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Introductory Material

This document provides an introduction to general physics 1, covering dimensions and units, conversion between measurement systems, and trigonometry. It discusses that all classical mechanics can be expressed in terms of length, mass, and time dimensions. It reviews SI and other unit systems, conversion factors between them, and the technique of unit analysis to check equations. It also introduces right triangle trigonometry, defining sine, cosine, and tangent functions in terms of leg and hypotenuse lengths.

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Jorge Tinaya
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
12 views

Introductory Material

This document provides an introduction to general physics 1, covering dimensions and units, conversion between measurement systems, and trigonometry. It discusses that all classical mechanics can be expressed in terms of length, mass, and time dimensions. It reviews SI and other unit systems, conversion factors between them, and the technique of unit analysis to check equations. It also introduces right triangle trigonometry, defining sine, cosine, and tangent functions in terms of leg and hypotenuse lengths.

Uploaded by

Jorge Tinaya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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General Physics I

Introductory Material

Dimensions & Units


How we measure things!
All things in classical mechanics can be expressed in
terms of the fundamental dimensions:
Length
Mass
Time

For example:

Prefixes to know:
kilo (k) = 103
centi (c) = 10-2
milli (m) = 10-3
micro () = 10-6
nano (n) = 10-9

Speed has units of Length / Time (ex: miles per hour).


Length & Time are dimensions while Miles & Hours are specific
units

Units...
SI ((Systme
Systme International) Units:
mks: L = meters [m], M = kilograms [kg], T = seconds [s]
Also...Volume (V): [m3], Area (A): [m2],
Velocity (v or vo): [m/s], Acceleration (a or g): [m/s2],
Position (x) = distance (d) = displacement (Dx): [m]
cgs: L = centimeters [cm], M = grams [g], T = seconds [s]

British Units:
fps: Inches, feet, miles, pounds, slugs...

We will use mostly SI (m, kg, s) units, but you may run
across some problems using British units. You should
know how to convert back & forth.

Converting between different systems


of units
Useful Conversion factors:

1 inch
1m
1 mile
1 mile
2.2 lb

=
=
=
=
=

2.54
3.28
5280
1.61
1 kg

cm
ft
ft
km

Example: Lets convert miles per hour to meters


per second:
mi
1
=
hr

Unit Analysis
This is a very important tool to check your work
Its also very easy!

Example:
Doing a problem you use the equation:
d = vt 2 (distance = velocity x time2)...did you make
the correct choice?
Units on left side =
Units on right side =

The volume [m3] of an object is given as a function of time [s] by

V = A + B/t + Ct4
Determine the dimension of the constant C.

What about A & B?

Stokes law says

F = 6prhv
Where, F is a force [kg m/s2], r the radius** [m] and v the velocity [m/s].
The parameter h has units of _____?

**What is the formula for the AREA of a circle? _________________

Given the equation:

v = Fx my
Where v = velocity [m/s], F = tension [kg m/s2], and m = mass density
[kg/m]. Determine the exponents x & y that make the equation
dimensionally correct.

TRIGOOMETRY
WE WILL DEAL ONLY WITH RIGHT TRIANGLES

HYPOTENUSE
LEG OPPOSITE TO q

q
LEG ADJACENT TO ANGLE q

LEG OPPOSITE TO ANGLE q

The Pythagorean Formula


Hyp2 = Opp2 + Adj2

q
LEG ADJACENT TO ANGLE q

SINE OF q = LENGTH OF LEG OPPOSITE q


LENGTH OF HYPOTENUSE
COSINE OF q = LENGTH OF LEG ADJACENT TO q
LENGTH OF HYPOTENUSE
TANGENT OF q = LENGTH OF LEG OPPOSITE q
LENGTH OF LEG ADJACENT TO q

SAMPLE RIGHT TRIANGLE PROBLEMS


C

A
q

z
A) sin q = _______

A) The hypotenuse is = ________

B) cos q = _______

B) The opposite side is = ________

C) tan q = _______

C) The adjacent side is = ________

End of
Introductory Material
Lecture

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