Scheme of Work

• Fundamental and derived Quantity

• Time and Length.

• Mass and Weight

• Motion

• Force and Friction

• Fluid at rest and in Motion (Surface tension,

Viscosity, Capillarity)

• Fluid at rest (Density, Pressure, Archimedes

Principle)

• Position Distance and Displacement.

• Speed and Velocity, Acceleration

WEEK 1
Physical Quantities

A physical quantity is a quantity that can be measured and

expressed in numbers and units.

Which of the following represent a Physical quantity

0.5
34%
Kg
20N

FUNDAMENTAL QUANTITIES AND UNITS

Fundamental quantities are the basic quantities that are
independent of other quantities and cannot be derived in terms
of other quantities. They are the basic quantities upon which
most quantities depend.

Fundamental units are the basic units upon which other units
depends. They are the units of the fundamental quantities.

The international system of units( S.I) of fundamental

quantities and units are shown in the table below:

FUNDAMENT FUNDAMENT UNIT

S/
AL AL UNIT/S.I ABBREVIATI
N
QUANTITY UNIT ON

1. Length Metre M

2. Time Second S

3. Mass Kilogram Kg

4. Electric current Ampere A

5. Temperature Kelvin K

6. Amount of Mole Mol

substance

7. Luminous Candela Cd
intensity

DERIVED

QUANTITY AND UNIT

Derived quantities are obtained by simple combination of two

or more fundamental quantities. They are thus dependent on
the fundamental quantities.

Derived units are obtained from the combination of two or

more fundamental units. They are thus dependent on the
fundamental units.

Examples of derived quantities, their derivation and their

units are summarized in the table below:
 DERIVED DERIVED
S/N DERIVATION
QUANTITY UNIT

1. Area Length breath m2

Length breath
2. Volume m3
height

3. Density Mass/volume kgm-3 or kg/m3

Displacement/
4. Velocity ms-1 or m/s
time

5. Acceleration Velocity/Time ms-2 or m/s2

Newton(N) or
6. Force mass acceleration
kgms-2

Energy or
7. Force distance Joule(J) or Nm
work

8. Power Work/time Js-1 or watt(W)

9. Momentum mass velocity Kgms-1

10. Pressure Force/area Nm-2

DIMENSION

OF PHYSICAL QUANTITY

The dimension of a physical quantity is the way the physical

quantity is related to the quantities of mass, length and
[Link] dimension of unit mass is M, for unit length, L and
for unit time T. The dimensions of the derived quantities
mentioned earlier on are obtained as shown in the table
below:

DERIVED
S/ DERIVATI DERIVE DIMENSI
QUANTI
N ON D UNIT ON
TY

Length
1. Area m2 L2
breath

Length
2. Volume m3 L3
breath height

kgm-3 or
3. Density Mass/volume ML-3
kg/m3
 Displacement
ms-1 or
4. Velocity / LT-1
m/s
Time

Acceleratio ms-2 or
5. LT-2
n m/s2

Newton(
mass
6. Force N) or MLT-2
acceleration
kgms-2

Energy or Force Joule(J) MLT-2 L=

7.
work distance or Nm ML2T-2

Js-1 or ML2T-2 T-1=

8. Power Work/time
watt(W) ML2T-3

Momentu mass
9. Kgms-1 MLT-1
m velocity

MLT-2 L-2=
10. Pressure Force/area Nm-2
ML-1T-2
 WEEK 2

Measurement

Measurement of Length
Length is the distance between two points. SI unit: metre, m
1 m = 100 cm
1 cm= 10 mm

In physics laboratory, we can measure length with a metre

rule, calipers, vernier calipers and micro meter screwgauge.

a. The metre rule: The metre rule is graduated in cm and

mm. The smallest graduation of the metre rule is 1mm or
0.1cm. This smallest graduation is known as the reading
accuracy or least count of the metre rule.

