2. MEASUREMENT
We obtain an understanding of
our environment by observing
the physical world through
measurements.
Measurement is a comparison
of physical quantity with a
standard unit.
3. MEASUREMENT
It is expressed with numbers and units.
Physical characteristics can be
expressed in terms of fundamental
quantities.
Our comprehension(level of
undersatnding) of the physical world is
based on fundamental quantities.
4. FUNDAMENTAL QUANTITIES
Four quantities have been identified and
specified as
fundamental.
These are:
Length
Mass
Time
Electric charge
They form the basis for other quantities
necessary to describe and understand the
physical sciences.
5. Length
We use length to measure location or size.
Length is defined as the measurement of
space in any direction.
Note: Space has three dimensions, each is
measured by length.
Consider a box:
Length (l)
Width (w)
Height (h)
6. Time
Time is the continuous forward
flow of events.
Events allow us to precise time,
without events, we have no innate
awareness of time.
8. Electric Charge
Electric Charge is the property
associated with some particles, that
gives rise to electric forces and
electrical phenomena.
9. STANDARD UNITS
A standard unit is a fixed and
reproducible value for the purpose
of taking accurate measurements.
A set of standard units is referred
to as a system of units.
10. International System of Units
There are seven base units of the
International
System of Units.
Meter, m, measures length.
Kilogram, kg, measures mass.
Second, s, measures time.
Ampere, A, measures electric current.
Kelvin, K, measures temperature.
Mole, mol, measures amount of
substance.
Candela, cd, measures luminous
intensity.
11. Measurement Errors
Systematic Errors:
1. Systematic errors are associated
with instruments or the technique
used.
They are as a result of:
Improperly calibrated instrument
Error incurred from observer’s
reading
12. Measurement Errors
Random Errors:
2. Random Errors result from
unknown and unpredictable
variations in experimental situations.
Such as fluctuation in electrical
voltage.
Changes in temperature, pressure,
etc.
13. Accuracy / Precision
Accuracy indicates how close
measurement comes to the true
value.
Precision refers to the agreement
among repeated measurement, that
is, how close they are together.
15. 15
Physical quantity is defined as a ……………………………….
It can be categorized into 2 types
Basic (base) quantity
Derived quantity
Basic quantity is defined as …………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………..
Table 1.1 shows all the basic (base) quantities.
1.1 Physical Quantities and Units
Quantity Symbol SI Unit Symbol
Length l metre m
Mass m ………………. kg
Time t second s
Temperature T/ kelvin K
Electric current I ampere …………..
Amount of substance ………. mole mol
Table 1.1
16. 16
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 …….. l w t m 3
Acceleration a v/t m s-2
Density m/V …………….
Momentum p ………… kg m s-1
Force ……… m a kg m s-2 @ N
Work W F s ……….. @ J
Pressure P F/A N m-2 @ ……
Frequency f 1/T s-1 @ ……..
Table 1.2
17. 17
It is used for presenting larger and smaller values.
Table 1.3 shows all the unit prefixes.
Examples:
5740000 m = 5740 km = 5.74 Mm
0.00000233 s = 2.33 106 s = 2.33 s
Prefix Multiple Symbol
tera 1012 T
giga ……. G
mega 106 M
kilo 103 ………..
deci 101 d
centi 102 c
milli 103 m
micro 106 ………
nano ,,,,,,, n
pico 1012 p
1.1.1 Unit Prefixes
Table 1.3
18. 18
Solve the following problems of unit conversion.
a. 15 mm2 = ? m2 b. 65 km h1 = ? m s1
c. 450 g cm3 = ? kg m3
Solution :
a. 15 mm2 = ? m2
b. 65 km h-1 = ? m s-1
1st method :
h
1
m
10
65
h
km
65
3
1
Example 1.1 :
s
..........
m
10
65
h
km
65
3
1
1
1
s
m
........
h
km
65
2
2
......m
mm
1
2
6
2
m
10
mm
1
19. 19
2nd method :
c. 450 g cm-3 = ? kg m-3
h
1
km
65
h
km
65 1
1
1
s
m
18
h
km
65
3
cm
g
450
3
5
3
m
kg
10
.5
4
cm
g
450
s
3600
h
....
