1.1 Dimensions of physical quantities Learning Outcomes: a) Define dimension. b) Determine the dimensions of derived quantities. c) Verify the homogeneity of equations using dimensional analysis. Dimension - Defined as a method used to describe a physical quantity in terms of its basic quantity regardless of the system of the units used - The symbols used are length (L), mass (M), and time (T) - Use [ ] to denote the dimension of a physical quantity - Example; [ length ] = [ L ] ; [ mass ] = [ M ] ; [ time ] = [ T ] - There are two types of quantities; o Basic quantity: A quantity that cannot be derived in terms of other physical quantity o Derived quantity: A quantity that is derived from base quantities - Below are some of the dimensions of basic quantities and physical quantities Basic quantity SI Unit / Symbol Symbols of dimension Length Meter / m [L] Mass Kilogram / kg [M] Time Second / s [T] Electric current Ampere / A [A] Temperature Kelvin / K [θ] Amount of substance Mole / mol [N] Luminous intensity Candela / cd [J]
Physical quantity SI Unit Formulae
Velocity m s-1 𝑠/𝑡 Volume m3 𝑙×𝑤×𝑡 Acceleration m s-2 𝑣/𝑡 Density kg m-3 𝑚/𝑉 Momentum kg m s-1 𝑚×𝑣 Force kg m s-2 @ N 𝑚×𝑎 Work kg m2 s-2 @ J 𝐹×𝑠 Prefixes – to present larger and smaller values Prefix Multiple Symbol tera × 1012 T giga × 109 G mega × 106 M kilo × 103 k deci × 10-1 d centi × 10-2 c milli × 10-3 m micro × 10-6 µ nano × 10-9 n pico × 10-12 p Example 1 a. 580 m to km @missgracehenry
b. 11 m to cm
c. 4 mm2 to m2
d. 72 km/h to m/s
e. 10 cm2 to mm2
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Dimensional Analysis - Used to: o Determine the unit of physical quantity o Derive mathematical expression of equation o Check the correctness of physical equation by using the principle of homogeneity - Principle of homogeneity – dimensions on both sides of the equation are equal Dimension of LHS = Dimension of RHS - Pure numerical factors/numbers like ½ , ¾ , π have no dimensions - Below are the rules of dimensions Derived quantity Rules 𝒚=𝒂±𝒃±𝒄 [𝑦] = [𝑎] = [𝑏] = [𝑐] 𝒚 = 𝒂𝒃 [ 𝑦 ] = [ 𝑎 ][ 𝑏 ] 𝒂 [𝑎] 𝒚= [𝑦]= 𝒃 [𝑏] 𝒚 = 𝒂𝒏 [ 𝑦 ] = [ 𝑎 ]" Example 2 Determine the dimension and the SI unit for the following derived quantities. a. Speed
b. Acceleration
c. Force
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d. Torque
e. Power
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1.2 Scalars and Vectors
Learning Outcomes: a) Define scalar and vector quantities. b) Resolve vector into two perpendicular components (x and y axes). c) Determine resultant of vectors (limit to three vectors only). Scalar quantities – defined as quantity with magnitude only (e.g., mass, distance, speed, work, pressure, current, temperature) Vector quantities – defined as quantity with both magnitude and direction (e.g., velocity, force, momentum, impulse, torque, electric field, magnetic field) Resolving a vector into 2 perpendicular components - A vector may be expressed in terms of its components (i.e., x-axis and y-axis) - As it can be expressed into its components, the resultant vector can also be determined - Below is the strategy to solve this problem 1. Resolve each vector into its 𝑥 and 𝑦 component 2. Add comp. 𝑥 and 𝑦 separately 3. Calculate the magnitude of the resultant vector 4. Determine the direction of the resultant vector
𝑦 Forces x-axis y-axis
𝜃 TOTAL 𝑥
- Trigonometry 𝑎𝑑𝑗 𝑜𝑝𝑝 cos 𝜃 = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 sin 𝜃 = ℎ𝑦𝑝 ℎ𝑦𝑝
- Direction of resultant vector (θ measured relative to the x-axis)
𝑦 𝜃 = tan!" 4 4 𝑥
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Example 3 The three displacement vectors in the drawing have magnitudes of A = 5.00 m, B = 5.00 m, and C = 4.00 m. Find the resultant of the three vectors.
