Physics Notes

Contents of Notes:

Physical Quantities
● Units and Measurements
Vectors
● Introduction
● Components
● Adding and vectors
● Unit vectors
Kinematics
● Speed and Velocity
● Acceleration and Free-fall

Physical Quantities

Qualitative - descriptive observations; imprecise

Quantitative - most observation in physics
- can be measured; consists magnitude and unit

Base quantity - basic building block

Derived Quantity - built up by basic quantity
(e.g. house that was build up from collection of bricks)

SI Units
Basic Quantities Name of Unit Symbol of Unit

Length metre m

mass Kilogram kg

time second s

Electric current ampere A

Temperature kelvin K

Amount of substance mole mol

Luminous intensity candela cd

Examples of derived quantities: area

Defining equation: Area = length x width

In terms of units: Units of area = m x m = m²
● Unit: m²

Defining equation: Volume = length x width d height

In terms od units: Units of volume = m x m x m = m³
● Unit: m³

Defining equation: Density = mass ÷ volume

In terms of unit: Units of density = kg / m³ = kg m⁻³
● Unit: kg/m³

Work out the derived quantities for:

Defining equation: Speed = distance / time

● Unit: m/s
Acceleration = velocity / time
● Unit: m/s²
Force = mass x acceleration
● Unit: kg.m/s²
● Special name: Newton (N)
Pressure = force / area
● Unit: N/m²
● Special name: pascal (Pa)
Work = Force x displacement
● Unit: N.m
● Special name: Joule (J)
Power = work done / time
● Unit: J/s
● Special name: watt (w)

Prefixes - writing of very large or very small quantities

 Prefix Abbreviation Power

yocto y 10⁻²⁴

zepto z 10⁻²¹

atto a 10⁻¹⁸

femto f 10⁻¹⁵

pico p 10⁻¹²

nano n 10⁻⁹

micro µ 10⁻⁹

milli m 10⁻⁶

centi c 10⁻³

deci d 10⁻²

kilo k 10⁻¹

mega M 10³

giga G 10⁶

tera T 10⁹

peta P 10¹²

exa E 10¹⁸

zetta Z 10²¹

yotta Y 10²⁴

Scientific Method - alternative writing method

- Using standard form
- N x 10ⁿ where 1 ≤ N＜10 and n is an integer

Example:

312,000,000,000 → 3.12 X 10¹¹ (positive) 0.00000031→ 3.1 x 10⁻⁷ (negative)

(moving the decimal place to the left) (moving the decimal place to the right)
Scalar and Vectors

Scalar quantities - quantities that have magnitude only; described by single number
- added or subtracted using simple arithmetic
Vector quantities - quantities that have both magnitude and direction
- represented by a single letter with an arrow over

Examples:

Scalar : Vectors:
Distance Displacement
Speed Velocity
Mass Weight
Time Acceleration
Pressure Force
Energy Momentum
Volume
Density

Random errors - occur in all measurements

- unpredictable
Systematic errors - are not random but constant
- cause to constantly underestimate or overestimate

Drawing vectors

Length of line: shows the magnitude

Direction of kine: direction

Direction of Vectors (W/ Cardinal Directions)

East 🠖 North = Quadrant I
North 🠖 West = Quadrant II
West 🠖South = Quadrant III
South 🠖 East = Quadrant IV

East 🠖 North = 90°

East 🠖 North 🠖 West = 180°
East 🠖 North 🠖 West 🠖 South = 270°
East 🠖 North 🠖 West 🠖 South 🠖East = 360°

Note: measured counterclockwise from the +x-axis

3 basic trigonometric functions: sine(sin), cosine(cos), tangent(tan)

Angle a in standard position

● Terminal side contains (x,y)
Let h be the distance from the origin to the point (x,y)
● h can be found using distance formula:
(h = x² + y²)

𝑦(𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒) 𝑥(𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡) 𝑦(𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒)

sin a = ℎ
cos a = ℎ
tan a = 𝑥(𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡)