......
1
.......m
h
1
km
65
h
km
65 1
20. 20
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
21. Any valid physical equation must be dimensionally
consistent – each side must have the same dimensions.
From the Table:
Distance = velocity × time
Velocity = acceleration ×
time
Energy = mass × (velocity)2
Dimensional Analysis (1)
22. Dimensional Analysis
Fundamental Quantities
Length - [L]
Time - [T]
Mass - [M]
Derived Quantities
Velocity - [L]/[T]
Density - [M]/[L]3
Energy - [M][L]2/[T]2
23. The period P [T] of a swinging
pendulum depends only on the length
of the pendulum d [L] and the
acceleration of gravity g [L/T2].
Which of the following formulas for P
could be correct ?
P
d
g
2
P
d
g
2
(a) (b) (c)
P 2 (dg)2
Example:
24. L
L
T
L
T
T
2
2 4
4
Dimensional Analysis (3)
L
L
T
T T
2
2
Remember that P is in units of time (T), d is
length (L) and g is acceleration (L/T2).
The both sides must have the same units
P dg
2
2
(a) (b) (c)
P
d
g
2
Try equation (a). Try equation (b). Try equation (c).
T
T
T
L
L 2
2
P
d
g
2
25. 25
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
1.2 Scalars and Vectors
26. 26
Table 1.4 shows written form (notation) of vectors.
Notation of magnitude of vectors.
1.2.1 Vectors
Vector A
Length of an arrow– magnitude of vector A
displacement velocity acceleration
s
v
a
s a
v
v
v
a
a
s (bold) v (bold) a (bold)
Direction of arrow – direction of vector A
Table 1.4
27. 27
Two vectors equal if both magnitude and direction are the same.
(shown in figure 1.1)
If vector A is multiplied by a scalar quantity k
Then, vector A is
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.
P
Q
Q
P
Figure 1.1
A
k
A
k
A
A
28. 28
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.
1.2.2 Direction of Vectors
50
v
x
y
0
31. 31
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.
| | = | | = | | = 1
iˆ ĵ k̂
33. 33
There are two methods involved in addition of vectors graphically i.e.
Parallelogram
Triangle
For example :
1.2.3 Addition of Vectors
Parallelogram Triangle
B
A
B
A
B
A
O
B
A
B
A
B
A
O
34. 34
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
B
A
A
B
O
35. 35
If there are more than 2 vectors therefore
Use vector polygon and associative rule. E.g. R
Q
P
R
Q
P
R
Q
P
Q
P
R
Q
P
R
Q
P
Associative Rule
R
Q
P
36. 36
Distributive Rule :
a.
b.
For example :
Proof of case a: let = 2
B
A
B
A
A
A
A
number
real
are
,
B
A
B
A
2
B
A
B
A
O
B
A
2
38. 38
Proof of case b: let = 2 and = 1
A
A
A
A
3
1
2
A
3
A
A
A
A
1
2
A
2 A
A
3
A
A
A
1
2
1
2
39. 39
For example :
1.2.4 Subtraction of Vectors
Parallelogram Triangle
D
C
O
D
C
O
......
D
C
D
C
C
D
D
C
C
D
D
C
40. 40
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.
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)
c) d)
(Hint : use 1 cm = 2.00 units)
Exercise 1 :
B
A
B
A
B
2
A
B
A
2
41. 41
1st method :
1.2.5 Resolving a Vector
R
y
R
x
R
0
x
y
θ
R
Rx
cos
..........
Rx
θ
R
Ry
sin
θ
Rsin
....
2nd method :
R
y
R
x
R
0
x
y
sin
R
Rx
sin
R
Rx
cos
R
Ry
..........
..........
42. 42
The magnitude of vector R :
Direction of vector R :
Vector R in terms of unit vectors written as
......
..........
or
R
R
x
y
R
R
θ
tan or
x
y
R
R
θ 1
tan
.....
..........
R
43. 43
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 :
Example 1.2 :
N
E
W
S
N
v
E
v
v
30
60
a)
b)
or
60
v
vN sin
44. 44
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 :
Example 1.3 :
150
F
S
x
150
30
F
S
x
y
y
F
x
F
Vector x-component y-component
…………………………
…………………………
30
cos
F
Fx
N
6
.
6
8
x
F
or
F
150
cos
F
Fx
...
..........
x
F
150
cos
100
x
F
N
0
5
y
F
or
150
sin
F
Fy
........
y
F
150
sin
100
y
F
45. 45
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.
Example 1.4 : y
30o
O
)
N
30
(
2
F
)
N
10
(
1
F
30o
x
)
N
40
(
3
F
47. 47
Solution :
Vector x-component y-component
1
F
3
F
2
F
N
0
1
x
F 1
1 F
F y
N
0
1
1
y
F
60
sin
30
2
y
F
N
6
2
2
y
F
30
cos
40
3
x
F
N
34.6
3
x
F
Vector
sum
.......
..........
x
F ........
..........
y
F
48. 48
y
x
O
Solution :
The magnitude of the resultant force is
and
Its direction is 162 from positive x-axis OR 18 above negative x-axis.
2
2
y
x
r F
F
F
52.1 ....
r
F
................
r
F
x
y
F
F
θ 1
tan
18
49.6
16
tan 1
θ
y
F
x
F
162
r
F
18
49. 49
1. Vector has components Ax = 1.30 cm, Ay = 2.25 cm; vector
has components Bx = 4.10 cm, By = -3.75 cm. Determine
a) the components of the vector sum ,
b) the magnitude and direction of ,
c) the components of the vector ,
d) the magnitude and direction of . (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 and in Figure 1.2, use the method of vector
resolution to determine the magnitude and direction of
a) the vector sum ,
b) the vector sum ,
c) the vector difference ,
d) the vector difference .
(Young & freedman,pg.35,no.1.39)
ANS. : 11.1 m s-1, 77.6; U think;
28.5 m s-1, 202; 28.5 m s-1, 22.2
Exercise 2 :
B
A
A
B
A
A
B
A
B
B
A
B
B
A
A
B
B
A
A
B
Figure 1.2
y
x
0
37.0
-1
s
m
18.0
B
-1
s
m
12.0
A
50. 50
3. Vector points in the negative x direction. Vector points at an
angle of 30 above the positive x axis. Vector has a magnitude of
15 m and points in a direction 40 below the positive x axis. Given
that , determine the magnitudes of and .
(Walker,pg.78,no. 65)
ANS. : 28 m; 19 m
4. Given three vectors P, Q and R as shown in Figure 1.3.
Calculate the resultant vector of P, Q and R.
ANS. : 49.4 m s2; 70.1 above + x-axis
Exercise 2 :
C
A
B
0
C
B
A
A
B
Figure 1.3
y
x
0
50
2
s
m
10
R
2
s
m
35
P
2
s
m
24
Q
51. 51
notations –
E.g. unit vector a – a vector with a magnitude of 1 unit in the direction
of vector A.
Unit vectors are dimensionless.
Unit vector for 3 dimension axes :
1.2.6 Unit Vectors
A
â
c
b
a ˆ
,
ˆ
,
ˆ
1
ˆ
A
A
a
1
ˆ
a
)
(
@
ˆ
⇒
- bold
j
j
axis
y 1
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
k
j
i
)
(
@
ˆ
⇒
- bold
i
i
axis
x
)
(
@
ˆ
⇒
- bold
k
k
axis
z
52. 52
Vector can be written in term of unit vectors as :
Magnitude of vector,
x
z
y
k̂
ĵ
iˆ
k
r
j
r
i
r
r z
y
x
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
2
z
2
y
2
x r
r
r
r
53. 53
E.g. : m
ˆ
2
ˆ
3
ˆ
4 k
j
i
s
m
5.39
2
3
4
2
2
2
s
ĵ
3
x/m
y/m
z/m
0
s
i
ˆ
4
k̂
2
54. 54
Two vectors are given as:
Calculate
a) the vector and its magnitude,
b) the vector and its magnitude,
c) the vector and its magnitude.
Solution :
a)
The magnitude,
Example 1.5 :
a
b
m
ˆ
6
ˆ
2
ˆ k
j
i
a
b
a
m
ˆ
ˆ
3
ˆ
4 k
j
i
b
........................
x
a b
........................
y
a b
.........................
a b
k
b
a
b
a z
z
z
ˆ
7
1
6
..................... 9.95 m
a b
b
a
2
55. 55
b)
The magnitude,
c)
The magnitude,
............
x x
x
b a b a
................
y y
y
b a b a
.............. m
b a
..................
z z
z
b a b a
.....................
b a
2 .....................
x
a b
2 .........................
y
a b
2 ....................... m
a b
k
b
a
b
a z
z
z
ˆ
13
1
6
2
2
2
m
15.9
13
7
6
2
2
2
2
b
a
56. 56
Scalar (dot) product
The physical meaning of the scalar product can be explained by
considering two vectors and as shown in Figure 1.4a.
Figure 1.4b shows the projection of vector onto the direction of
vector .
Figure 1.4c shows the projection of vector onto the direction of
vector .
1.2.7 Multiplication of Vectors
A
B
A
B
A
B
Figure 1.4a
A
B
A
B
θ
Bcos
Figure 1.4b
A
B
θ
Acos
Figure 1.4c
A
B
A
B
A
to
parallel
of
component
B
A
B
B
A
to
parallel
of
component
57. 57
From the Figure 1.4b, the scalar product can be defined as
meanwhile from the Figure 1.4c,
where
The scalar product is a scalar quantity.
The angle ranges from 0 to 180 .
When
The scalar product obeys the commutative law of multiplication i.e.
θ
B
A
B
A cos
vectors
o
between tw
angle
:
θ
θ
A
B
A
B cos
90
θ
0
scalar product is positive
180
θ
0
9
scalar product is negative
90
θ scalar product is zero
A
B
B
A
58. 58
Example of scalar product is work done by a constant force where the
expression is given by
The scalar product of the unit vectors are shown below :
θ
F
s
θ
s
F
s
F
W cos
cos
x
z
y
k̂
ĵ
iˆ
1
1
1
cos
ˆ
ˆ 2
o
2
0
i
i
i
1
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
k
k
j
j
i
i
1
1
1
cos
ˆ
ˆ 2
o
2
0
j
j
j
1
1
1
cos
ˆ
ˆ 2
o
2
0
k
k
k
0
9
cos
ˆ
ˆ
o
0
1
1
j
i
0
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
k
i
k
j
j
i
0
9
cos
ˆ
ˆ
o
0
1
1
k
i
0
9
cos
ˆ
ˆ
o
0
1
1
k
j
59. 59
Calculate the and the angle between vectors and for the
following problems.
a) b)
Solution :
a)
The magnitude of the vectors:
The angle ,
Example 1.6 :
A
B
A
B
ˆ ˆ
ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ
......... ........ .......
A B i i j j k k
3
1
1
1
2
2
2
A
k
j
i
A ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
k
j
i
A ˆ
ˆ
3
ˆ
4
k
j
i
B ˆ
3
ˆ
2
ˆ
4
k
j
B ˆ
3
ˆ
2
.............
A B
3
B
A
29
3
2
4
2
2
2
B
θ
AB
B
A cos
29
3
3
cos
cos 1
1
AB
B
A
θ
2
.
71
θ
ANS.:3; 99.4
60. 60
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
Therefore
Example 1.7 :
1 99 .......
C D .
