Saint Louis University

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ENGGPHYS: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS

This course covers the following: vectors, kinematics, dynamics, work, energy
and power, impulse and momentum, rotation, dynamics of rotation, elasticity,
oscillation, fluid statics and kinematics, thermal expansion, thermal stress, heat
transfer, calorimetry, waves, electrostatics, electricity, magnetism, optics, image
formation by plane and curved mirrors, and image formation by thin lenses.

As a result of their educational experiences in the subject EnggPhys, graduates

should be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of physics concepts and principles by describing
everyday phenomena and analyze problems on vectors, one- and two-
dimensional motion and Newton’s laws.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of physics concepts and principles by describing
everyday phenomena and analyze problems on dynamics, work, energy,
energy and power, impulse and momentum.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of physics concepts and principles by describing
everyday phenomena and analyze problems on heat and calorimetry,
simple harmonic motion, mechanical waves, and electricity.
4. Demonstrate ability to use mathematical tools, including calculus in solving
problems involving physics concepts and principles.

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

MODULE 1: PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, UNITS AND VECTORS

1.1 Physics and its importance
The word physics comes from Greek, meaning “of nature” or “natural
philosophy”. Physics is concerned with the description of nature—that is, the
description and explanation of natural phenomena. In other words, physics is
concerned with how and why things work or behave the way they do.
Physics is an experimental science. Everything we know about the physical
world and about the principles that govern its behavior has been learned through
experiment, that is, through observations of the phenomena of nature. The
ultimate test of any physical theory is its agreement with experimental
observations. These observations usually involve measurements; thus physics is
inherently a science of experiment and measurements.
1.2 Physical Quantities
The study of Physics involves dealing with a lot of physical quantities. In
mechanics, we have the basic or fundamental quantities like mass, length and
time. All others are considered as derived quantities because they are obtained
or defined by simple relations between the fundamental quantities. The
fundamental quantities combined to form the derived quantity are sometimes
called the dimensions of the derived quantity.
Basic Quantities and Units
Unit Symbol Description Definition
Meter m Measures Distance light travel in 1/299792458 second.
length
Kilogram kg Measures Mass of a special platinum-iridium cylinder
mass in Paris.
Second s Measures 9192631770 oscillations of a special light
time emitted by cesium-133 atoms.

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Combinations of these basic quantities and units give various derived quantities
and units.
Example: Force:1newton (N) = 1 kg-m/s2
In the proper expression of physical quantities, there should at least be a
number (to indicate how large or how small the quantity is) and the unit (to
indicate the nature and type of the quantity). An expression that does not have
one of these two is meaningless.
1.3 Standards and Units
A standard is that quantity (usually in physical form i.e. an object) to which
other quantities being measured are compared. The measured quantity is then
expressed in terms of the standard, which now becomes the unit of the quantity.
Example: When we say the height of the building is 10 meters, it
means that the measured quantity (height of the building) is expressed in
terms of the length of an object (standard), which is considered to be one
meter long. Thus the "meter" is the unit for the height of a building.

1.4 Systems of Units:

There are two systems of units in common use: The English or British system
and the Metric system. A refinement of the old metric system was introduced in
1960 and is officially known as the International System of units or SI units. It is
now modern practice to use this system.
The English system is also known as the foot-pound-second (fps) system.
The SI system may be classified into the meter-kilogram-second (mks) system
and the Gaussian or centimeter-gram-second (cgs) system.
It is therefore necessary to look at the more salient aspects of the SI
system:
1. In the SI system, the standard units for the different basic quantities are
well defined, clear and precise.
Example: For Length: 1 meter is defined as the distance traveled by
light in 1/299792458 sec
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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

◼ The student is advised to look at the SI definitions for the other basic units.

