Physics Notes Compilation
Motion in One Dimension
1. Physical Quantity
- Scalar quantity: A quantity that has only magnitude (no direction).
- Examples: mass, time, temperature, speed, distance.
- Vector quantity: A quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
- Examples: displacement, velocity, acceleration, force.
2. Distance and Displacement
- Distance: Total path covered by a moving object. It is a scalar quantity.
- Displacement: The shortest path between the initial and final positions of an object. It is a
vector quantity.
Note: Displacement can be zero but distance can never be zero.
3. Speed and Velocity
- Speed: Rate of change of distance. It is a scalar quantity.
- Formula: Speed = Distance / Time
- Velocity: Rate of change of displacement. It is a vector quantity.
- Formula: Velocity = Displacement / Time
4. Uniform and Non-Uniform Motion
- Uniform motion: When an object covers equal distances in equal intervals of time.
- Non-uniform motion: When an object covers unequal distances in equal intervals of time.
5. Acceleration
- Acceleration: Rate of change of velocity with respect to time.
- Formula: a = (v - u) / t
- Where:
- a = acceleration
- v = final velocity
- u = initial velocity
- t = time taken
Positive acceleration: Speed increases
Negative acceleration (Retardation): Speed decreases
6. Equations of Motion (for constant acceleration)
1. v = u + at
2. s = ut + (1/2)at^2
3. v^2 = u^2 + 2as
Where:
- v = final velocity
- u = initial velocity
- a = acceleration
- t = time
- s = displacement
7. Graphical Representation
- Distance-Time Graph:
- Straight line: uniform speed
- Curved line: non-uniform speed
- Velocity-Time Graph:
- Straight line: constant acceleration
- Slope = acceleration
- Area under the graph = displacement
8. Free Fall
- When a body falls under the influence of gravity alone.
- Acceleration = g = 9.8 m/s^2 (downward)
- Equations of motion apply by replacing a with g.
9. Important Notes
- Velocity is zero at the highest point in projectile motion.
- Displacement is a vector; it considers direction.
- Distance is always positive; displacement can be negative, zero, or positive.
Dimensions
1. Physical Quantity
A physical quantity is a quantity that can be measured. It has:
- A unit
- A numerical value
2. Fundamental Quantities and Units
- Length – metre (m)
- Mass – kilogram (kg)
- Time – second (s)
- Electric current – ampere (A)
- Temperature – kelvin (K)
- Luminous intensity – candela (cd)
- Amount of substance – mole (mol)
3. Derived Quantities
Quantities that are derived from fundamental quantities.
Examples:
- Area = length × breadth (m²)
- Volume = length³ (m³)
- Density = mass/volume (kg/m³)
- Speed = distance/time (m/s)
- Acceleration = velocity/time (m/s²)
4. Dimensions
- Dimensions of a physical quantity express it in terms of base quantities.
Notation: [M^a L^b T^c ...]
Where:
- M = Mass
- L = Length
- T = Time
- a, b, c are the powers depending on the quantity
Examples:
- Velocity: [M⁰ L¹ T⁻¹]
- Force: [M¹ L¹ T⁻²]
- Work: [M¹ L² T⁻²]
- Pressure: [M¹ L⁻¹ T⁻²]
5. Dimensional Formulae of Some Quantities
Velocity =s/t = [M⁰ L¹ T⁻¹]
Acceleration = v / t = [M⁰ L¹ T⁻²]
Force =m×a = [M¹ L¹ T⁻²]
Work =F×d = [M¹ L² T⁻²]
Power = Work / time = [M¹ L² T⁻³]
Pressure = Force / Area = [M¹ L⁻¹ T⁻²]
Density = Mass / Volume = [M¹ L⁻³ T⁰]
Momentum =m×v = [M¹ L¹ T⁻¹]
6. Dimensional Analysis Uses
1. To check correctness of an equation.
2. To derive relations among physical quantities.
3. To convert units from one system to another.
7. Limitations of Dimensional Analysis
- Cannot determine dimensionless constants.
- Cannot apply to equations involving trigonometric, exponential, or logarithmic functions.
- Valid only for homogeneous equations.