Adding vectors

a. We can add vectors by placing them head to tail

● The vector sum(C) extends from the tail of vector

A to the head of vector b
(C = A + B)
● Adding them in reverse order gives the same
results
(C = B + A)

b. We can add two vectors by placing them tail to tail

● Constructing a parallelogram

Parallelogram law of vector addition - if two

vectors acting at a point are represented by
sides of a parallelogram dram that point
● Resultant is represented by the diagonal
(passes that point of the parallelogram)

c. Only when a and b are parallel does the magnitude of their vector sum(C) equal
to the sum of their magnitudes: (C = A + B)

● When a and b are antiparallel the magnitude of

their vector sum equal the difference: (C = |A - B|)
(basically adding then subtracting afterwards)
Adding more than two vector graphically
● Use the head-to-tail method
● Vectors can be in any order

a. Add A and B to get D then add C to D to get the final sum(resultant) R

● Basically adding them solely but surely

A + B = D ( now we need to include C)
C + D (A&B sum)= R
● Or add them directly
A+B+C=R
(can do it in any order; same results)

Subtracting Vectors

Subtracting B from A = adding -B to A

[A + (-B) =]

Addition of two Vectors at Right Angles

1. Add the vectors graphically
2. Use trigonometry to find the magnitude and direction of the sum

Components of a vector

Vector components - provide a general method for adding vectors

● Any vector can be represented by an x - component Aₓ and a y- component Aᵧ

Note: we can use the components of a vector to find its magnitude and direction
𝐴ᵧ
(A = 𝐴ₓ² + 𝐴ᵧ² and tan𝜃 = 𝐴ₓ
● Can use the components of a set of vectors to find their sum:
(Rₓ = Aₓ + Bₓ + Cₓ +..., Rᵧ = Aᵧ + Bᵧ + Cᵧ…)

Unit vectors - has 1 magnitude of 1 no units

● The unit vector î points in the +x-direction, ĵ points in the +y-direction, and k
points in the +z-direction.
● Can be expressed in terms of its components as
Examples:
1. Taking a Hike

A hiker begins a trip by first walking 25.0km southeast from her car. She stops and sets
up her tent for the night. On the second day, she walks 40.0km in a direction 60.0° north
of east, at which point she discovers a forest ranger’s tower.

a. Determine the components of the hiker’s displacement for each day.

Solution:
● We donate the displacement vectors on day 1 and day 2;
drawing the resultant R
● This problem is addition of two vectors as seen

A has a magnitude of [Link] and is directed 45° below the

positive axis. (idk why 45 but maybe cuz no degree was indicated)

FIRST DISPLACEMENT:
Aₓ = Acos𝜃 = Acos(315°) = (25.0 km) (0.707) = 17.7km
Aᵧ = Asin𝜃 = Asin(315°) = (25.0 km) (0.707) = -17.7km
- 315° degrees because 360 - 45 = 315
- Use sin for x(opposite); cos for y(adjacent)

Displacement B has a magnitude of 40.0km and is 60.0 north of east

SECOND DISPLACEMENT:
Bₓ = Bcos𝜃 = Bcos(60°) = (40.0 km) (0.500) = 20.0km
Bᵧ = Bsin𝜃 = Bsin(60°) = (40.0 km) (0.500) = -34.6km

● Determine the components of the hiker’s resultant displacement

● Find expression for in terms of unit vectors
Rₓ = Aₓ + Bₓ = 17.7 + 20.0KM = 39.7km
Rᵧ = Aᵧ + Bᵧ = -17.7 + 34.6KM = 16.9km

magnitude angle x-component y-component

A = 25.0 km 315.0° Aₓ = 17.7 km Aᵧ = -17.7 km

B = 40.0 km 60° Bₓ = 20.0 km Bᵧ = 34.6 km

Rₓ = 37.7 km Rᵧ = 16.9 km
We can now write the total displacement
● R = (37.7î + 16.9ĵ) km

R = 𝑅ₓ² + 𝑅ᵧ² = (37. 7 𝑘𝑚)² + (16. 9 𝑘𝑚² = 41.3 km

- This determines the magnitude

𝑅ᵧ 16.9
Tan𝜃 = 𝑅ₓ
𝜃 = tan⁻¹ 37.7 = 24.1°

Answer: resultant vector’s magnitude: 41.3 km ; direction 24.1 north of east

Acceleration

Negative (-) Velocity Slow and Fast

● Negative velocity
● Small 🠖large velocity
○ Negative direction and speeding up
● Negative acceleration

Leftward (-) Velocity Fast and Slow

● Negative velocity
● Large 🠖 small velocity
○ Negative direction and slowing down
● Positive accelerating

Positive acceleration - going up

Negative acceleration - going down
Zero slope - velocity is zero
- object moving at rest

Average Acceleration
● Acceleration describes the rate of change of velocity with time
● The average x-acceleration is
 ㅿ𝑡ₓ
(aₐᵥ₋ₓ = Δ𝑡
)
“a” - average acceleration of a particle in straight-line motion
● Interval from t₁ to t₂
Δt - time interval
Δvₓ - change in x-components of the particle’s velocity
𝑣₂ₓ− 𝑣₁ₓ
𝑡₂ − 𝑡₁
v₂ₓ - final x-velocity
v₁ₓ - initial x-velocity
t₂ - final time
t₁ - initial time

Rules for sign of x-Acceleration

If x-velocity is: …x acceleration is:

Positive and increasing Positive: particle is moving in

(getting more positive) +x-direction and speeding up

Positive and decreasing Negative: particle is moving in

(getting less positive) +x-direction and slowing down

Negative and increasing Positive: particle is moving in

(getting less negative) -x-direction and slowing down

Negative and decreasing Negative: particle is moving in

(getting more negative) -x-direction and speeding up

vf = final velocity
vo = initial velocity
a = constant of an object in motion
t = time traveled
xf = final position
xo = initial/ original position of an object in motion

Solving

Example:

A jet is taking off from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Starting from rest, the jet is
catapulted with a constant acceleration of +31m/s along a straight line and reaches a
velocity of +62m/s. Find the displacement of the jett
 a. Write the given acceleration
Acceleration (a): 31m/s
Final velocity (vf): +62m/s
Initial velocity (v₀): 0m/s
● Write what is asked: Displacement xf

b. Choose appropriate kinematics equation to use

Options:

c. Determine the physical quantities needed to solve the problem

Acceleration (a): 31m/s

Final velocity (vf): +62m/s
Initial velocity (v₀): 0m/s
Time: ?

d. Integrate kinematics equation to solve the problem

Options:

(62𝑚/𝑠)²− (0𝑚/𝑠)²
● We use the 5th equation; substitute: 𝑥𝑓 = 2(31𝑚/𝑠²)
● Solve: = +62 m

Free fall - is the motion of an object under the influence of only gravity
Acceleration due to gravity: g = 9.8m/s² = 980 cm/s² = 32 ft/s²
(approximate value near the earth’s surface)

Example:

You throw a ball vertically upwards from the roof of a tall building. The ball leaves your
hand at a point even with the roof railing with an upward speed of 15.m/s; the ball is
then in a free fall. On its way back down it just misses the railing.

a. Find the ball/s position and velocity 1.00s and 4.00s after leaving your hand;
b. The ball’s velocity when it is 5.00m above the railing;
c. The maximum height reached
d. The ball’s acceleration when it is at its maximum height

Step 1:
Illustrate a diagram that will best describe the motion in the problem

Step 2: Write what is given

Initial position (y༠) 0

Initial velocity (V༠ᵧ) +15 m/s

Time (intervals) t = 1s, t = 4

Displacement from starting point +5 m

Step 3: Write what is asked
a. Position y(a.1) at t = 1.00s
● Velocity (vᵧ) at t = 4.00
b. Velocity (v₀ᵧ) at y = +5 m
c. Maximum height reached (y at vᵧ = 0 m/s)
d. Acceleration (aᵧ) at maximum height (y at v = 0m/s)

Step 4: Select the needed Kinematics Equations to solve the problem

a. Position y(a.1) at t = 1.00s
● Velocity (vᵧ) at t = 4.00
Equation: and

b. Velocity (v₀ᵧ) at y = +5 m
Equation:

c. Maximum height reached (y at vᵧ = 0 m/s)

Equation:

d. Acceleration (aᵧ) at maximum height (y at v = 0m/s)

Equation:

Step 5: Solve the problem

Graphical Interpretation
● Position as a function of time for a ball thrown upward with an initial speed of
15.0 m/s.