2. In the SI system of units, larger or smaller variations of these units are

obtained by attaching the proper prefix.
Prefixes in the Metric System or SI system
Prefix Abbreviatio Power of 10 Prefix Abbreviatio Power of 10
n n

exa E 1018 deci d 10-1

peta P 1015 centi c 10-2

tera T 1012 milli m 10-3

giga G 109 micro  10-6

mega M 106 nano n 10-9

kilo k 103 pico p 10-12

hecto h 102 femto f 10-15

deka da 101 atto a 10-18

1.5 Unit Consistency and Unit Conversion

Unit consistency means that in a physical equation, each side of the

expression should have the same units otherwise the equation is an error.
Unit conversion is the process of changing the unit of a quantity to
another one within the same system or into another system. In physical
computations, this is usually done to attain unit consistency.
The process of unit conversion may be relatively easy but it has to be
done in an orderly manner to avoid errors. One should also have considerable
knowledge of the needed conversion factors to be able to do it successfully.

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Steps in Performing Unit Conversion:

Example problems on Conversion of units:

1. Convert 120 km/hr to mi/hr.
Solution:
120 𝑘𝑚 1𝑚𝑖 𝒎𝒊
× = 𝟕𝟒. 𝟓𝟕
1 ℎ𝑟 1.6093 𝑘𝑚 𝒉𝒓

Note that the unit km cancels out due to division.

2. As an astute observer walking around on continental crust (granite), you

might decide to test the hypothesis that the Earth is made entirely of
granite. You weigh a 1.00 ft3 piece of granite on your home scale and find
that it weighs 171 lbs. Thus you determine that the granite has a density of
171 lb/ft3. Convert your granite's density to g/cm3.
Solution:

171 𝑙𝑏 1000𝑔 1𝑓𝑡 3 1𝑖𝑛 3 𝒈

𝑥 𝑥 ( ) 𝑥 ( ) = 𝟐. 𝟕𝟒
𝑓𝑡 3 2.205𝑙𝑏 12𝑖𝑛 2.54𝑐𝑚 𝒄𝒎𝟑
Note that the units lb, ft3 and in3 cancels out due to division

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Formative Problems: Practice conversion of units by solving the following

problems.
1. The density of propane is 36.28 lb/ft3. Convert this to kg/m3. (Ans..581.67)
2. A box measures 3.12 ft in length, 0.0455 yd in width and 7.87 inches in
height. What is its volume in cubic centimeters? (Ans.. 7.91 x 103 cm3)
3. A block occupies 0.2587 ft3 . What is its volume in mm3 ? (Ans.. 7.326x106
mm3)
1.6 Vectors and Vector Operations
Many physical quantities have magnitudes only but no direction. These
are called scalars. Examples are mass, time, density, temperature, etc. There are
however, many physical quantities such as force, velocity, displacement, etc.
which have directions as well as magnitude and these aspects always have to
be indicated when expressing these quantities. They are called vectors.
In physical computation and analyses, we have to be aware of the
difference between vectors and scalars because the mathematical treatments
are not the same. For example, we add scalars arithmetically but we cannot do
the same to vectors. Special methods are used.
1.6.1 BASIC ASPECTS ABOUT VECTORS
1. Vector Representation
a. Graphical representation - Vectors are represented by arrows.

b. Vector notations – Vectors are usually denoted with capital letters

written in boldface or with special markings. (A or A, B or B, etc.)
c.
2. Indicating Directions of (coplanar) vectors:

METHOD 1: Using the angle θ that the vector makes with the “zero
reference line (usually the positive x-axis) ” measured going Counter-
clockwise.Illustration:

i. Vector A = 3 units at 35o is a vector having a magnitude of 3

units, and whose direction θA is 35o from the positive x-axis
measured going counter-clockwise.

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

ii. Vector A = 3 units at 1250 is a vector having a magnitude of 3

units, and whose direction θA is 125o from the positive x-axis
measured going counter-clockwise

iii. Vector A = 3 units at 2250 is a vector having a magnitude of 3

units, and whose direction θA is 225o from the positive x-axis
measured going counter-clockwise.

