Course Content for PHY 101: General Physics I(Mechanics;2 Units C: LH 30)

Course Lecturers: Dr. S.O Yusuf, Mr R.B Dada and Miss M.A Umeche
1. Units and dimension: Physical quantities, Fundamental and derived units and dimensions,
Standard units, Unit prefixes, Dimensional analysis.
2. Space and time
3. Vectors and scalars: Differentiation of vectors (displacement, velocity and acceleration).
4. Kinematics: Newton’s laws of motion (Inertial frames, impulse, force and action at a
distance, momentum conservation).
5. Relative motion. Application of Newtonian mechanics. Equations of motion.
6. Conservation principles in physics (conservative forces, conservation of linear momentum,
kinetic energy and work, potential energy).
7. System of particles. Centre of mass. Rotational motion (torque, vector product, moment,
rotation of coordinate axes and angular momentum).
8. Coordinate systems: Cartesian, polar and cylindrical coordinates
9. Conservation of angular momentum.
10. Circular motion. Moments of inertia (gyroscopes, and precession).
11. Gravitation (Newton’s Law of Gravitation, Kepler’s laws of planetary motion,
gravitational potential energy, escape velocity, satellites motion and orbits).

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UNITS AND DIMENSIONS
DEFINITION OF PHYSICS AND PHYSICAL QUANTITIES
Physics: Physics is the branch of science, which deals with the study of nature and properties of
matter and energy. The subject matter of physics includes heat, light, sound, electricity,
magnetism and the structure of atoms.
For designing a law of physics, a scientific method is followed which includes the verifications
with experiments. Attempts are made to measure the quantities with the best accuracy. Thus,
Physics can also be defined as science of measurement.
Applied Physics is the application of Physics to help human beings and solving their problem, it
is usually considered as a bridge or a connection between Physics & Engineering.
Physical Quantities: All quantities in terms of which laws of physics can be expressed and which
can be measured are called Physical Quantities.
For example; Distance, Speed, Mass, Force etc.
UNITS: FUNDAMENTAL AND DERIVED UNITS
Measurement: In our daily life, we need to express and compare the magnitude of different
quantities; this can be done only by measuring them.
Measurement is the comparison of an unknown physical quantity with a known fixed physical
quantity.
Unit: The known fixed physical quantity is called unit.
OR
The quantity used as standard for measurement is called unit.
For example, when we say that length of the class room is 8 metre. We compare the length of
class room with standard quantity of length called metre.
Length of class room = 8 metre
Q = nu
Physical Quantity = Numerical value × unit
Q = Physical Quantity
n = Numerical value
u = Standard unit
e.g. Mass of stool = 15 kg
Mass = Physical quantity

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15 = Numerical value
Kg = Standard unit
It means mass of stool is 15 times of known quantity i.e. Kg.
Characteristics of Standard Unit: A unit selected for measuring a physical quantity should have
the following properties:
(i) It should be well defined i.e. its concept should be clear.
(ii) It should not change with change in physical conditions like temperature, pressure,
stress etc.
(iii) It should be suitable in size; neither too large nor too small.
(iv) It should not change with place or time.
(iv) It should be reproducible.
(v) It should be internationally accepted.

Classification of Units: Units can be classified into two categories.

• Fundamental
• Derived
Fundamental Quantity: The quantity which is independent of other physical quantities. In
mechanics, mass, length and time are called fundamental quantities. Units of these fundamental
physical quantities are called Fundamental units.
e.g. Fundamental Physical Quantity Fundamental unit
Mass Kg, Gram, Pound
Length Metre, Centimetre, Foot
Time Second
Derived Quantity: The quantity which is derived from the fundamental quantities e.g. area is a
derived quantity.
Area = Length × Breadth
= Length × Length
= (Length)2
Speed =Distance / Time
=Length / Time
The units for derived quantities are called Derived Units.

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SYSTEMS OF UNITS: CGS, FPS, MKS, SI
For measurement of physical quantities, the following systems are commonly used:-
(i) C.G.S system: In this system, the unit of length is centimetre, the unit of mass is
gram and the unit of time is second.
(ii) F.P.S system: In this system, the unit of length is foot, the unit of mass is pound and
the unit of time is second.
(iii) M.K.S: In this system, the unit of length is metre, unit of mass is kg and the unit of
time is second.
(iv) S.I System: This system is an improved and extended version of M.K.S system of
units. It is called international system of unit.

With the development of science & technology, the three fundamental quantities like mass,
length & time were not sufficient as many other quantities like electric current, heat etc. were
introduced. Therefore, more fundamental units in addition to the units of mass, length and time
are required. Thus, MKS system was modified with addition of four other fundamental quantities
and two supplementary quantities.

Table of Fundamental Units

S/N Name of Physical Quantity Unit Symbol
1 Length Metre M
2 Mass Kilogram Kg
3 Time Second S
4 Temperature Kelvin K
5 Electric Current Ampere A
6 Luminous Intensity Candela Cd
7 Quantity of Matter Mole mol

Table of Supplementary unit

S/N Name of Physical Unit Symbol
Quantity
1 Plane angle Radian Rad
2 Solid angle Steradian sr

Advantage of S.I. system:

(i) It is a coherent system of unit i.e. the derived units of a physical quantities are easily
obtained by multiplication or division of fundamental units.

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(ii) It is a rational system of units i.e. it uses only one unit for one physical quantity. e.g.
It uses Joule (J) as unit for all types of energies (heat, light, mechanical).
(iii) It is a metric system of units i.e. it’s multiples & submultiples can be expressed in
power of 10.

Definition of Basic and Supplementary Unit of S.I.

1. Metre (m): The metre is the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time
interval of 1/299 792 458 of a second.
2. Kilogram (Kg): The kilogram is the mass of the platinum-iridium prototype which was
approved by the ConférenceGénérale des Poids et Mesures, held in Paris in 1889 and kept by
the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures.
3. Second (s): The second is the duration of 9192631770 periods of the radiation
corresponding to the transition between two hyperfine levels of the ground state of
Cesium133 atom.
4. Ampere (A): The ampere is the intensity of a constant current which, if maintained in two
straight parallel conductors of infinite length, of negligible circular cross-section, and placed
1 metre apart in vacuum, would produce between these conductors a force equal to 2 ×10-7
Newton per metre of length.
5. Kelvin (K): Kelvin is the fraction 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple
point of water.
6. Candela (Cd): The candela is the luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source that
emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 x 1012 hertz and that has a radiant intensity
in that direction of 1/683 watt per steradian.
7. Mole (mol): The mole is the amount of substance of a system which contains as many
elementary entities as there are atoms in 0.012 kilogram of Carbon-12.
Supplementary units:
1. Radian (rad): It is supplementary unit of plane angle. It is the plane angle subtended at
the centre of a circle by an arc of the circle equal to the radius of the circle. It is denoted
by 𝜃.
𝜃 = l/r; 𝑙 is length of the arc and 𝑟 is radius of the circle
2. Steradian (Sr): It is supplementary unit of solid angle. It is the angle subtended at the
centre of a sphere by a surface area of the sphere having magnitude equal to the square of
the radius of the sphere. It is denoted by Ω.
Ω = ∆s / r2

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SOME IMPORTANT ABBREVIATIONS
Symbol Prefix Multiplier Symbol Prefix Multiplier
D Deci 10-1 Da Deca 101
c Centi 10-2 h Hector 102
m Milli 10-3 K Kilo 103
µ Micro 10-6 M Mega 106
n nano 10-9 G giga 109
P Pico 10-12 T tera 1012
f Femto 10-15 P Pecta 1015
A atto 10-18 E exa 1018

Some Important Units of Length:

(i) 1 micron = 10–6 m = 10–4 cm
(ii) 1 angstrom = 1Å = 10–10 m = 10–8 cm
(iii) 1 fermi = 1 fm = 10–15 m
(iv) 1 Light year = 1 ly = 9.46 x 1015m
(v) 1 Parsec = 1pc = 3.26 light year
Some conversion factor of mass:
1 Kilogram = 2.2046 pound
1 Pound = 453.6 gram
1 kilogram = 1000 gram
1 milligram = 1/1000 gram = 10-3 gram
1 centigram = 1/100 gram = 10-2 gram
1 decigram = 1/10 gram
1 quintal = 100 kg
1 metric ton = 1000 kilogram
DEFINITION OF DIMENSIONS
Dimensions: The powers, to which the fundamental units of mass, length and time written as M,
L and T are raised, which include their nature and not their magnitude.
Example 1:
Area = Length x Breadth
= [L1] × [L1] = [L2] = [M0L2T0]
Power (0,2,0) of fundamental units are called dimensions of area in mass, length and time
respectively.

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Example 2: Density = mass/volume = [M]/[L3] = [ M1L-3T0]

DIMENSIONAL FORMULAE AND SI UNITS OF PHYSICAL QUANTITIES

Dimensional Formula: An expression along with power of mass, length & time which indicates
how physical quantity depends upon fundamental physical quantity.
Example: Speed = Distance/Time = [L1]/[T1] =[M0L1T-1]
It tells us that speed depends upon L & T. It does not depend upon M.
Dimensional Equation: An equation obtained by equating the physical quantity with its
dimensional formula is called dimensional equation.
The dimensional equation of area, density & velocity are given as-
Area = [M0L2T0]
Density = [M1L-3T0]
Velocity = [M0L1T-1]

Some Dimensional formula SI & CGS unit of Physical Quantities

S/N Physical Quantity Formulae Dimension Name of SI unit
1 Force Mass× Acceleration [M1L1T-2] Newton (N)
2 Work Force× Distance [M1L2T-2] Joule(J)
3 Power Work/Time [M1L2T-3] Watt (W)
4 Pressure Force/Area [M1L-1T-2] NM-2
5 Momentun Mass×Velocity [M1L1T-1] Kgms-1

Classification of Physical Quantity: Physical quantity has been classified into following four
categories on the basis of dimensional analysis.
1. Dimensional Constant: These are the physical quantities which possess dimensions and have
constant (fixed) value. e.g. Planck’s constant, gas constant, universal gravitational constant etc.
2. Dimensional Variable: These are the physical quantities which possess dimensions and do not
have fixed value. e.g. velocity, acceleration, force etc.
3.Dimensionless Constant: These are the physical quantities which do not possess dimensions
but have constant (fixed) value. e.g. e,𝜋 ,𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 1,2,3,4,5 etc.
4. Dimensionless Variable: These are the physical quantities which do not possess dimensions
and have variable value. e.g. angle, strain, specific gravity etc.

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Example 1: Derive the dimensional formula of the following Quantity & write down their
dimensions.
(i) Density (ii) Power (iii) Co-efficient of viscosity (iv) Angle
Solution:
(i) Density
= mass/volume
= [M]/[L3]
= [M1L-3T0]

(ii) Power = Work/Time

= Force x Distance/Time
= [M1L1T-2] x [L]/[T]
=[M1L2T-3]

(iii) Co-efficient of viscosity

=[M] x [LT-2] x [L] [T]/[L2] x [L]
=[M1L-1T-1]

(iv) Angle
= arc (length)/radius (length)
= [L]/[L]
= [M0L0T0]
= no dimension

Example 2: Explain which of the following pair of physical quantities have the same dimension:
(i) Work &Power (ii) Stress & Pressure (iii) Momentum &Impulse
Solution:
(i) Dimension of work = force x distance = [M1L2T-2]
Dimension of power = work / time = [M1L2T-3]
Work and Power have not the same dimensions.
(ii) Dimension of stress = force / area = [M1L1T-2]/[L2] = [M1L-1T-2]
Dimension of pressure = force / area = [M1L1T-2]/[L2] = [M1L-1T-2]
Stress and pressure have the same dimension.
(iii) Dimension of momentum = mass x velocity= [M1L1T-1]

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Dimension of impulse = force x time = [M1L1T-1]
Momentum and impulse have the same dimension.

PRINCIPLE OF HOMOGENEITY OF DIMENSIONS

It states that the dimensions of all the terms on both sides of an equation must be the same.
According to the principle of homogeneity, the comparison, addition & subtraction of all
physical quantities is possible only if they are of the same nature i.e., they have the same
dimensions. If the power of M, L and T on two sides of the given equation are same, then the
physical equation is correct otherwise not. Therefore, this principle is very helpful to check the
correctness of a physical equation.
Example: A physical relation must be dimensionally homogeneous, i.e., all the terms on both
sides of the equation must have the same dimensions.
In the equation, S = ut + ½ at2
The length (S) has been equated to velocity (u) & time (t), which at first seems to be
meaningless, but if this equation is dimensionally homogeneous, i.e., the dimensions of all the
terms on both sides are the same, then it has physical meaning.
Now, dimensions of various quantities in the equation are:
Distance, S = [L1]
Velocity, v = [L1T-1]
Time, t = [T1]
Acceleration, a = [L1T-2]
½ is a constant and has no dimensions.
Thus, the dimensions of the term on L.H.S. is S=[L1] and
Dimensions of terms on R.H.S.
ut + ½ at2 = [L1T-1] [T1] + [L1T-2] [T2] = [L1] + [L1]
Here, the dimensions of all the terms on both sides of the equation are the same.
Therefore, the equation is dimensionally homogeneous.

DIMENSIONAL EQUATIONS, APPLICATIONS OF DIMENSIONAL EQUATIONS;

Dimensional Analysis: A careful examination of the dimensions of various quantities involved in
a physical relation is called dimensional analysis. The analysis of the dimensions of a physical

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quantity is of great help to us in a number of ways as discussed under the uses of dimensional
equations.
Uses of dimensional equation: The principle of homogeneity & dimensional analysis has been
put to the following uses:
(i) Checking the correctness of physical equation.
(ii) To convert a physical quantity from one system of units into another.
(iii) To derive relation among various physical quantities.
1. To check the correctness of Physical relations: According to principle of Homogeneity of
dimensions a physical relation or equation is correct, if the dimensions of all the terms on both
sides of the equation are the same. If the dimensions of even one term differs from those of
others, the equation is not correct.
Example: Check the correctness of the following formulae by dimensional analysis.
(i) 𝐹 = 𝑚v2/r (ii) = 2𝜋√𝑙/𝑔
Where all the letters have their usual meanings.

Solution:
𝑭 = 𝒎𝐯𝟐/𝐫
Dimensions of the term on L.H.S Force, F = [M1L1T-2]
Dimensions of the term on R.H.S 𝒎𝐯𝟐/𝐫 = [M1][L1T-1]2 / [L]
= [M1L2T-2]/ [L]
= [M1L1T-2]
The dimensions of the term on the L.H.S are equal to the dimensions of the term on R.H.S.
Therefore, the relation is correct.

(ii) 𝒕 = 𝟐𝝅√𝒍/𝒈
Here, Dimensions of L.H.S, t = [T1] = [M0L0T1]
Dimensions of the terms on R.H.S
Dimensions of (length) = [L1]
Dimensions of g (acc due to gravity) = [L1T-2]
2𝜋 being constant have no dimensions.
Hence, the dimensions of terms 2𝜋√𝑙/𝑔 on R.H.S

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= (L1/ L1T-2])1/2 = [T1]
= [M0L0T1]
Thus, the dimensions of the terms on both sides of the relation are the same i.e., [M0L0T1].
Therefore, the relation is correct.

EXERCISES
Multiple Choice Questions
1. [ML-1T-2] is the dimensional formula of (A) Force (B) Coefficient of friction (C) Modulus of
elasticity (D) Energy.
2. 105Fermi is equal to (A) 1 meter (B) 100 micron (C) 1 Angstrom (D) 1 mm
3. rad / sec is the unit of (A) Angular displacement (B) Angular velocity (C) Angular
acceleration (D) Angular momentum
4. What is the unit for measuring the amplitude of a sound?
(A) Decibel (B) Coulomb (C) Hum (D) Cycles
5. The displacement of particle moving along x-axis with respect to time is x=at+bt2-ct3. The
dimension of c is (A) LT-2 (B) T-3 (C) LT-3 (D) T-3
Short Answer Questions
1. Define Physics.
2. What do you mean by physical quantity?
3. Differentiate between fundamental and derived unit.
4. Write full form of the following system of unit (i) CGS (ii) FPS (iii) MKS
5. Write definition of Dimensions.
6. What is the suitable unit for measuring distance between sun and earth?
7. Write the dimensional formula of the following physical quantity - (i) Momentum (ii) Power
(iii) Surface Tension (iv) Strain
8. What is the principle of Homogeneity of Dimensions?
9. Write the S.I & C.G.S units of the following physical quantities- (a) Force (b) Work
10. What are the uses of dimensions?
Answers to multiple choice questions: 1 (C) 2 (C) 3 (B) 4 (A) 5 (C)

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Space, Time and Frame of Reference
Space and Time are related by the fact that they are both endless. The Space (as we know it) is the
unending universe extending from our planet earth onwards. It has no end. Similarly, Time is
endless and has no beginning, although we tend to imagine that it started off from the “Let there
be Light” in the Bible which Scientists attribute to the “Big Bang”. Since the Space and Time has
no limit and they are very essential in taking measurement, then we make use of what is called
Frame of Reference.

Frame of references
This is more of sub-dividing the endless Space and Time into one that we know its end and origin.
For instance, if I want to measure the motion (and time for the motion) of a kicked ball, I will
provide the space (let’s say a football field) for which I want it to move within, and then time the
motion with, say, a stop watch. The whole scenario is in my “Frame of Reference”. Things will
change if someone else’s frame of reference is different from mine. Therefore, if I want to report
my findings to a body of scientists (e.g to publish a paper for my research), I will quote my frame
of reference to the region of space and the timing I took.

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