In measuring with a metre rule, a necessary precaution is

to avoid error of parallax by looking vertically downward on
the markings instead of slantingly. Parallax error occurs
when the measurement of an object's length is more or less
than the true length because of your eye being positioned at an
angle to the measurement markings.
b. The Calipers: Calipers are used to measure length on
solid objects that are in a cylindrical form. The jaws of the
calipers are adjusted until they touch the object in the correct
position. The length between the jaws is then measured
on a graduated scale. The calipers are of two types: internal
and external caliper.

c. The Vernier Caliper:

This can measure length more accurately than the

metrerule. It measures small length to the nearest 0.1mm or
0.01cm. This implies that vernier caliper has a readiing
accuracy or least count of 0.1mm or 0.01cm. It is used to
measure the thickness of a metre rule, the internal and
external diameter of a tube.

Vernier caliper has two scales: the main scale M and the
vernier scale V. The vernier scale is a small scale which is
the added to the main scale to give the fraction of the smallest
division on the main scale.

In reading a vernier caliper, the whole number and the

first digit after the decimal point are read from the main scale
while the second reading after the decimal point is read from
the vernier scale(sliding scale). This is the point that
coincides with that of the main scale.

A Vernier Caliper

Example 1: Write down the readings registered on the caliper

shown below:

Solution
The values above in the diagram represent main scale values
while the values below represent vernier scale values.

To read the value on the main scale, the division preceding the
0 division of the vernier scale will be located. In this case, it is
0.0cm

To read the value on the vernier scale, the vernier scale

division coinciding with one of the main scale division will be
located. In this case, it is the sixth division that coincide with
one of the main scale division. So the value of the vernier
scale will be 6 0.01cm = 0.06cm

Then, final anwer = Main scale reading + Vernier scale

reading

= 0.0cm + 0.06cm = 0.06cm

The micrometer screw gauge: Micrometre screw gauge is

used to measure length like the diameter of a wire, the
diameter of a small ball(e.g a pendulum bob) or thickness of a
piece of paper. Its reading accuracy or least count is
0.001cm or 0.01mm.
 Before any measurement are made with the screw gauge,
its anvil and spindle should be closed to check for zero
error. Like the vernier caliper, it has a main scale M and a
circular vernier scale V which contain 50 division. It is
read by noting the main scale, and then adding the vernier
division

Example 1: Write down the readings registered on the

micrometer screw gauge shown below:

SOLUTION

Main scale reading(M) = 3.25mm

Vernier Scale reading (V) = 13 0.01mm = 0.13mm

Final reading = M + V =(3.25 + 0.13)mm = 3.38mm

MEASUREMENT OF TIME

Time can be defined as the interval between events. It is a

fundamental quantity & measured in seconds(s). Time can be

measured using stop watch/clock

Conversion Of Time

The SI unit of time is seconds (s). To Convert time from hours

to minute, you divide the value of time by 60 and to convert
from minute to seconds, you divide the value of time by 60.

WEEK 3

Mass and Weight

Mass is the quantity of matter contained in a body. The

instrument used in measuring mass is chemical/beam balance.

It is a scalar quantity & measured in kilogram (kg). Mass is a

fundamental quantity & is constant from place to place.

Weight is the earth pull on a body or the downward force

produced when a mass is in a gravitational field. The

instrument used in measuring weight is spring balance. It is a

vector quantity & measured in newton (N). Weight is a

derived quantity & varies from place to place.

Note: Mass is proportional to Weight.

Relationship Between mass & weight

W=mg

Where: W=weight (N); m=mass (kg) & g=acceleration due to

gravity (m/s2)
Differences between Mass and Weight

S/N MASS WEIGHT

2. Mass is a scalar Weight is a vector quantity

quantity

3. Mass is measured in Weight is measured in

kilogram newton

4. The instrument for The instrument for

measuring mass is measuring weight is spring
chemical balance or balance
beam balance

5. Mass of an object is Weight varies because

constant anywhere on acceleration due to
the earth surface gravity, g varies within the
 earth because of the shape
of the earth which is
elliptical and rotation
about its polar axis.