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

METHOD 2: Using Geographic Directions

Illustration: Let us assume that the figure below shows vector A = 3 units, θA = 25o
and vector B = 3 units, θB = 30o

The figure above means that:

i. Vector A = 3 units 25o EN (East of North)

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

ii. Vector A = 3 units 65o NE

iii. Vector B = 3 units 30o SW
iv. Vector B = 3 units 60o WS

1.6.2 VECTOR OPERATIONS

1. VECTOR ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION:

Vector addition is the process of combining two or more vectors
into one. The combination is called the RESULTANT (R) of the vectors. Vector
subtraction is just like addition. In vector subtraction, the negative of one vector
is added to the other. For example, if two vectors A and B are to be added, the
operation is indicated as A + B. However, if vector B is to be subtracted from
vector A, the operation is indicated as A – B which is the same as A + (-B).
• NOTE: The negative of a vector is another vector whose magnitude is the
same as the original vector but in the opposite direction.

METHODS OF VECTOR ADDITION

i. The Algebraic method (for co-linear vectors only). Co-linear vectors are
vectors which lie along the same line.

Example: For the vectors shown in the diagram, determine a) their resultant; b) C
-A-D

E = 60 m B = 20 m

C = 30 m D = 25 m A = 50 m

Solution:
For convenience we assign all vectors directed towards the right as
•
positive while all vectors directed towards the left are negative.
• Since vectors are co-linear simple arithmetic is applied
a) Resultant: R = A+B+C+D+E = 50m+(–20m)+(-30m)+ 25m+(-60m) = - 35 m, this
implies that the magnitude of the resultant vector has a magnitude of 35 m
and directed towards the left (negative sign)
b) C-A-D = C+(-A)+(-D) = -30m + (-50m ) + (-25m) = -101m, this implies that the
magnitude of C-A-D is 101m and directed towards the left (negative sign)

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

ii. The Parallelogram Method

The procedure of "the parallelogram of vectors addition method" is

a. draw vector 1 using appropriate scale and in the direction of its action
b. from the tail of vector 1 draw vector 2 using the same scale in the direction of its action
c. complete the parallelogram by using vector 1 and 2 as sides of the parallelogram
d. the resulting vector R is represented in both magnitude and direction by the diagonal of
the parallelogram

A A A

B R
B B
e. Solve the resultant using sine law and cosine law

iii. The Polygon method (Graphical method in determining the magnitude

and direction of the Resultant R)
Many vectors can be added together in this way by drawing the
successive vectors in a tip-to-tail fashion, as shown on the example below.

Scale: 1 cm = 1 unit

iv. The Triangle method is similar to the Parallelogram Method but with the
two vectors connected from tip-to-tail.
Procedure:
a. Construct the vector triangle by drawing the two vectors tip-to-tail. The vector that closes
the triangle is the resultant.
b. The resultant vector R of the two coplanar vectors can be calculated by trigonometry
using "the cosine law" for a non-right-angled triangle.
c. The angle between the vector and the resultant vector can be calculated using "the sine
law" for a non-right-angled triangle.

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

v. The Component Method

Many vector operations and analyses are carried
Ay out using their
components. These are two or more vectors which when combined A or
added will give the original vector. For coplanar vectors (assumed to be
on the xy-plane) it is usually convenient to use two components which are
perpendicular to each other: one along the x-axis which is then called the
x-component and the other one along the y-axis which is then called the
y-component. These two components are collectively called the
rectangular components of the vector.
Determining the Components of a Vector
1. F1x is the magnitude of the x-component of vector F1.

2. The sign of F1x is positive if it points in the positive x-direction,

negative if it points in the negative x-direction.

3. F1y is the magnitude of the y-component of vector F1.

4. The sign of F1y is positive if it points in the positive y-direction,

negative if it points in the negative y-direction.

UNIT VECTORS (3 – dimensional vectors)

- Vectors having a magnitude of unity with no units. Its purpose is to
describe a direction in space.

Let 𝑖̂= unit vector pointing in the x – axis

𝑗̂ = unit vector pointing in the y – axis
𝑘̂ = unit vector pointing in the z – axis
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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

𝑗̂

𝑖̂ x

𝑘̂

If A and B are in terms of their components:

A = Ax𝑖̂+ Ay𝑗̂+ Az𝑘̂ and B = Bx𝑖̂ + By𝑗̂ + Bz𝑘̂
Addition: A + B = (Ax + Bx)𝑖̂ +(Ay + By)𝑗̂+ (Az + Bz)𝑘̂
PRODUCT OF VECTORS:
A) Scalar Product (Dot Product)
o Results to scalar quantity i.e. magnitude only, no direction.

B A ∙ B = AB cos θ

Where A is the magnitude of vector A, and B

is the magnitude of vector B, and θ is the angle
θ between them.
A

• If θ = 90o, A∙B = AB cos 90o, cos 90o = 0, A∙B = 0; scalar product of 2

perpendicular vectors is always 0.

• Using the unit vector computation:

A∙B = (Ax𝑖̂+ Ay𝑗̂+ Az𝑘̂) ∙ (Bx𝑖̂+ By𝑗̂+ Bz𝑘̂)

A∙B = AxBx + AyBy + AzBz

B) Vector Product (Cross Product)

o Vector quantity with a direction perpendicular to the plane of
the vector and a magnitude given by:

A x B = AB sin θ

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

• If A and B are parallel, θ = 0 or 180o then A x B = 0 since, sin 0 & sin 180o
= 0.
• There are always two directions perpendicular to a given plane. Use
the right hand rule.

USING VECTOR REPRESENTATION:

A x B = (Ax𝑖̂+ Ay𝑗̂+ Az𝑘̂) x (Bx𝑖̂+ By𝑗̂+ Bz𝑘̂)
Where: 𝑖̂

𝑖̂ x 𝑖̂= 0 𝑖̂ x 𝑗̂= 𝑘̂ 𝑘̂ x 𝑗̂= -𝑖̂

𝑗̂ x 𝑖̂ = - 𝑘̂ 𝑖̂ x 𝑘̂ = -𝑗̂
+
𝑗̂x̂𝑗 = 0 𝑘̂

𝑘̂ x 𝑘̂ = 0 𝑗̂x ̂𝑘 = 𝑖̂ 𝑘̂ x 𝑖̂ = 𝑗̂ 𝑗̂

vector product of two parallel vectors is always zero.

A x B = (AyBz – AzBy)𝒊̂ + (AzBx – AxBz)𝒋̂ + (AxBy = AyBx)𝒌

̂

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

SAMPLE PROBLEMS FOR VECTOR ADDITION:

1. Given are the following vector quantities:
A = 80 m due N
B = 40 m 300 NW
C = 60 m 150 NE
D = 60 m SE
Determine:
a. Magnitude and direction of the resultant of vectors A and B
(using Parallelogram Method)
b. Magnitude and direction of the resultant of vectors A and B
(using unit vectors)
c. Magnitude and direction of the Resultant of the four given
vectors using component method.

The given vectors drawn in the Cartesian-plane:

A=80m

B=40m
C=60m
300 150
W E
0
45

D=60m

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

a) Using PARALLELLOGRAM METHOD:

Let vector RAB represent the resultant of vectors A and B

N
RAB
A=80m

A=80m
1200

B=40m 

300
W E

By isolating the lower half of the parallelogram, our analysis in determining the
magnitude and direction of RAB can be determined by applying Sine and
Cosine Laws.
By cosine law:

RAB = √𝟖𝟎𝟐 + 𝟒𝟎𝟐 − 𝟐(𝟖𝟎)𝟒𝟎 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟏𝟐𝟎 = 𝟏𝟎𝟓. 𝟖𝟑𝒎

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

By sine law:
sin 𝛷 sin 120
=
80 105.83

Angle Φ = 40.89o
Direction of the resultant = 300 + 41.1436o = 70.89o

THEREFORE: RAB = 105.83m, 70.89 NW (or North of West)

• Note that the Triangle method will have the same solution as the
parallelogram method. Connect the two vectors from tip-to-tail. The
Resultant is a vector drawn from the tail of the first vector to the tip of
the second vector.

B=40m

N
RAB

A=80m

W E

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

b) USING COMPONENT METHOD:

A=80m

W E

X-COMPONENT: AX =0
Y-COMPONENT: AY=80m

B=40m By

300
W E
Bx

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

X-COMPONENT: BX = 40 cos 30 = 34.64m

Y-COMPONENT: BY = 40 sin 30 = 20m
By adding all x components of the vector: (vectors to the right “+”; vectors to
the left “-“), we have:
RABX = AX +BX = 0 +(-34.64) = - 34.64m
The negative sign means that the x-component of RAB is towards the left.
By adding all y-components of the vector: (vectors upward “+”; vectors
downward“-“), we have:
RABY = AY + BY = 80 + 20 = 100m
Since the value of the y-component of the resultant is positive, it means that it is
directed upwards.
The x and y components of the resultant can now be drawn as:

RAB

RABY = 100m

AB

W E
RABX = 34.64m

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S
 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

By Pythagorean Theorem:

RAB = √𝟑𝟒. 𝟔𝟒𝟐 + 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟐 = 𝟏𝟎𝟓. 𝟖𝟑𝒎

From trigonometric functions of Right Triangles we have:

𝟏𝟎𝟎
Tan θAB = 𝟑𝟒.𝟔𝟒

θAB = 70.89O

THEREFORE: RAB = 105.83m, 70.89 NW (or North of West)

c). Magnitude and direction of the Resultant of the four given vectors
From Previous solution:
The Components of vector A are:
X-COMPONENT: AX =0
Y-COMPONENT: AY=80m
The Components of vector B are:
X-COMPONENT: BX = 40 cos 30 = 34.64m
Y-COMPONENT: BY = 40 sin 30 = 20m
For Vector C, the components are:

Cy C=60m
150
W E
Cx
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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

X-COMPONENT: CX = 60 cos 15 = 57.96m

Y-COMPONENT: CY = 60 sin 15 = 15.53m

For Vector D, the components are:

W E
0
45

Dy
D=60m

Dx

X-COMPONENT: DX = 60 cos 45o = 42.43m

Y-COMPONENT: DY = 60 sin 15o = 42.43m

x-component of the Resultant:

RX = AX + BX + CX + DX = 0 + (-34.64m) + 57.96m + 42.43m = 65.75m (to the right)
x-component of the Resultant:
RY = AY + BY + CY + DY = 80m + 20m + 15.53m + (-42.43m) = 73.1m (upward)
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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Ry R

W E
Rx

RX = √𝟔𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝟐 + 𝟕𝟑. 𝟏𝟐 = 𝟗𝟖. 𝟑𝟐𝒎

𝟕𝟑.𝟏
Tan θ = 𝟔𝟓.𝟕𝟓

θAB = 48.03O
THEREFORE: R = 98.32m, 48.03 NE (or North of EAST)
Formative Problems:
1. A = 1km due south, B = 2km due west. Determine the resultant.
(ans..2.24km, 63.4o W of S)

2. A = 72.4 m, 32.0° east of north, B = 57.3 m, 36.0° south of west, C = 17.8 m

due south. Determine the resultant. (ans..12.7m, 39o W of N)

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

SAMPLE PROBLEMS FOR DOT PRODUCT:

SAMPLE PROBLEMS FOR CROSS PRODUCT:

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Assignment # 1 (due on June 24, 2020)

1. Do the following conversions: (a) 15 m to ft, (b) 12 in to cm, (c) 30 days to
sec
2. A football field is 300 ft long and 160 ft wide. What are the field’s
dimensions in meters and its area in square centimeters?
3. In the Bible, Noah is instructed to build an ark 300 cubits long, 50 cubits
wide and 30 cubits high. (A cubit was a unit of length based on the length
of the forearm and equal to half of a yard.) What would the dimensions of
the ark be in meters? What would its volume be in cubic meters? (Assume
that the ark was rectangular.)
4. Which is longer and by how many centimeters, a 100-m dash or a 100-yd
dash?
5. Vector is A =2.80 cm long and is above the x-axis in the first quadrant.
Vector is 1.90 cm long and is below the x-axis in the fourth quadrant.

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Find using triangle method: a) A + B, b) B-A, c) A-B

6. Three ropes pull on a large stone stuck in the ground, producing the
vector forces as shown in. Find the magnitude and direction of a fourth
force on the stone that will make the vector sum of the four forces zero.

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