174
19
25
180
θ
Figure 1.5
y
x
0
m
1
C
m
2
D
19
25
θ
CD
D
C cos
...................
61. 61
b) Vectors C and D in unit vector are
and
Hence
j
C
i
C
C y
x
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ ˆ
......... ..........
i j
m
ˆ
42
.
0
ˆ
91
0 j
i
.
C
j
i
D
C ˆ
65
.
0
42
.
0
ˆ
89
.
1
91
.
0
m
ˆ
23
.
0
ˆ
98
.
0 j
i
j
i
D ˆ
19
sin
2
ˆ
19
cos
2
.....................m
D
62. 62
Vector (cross) product
Consider two vectors :
In general, the vector product is defined as
and its magnitude is given by
where
The angle ranges from 0 to 180 so the vector product always
positive value.
Vector product is a vector quantity.
The direction of vector is determined by
k
r
j
q
i
p
B ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
k
z
j
y
i
x
A ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
C
B
A
θ
AB
θ
B
A
C
B
A sin
sin
vectors
o
between tw
angle
:
θ
RIGHT-HAND RULE
C
63. 63
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.
Direction of the vector product always perpendicular
to the plane containing the vectors and .
A
C
B
A
B
C
C
B
A
C
A
B
A
B
B
A
but
A
B
B
A
B
)
(C
A
64. 64
The vector product of the unit vectors are shown below :
Example of vector product is a magnetic force on the straight
conductor carrying current places in magnetic field where the
expression is given by
x
z
y
k̂
ĵ
iˆ
i
j
k
k
j ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
k
i
j
j
i ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
j
k
i
i
k ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
0
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
k
k
j
j
i
i
0
in
ˆ
ˆ
o
2
0
s
i
i
i
0
in
ˆ
ˆ
o
2
0
s
j
j
j
0
in
ˆ
ˆ
o
2
0
s
k
k
k
B
l
I
F
θ
IlB
F sin
65. 65
The vector product can also be expressed in
determinant form as
Note :
The angle between two vectors can only be
determined by using the scalar (dot) product.
r
q
p
z
y
x
k
j
i
B
A
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
k
yp
xq
j
zp
xr
i
zq
yr
B
A ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
66. 66
Given two vectors :
Determine
a) and its magnitude b)
c) the angle between vectors and .
Solution :
a)
The magnitude,
Example 1.8 :
ˆ
ˆ ˆ
i j k
A B
B
A
B
A
A B
k
j
i
B
A ˆ
2
ˆ
6
1
ˆ
10
19
B
A
k
j
i
A ˆ
ˆ
2
ˆ
3
k
i
B ˆ
5
ˆ
A
B
A B
67. 67
b)
c) The magnitude of vectors,
…………………………………………..
………………………………………….
Using the scalar (dot) product formula,
k
j
i
k
j
i
B
A ˆ
5
ˆ
0
ˆ
ˆ
ˆ
2
ˆ
3
2
B
A
θ
AB
B
A cos
84
θ
14
A
26
B
68. 68
1. If vector and vector , determine
a) , b) , c) .
ANS. :
2. Three vectors are given as follow :
Calculate
a) , b) , c) .
ANS. :
3. If vector and vector ,
determine
a) the direction of
b) the angle between and .
ANS. : U think, 92.8
Exercise 3 :
46
;
26
;
ˆ
2k
j
i
a ˆ
+
ˆ
= 5
3
j
i
b ˆ
+
ˆ
= 4
2
b
a
b
a
b
b
a
k
j
i
c
k
j
i
b
k
j
i
a ˆ
ˆ
2
ˆ
2
and
ˆ
2
ˆ
4
ˆ
;
ˆ
2
ˆ
3
ˆ
3
c
b
a
c
b
a
c
b
a
k
j
i ˆ
9
ˆ
11
ˆ
5
;
9
;
21
k
j
i
P ˆ
ˆ
2
ˆ
3
k
j
i
Q ˆ
3
ˆ
4
ˆ
2
Q
P
P
Q