WEEK 9

POSITION, DISTANCE AND DISPLACEMENT

Scalar quantities are those measurable physical quantities that

have only magnitude or numerical value but no direction.
Examples are length or distance, mass, volume, density,time,
temperature, energy, speed,e.t,c
Vector quantities are those measurable physical quantities that
have both magnitude and direction. Examples are
displacement,velocity, acceleration, force, e.t.c.

Position of a point in space is determined by its distance and

direction from other points.

Distance is the length between two points. It is a scalar

quantity.

Displacement is defined as distance travelled in a specific

direction. It is a vector quantity. A boy walking 30m eastward
is an example of displacement.

SPEED

Speed, V is the time rate of change in distance.

Mathematically, Speed =

V=

Where s is the distance

t is the time
The S.I unit of speed is m/s or ms-1

UNIFORM SPEED

Uniform speed can be defined as the equal distance covered in

an equal interval of time. i.e speed is constant.

Thus, V= = constant

The graph of

uniform speed is called Distance-time graph. The Distance-

time graph is the graph of distance against time as shown
below:

Where ∆s is change in distance

∆t is change in time

Slope = = uniform speed

NON UNIFORM SPEED

Non uniform speed can be defined as the unequal distance

covered in an equal interval of time. i.e speed is not constant.

The graph is shown below:

VELOCITY

Velocity is defined as the time rate of change in

displacement.

Mathematically, Velocity =

V=
 Where s is the displacement

t is the time

The S.I unit of velocity is m/s or ms-1

UNIFORM VELOCITY

Uniform velocity can be defined as the equal displacement

covered in an equal interval of time. i.e velocity is constant.

Thus, V= = constant

The graph of uniform velocity is called Displacement-time

graph. The Displacement-time graph is the graph of
displacement against time as shown below:
Where ∆s is change in displacement

∆t is change in time

Slope = = uniform velocity

NON UNIFORM VELOCITY

Non uniform velocity can be defined as the unequal

displacement covered in an equal interval of time. i.e velocity
is not constant. The graph is shown below:
 INSTANTANEOUS VELOCITY

Instantaneous velocity is defined as the velocity at any instant

of [Link] speedometer of moving vehicles indicates FJ
VM FJinstantaneous velocity.

RELATIVE VELOCITY

The relative velocity is the velocity of an object or observer B

in the rest frame of another object or the observer A. The
general formula of velocity is :

Velocity of B relative to A is = Vb - Va

This is the only formula that describes the concept of relative

velocity. When two objects are moving in the same direction,
then
 Vab = Va+ Vb

When two objects are moving in the opposite direction, then

Vab=Va- Vb

Example : Two cars moving in opposite directions on the

same straight road with velocities 80 kmh-1 and 60 km h-1
respectively pass each other at a point. Determine the
velocity of
the first car relative to the second.

Solution

Relative velocity = V = Vfirst- Vsecond

= 80 – (60)
= 140 kmh-1
 WEEK 10

ACCELERATION

Acceleration can be defined as the time rate of increase in

velocity. Its unit is ms-2 or m/s2.

Mathematically, Acceleration,a =

a=

Where v is the increase in velocity

t is the time

When there is decrease in velocity with time, it is called

deceleration or [Link], acceleration and
retardation is shown below:
 UNIFORM ACCELERATION

Uniform acceleration can be defined as the equal increase in

velocity covered in an equal interval of time. i.e acceleration
is constant.

Thus, a= = constant

The graph of uniform acceleration is called Velocity-time

graph. The Velocity-time graph is the graph of velocity
against time as shown above.

The area under this graph is called displacement.

NON UNIFORM ACCERATION

Non uniform acceleration can be defined as the unequal
increase in velocity covered in an equal interval of time. i.e
acceleration is not constant. The graph is shown below: