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Physics 1: Key Concepts and Notation

Physics is the study of matter, energy, and their interaction. The metric system is the international standard system of units used by scientists worldwide. It includes basic units like meters, kilograms, and seconds as well as metric prefixes to indicate multiples or fractions of units. Calculations in physics must account for significant figures and uncertainties through careful treatment of errors.

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Engel Alivar
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21 views4 pages

Physics 1: Key Concepts and Notation

Physics is the study of matter, energy, and their interaction. The metric system is the international standard system of units used by scientists worldwide. It includes basic units like meters, kilograms, and seconds as well as metric prefixes to indicate multiples or fractions of units. Calculations in physics must account for significant figures and uncertainties through careful treatment of errors.

Uploaded by

Engel Alivar
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

physics 1

 PHYSICS Basic SI Units and Symbols

 is the study of matter and energy and


the interaction between them.

DERIVED QUANTITIES

 combinations of basic units. Speed is an


example of a derived quantity. Its unit is the Metric Prefixes and Their Equivalent Factors
ratio of the units of length and time.

Comparison of Units of Measurement

PHYSICAL QUANTITY

 is a number that is used to describe a physical


phenomenon quantitatively. Some Common Conversion Factors

METRIC SYSTEM

 the system of units used by scientists and


engineers around the world

 but since 1960 it has been known officially as


the International System, or SI (the
abbreviation for the French name, Systeme
International)
EXAMPLES: Perform the following conversion of
 METRIC PREFIX units using the SI prefixes.
 a unit prefix that precedes a basic unit of 1. The mean distance of the Earth from the Sun (also
measure to indicate a multiple or fraction of known as Astronomical unit or AU) is about
the unit. 1.5 x 10^11meters. Express this distance in
zettameter (Zm)


physics 1
physics 1

2. The mass of proton is about 1 x 10^-29kilogram.


What is the mass of proton in megagram (Mg)?
then make the power of ten the same, before you
add or subtract.

 SCIENTIFIC NOTATION

 In this notation, a number has a form M x


10^n , where M is the number between 1 and 4. Quantities expressed in scientific notation do
10 and n is a positive or negative integer. not need to have the same exponents before
they are multiplied or divided.
To express a number in scientific notation:
a. Multiply the values of M, then add the
 M - to determine, move the decimal point so exponents. The units are multiplied.
that you leave only one nonzero digit to its left.

 n - to determine, count the number of places


you have moved the decimal point.
b. Divide the values of M, then subtract the
a. POSITIVE - if decimal point is moved to left exponent of the divisor from the exponent of
b. NEGATIVE - if decimal is moved the right the dividend.

Examples:
a) 170 000. is written as 1.7 x 10^5
b) 0.000 000 035 is written as 3.5 x 10^-8

ARITHMETIC OPERATIONS IN SCIENTIFIC


NOTATION:  ACCURACY, PRECISION AND ERRORS

1. Suppose you need to add or subtract Accuracy – is a measure of how close a


measurements expressed in scientific notation. measurement comes to the actual or true value of
If the numbers have the same exponent, simply whatever is measured .
add or subtract the values of M and keep the
same n. Precision – is a measure of how close a series of
measurements are to one another. Note that the
precision of measurement depends on more than one
measurement

2. If the powers of ten are not the same, they ERRORS – are varieties of outcome different from
must be made the same before the numbers are the true or standard value
added or subtracted.
Error = standard or theoretical value –
experimental value


3. Suppose you have to add a measurement made
in meters to one made in kilometers. You
must first convert the measurements to a
common unit, and
physics 1
1. All nonzero digits are significant
CLASSIFICATION OF ERRORS
2. All zeros between 2 nonzero digits are
Thus, errors may be classified into: significant.

1. SYSTEMATIC ERRORS 3. All zeros before or to the left of the first


nonzero digit are not significant. (leading
a. Instrumental Error – caused by substandard zero- act as place holders).
manufacturing and inaccuracy in calibration of
measuring instruments. 4. All zeros to the right of a decimal point and a
nonzero digit are significant. (Trailing zeros)
b. Personal Error – caused by personal biases,
reaction time, and responses of an 5. All zeros to the left of an unexpressed decimal
experimenter in performing and observing. point are not significant.

c. External Error – from environmental causes


such as temperature, wind velocity, humidity, SIGNIFICANT FIGURES IN CALCULATIONS
etc.
a. When adding or subtracting numbers, the result
is rounded off to the least
2. RANDOM ERRORS accurate number used in the calculation.

 these usually result from the experimenter’s b. When multiplying or dividing numbers, the
inability to take the same measurement in number of significant figures in the final answer
exactly the same way to get exact the same should be equal to the least number of significant
number. figures in any of the given data.

 These are errors in random events or errors


occurring by chance.  ROUNDING-OFF

Determining and Treating Errors When rounding off a number, add 1 to the preceding
digit if the number to be dropped is 5 or more. If the
One way to determine Errors is by solving the number to be dropped is less than 5, retain the
percentage error. preceding digit.

Examples:
1. When 7.832 is rounded off to 2 significant
figures, the result is 7.8.
So for the boiling point measurement of the given
2. When 4.367 is rounded off to 2 significant
example above, the percent error is calculated
figures, the result is 4.4.
as follows:
3. When 2.059 is rounded off to 2 significant
figures, the result is 2.1.

 SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

 in measurements include all of the digits that


are known, plus a last digit that is estimated.

The rules to follow in determining the number of


significant figures are:

Common questions

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Accuracy refers to how close a measurement is to the true value, while precision indicates how close repeated measurements are to each other. This difference implies that an experiment can be precise without being accurate if all measurements vary closely but are far from the true value, affecting the reliability of results .

The metric system's standardization, known as the International System or SI, provides a universal language for scientists, enabling clear communication and reproduction of experiments globally, fostering collaboration and consistency in scientific research .

To ensure mathematical accuracy and consistency, measurements must share a common unit before addition. By converting meters to kilometers, both measurements take the same unit, facilitating proper arithmetic operations when powers of ten differ .

Significant figures reflect the precision of measurements, impacting the reliability of calculated results. Their rules dictate rounding during calculations, ensuring consistency and minimizing propagated errors in results depending on the most imprecise measurement .

Systematic errors affect data consistently due to instrumental, personal, or external biases, leading to a skewed outcome. Mitigation involves calibrating instruments, using unbiased methodologies, and controlling environmental factors to align experimental data more closely with true values .

Scientific notation simplifies calculations and expresses measurements involving very large or small numbers by focusing on significant digits, hence reducing error potential in data representation and computation in physics .

Understanding error classification—systematic and random—enables scientists to identify, quantify, and thereby reduce sources of inaccuracies, ensuring validity and reproducibility of experimental results in scientific inquiries .

A negative exponent in scientific notation shifts the decimal point to the right, converting small numbers while maintaining significant figures, which simplifies calculation and accurately represents minute differences in data .

Multiplication and division in scientific notation involve directly combining significant values and adjusting exponents via addition or subtraction, whereas addition and subtraction require equal exponents before combining values, complicating summation of differently scaled units .

Derived quantities result from combinations of basic SI units to express measurements such as speed, which is a derived quantity formed by the ratio of length (meter) to time (second).

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