnitude of the resultant
force 𝐹𝑅 if 𝐹𝑅 is directed
along the positive y-axis.
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
The force F = 450 lb acts
on the frame. Resolve this
force into components
acting along members AB
and AC, and determine
the magnitude of each
component.
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
Determine the magnitude
of the resultant force and
its direction measured
counterclockwise from
the positive x-axis.
ANALYTICAL METHOD
In this method each force is first resolved into its x
and y components, and then the respective
components are added. The resultant force is then
formed by adding the resultant components using the
parallelogram law. The magnitude of the resultant
force is determined from the Pythagorean theorem,
the direction 𝜃 can be determined from
trigonometry.
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
The link in the figure is
subjected to two forces.
Determine the magnitude
and direction of the
resultant force.
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
The end of boom O in the
figure is subjected to three
concurrent and coplanar
forces. Determine the
magnitude and direction
of the resultant force.
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
If the magnitude of the
resultant force acting on
the bracket is to be 80 lb
directed along the u axis,
determine the magnitude
of F and its direction.
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