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Ch1-Physics and Measurement

This document provides an overview of physics and measurement. It discusses the importance of standards for length, mass and time in physics. The International System of Units (SI) defines the meter, second and kilogram as fundamental units. Dimensional analysis is a technique to check equations by ensuring the dimensions (such as length, mass, time) are consistent on both sides. Conversion between different units is also explained through examples.

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Jorge Jeniffer
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48 views

Ch1-Physics and Measurement

This document provides an overview of physics and measurement. It discusses the importance of standards for length, mass and time in physics. The International System of Units (SI) defines the meter, second and kilogram as fundamental units. Dimensional analysis is a technique to check equations by ensuring the dimensions (such as length, mass, time) are consistent on both sides. Conversion between different units is also explained through examples.

Uploaded by

Jorge Jeniffer
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER 1: Physics and Measurement

1.1 Standards of Length, Mass, and Time

⚫ To describe natural phenomena, we must make measurements of


various aspects of nature.
➢ Each measurement is associated with a physical quantity, such as
the length of an object.
➢ The laws of physics are expressed as mathematical relationships
among some physical quantities.

➢ Therefore, we need:
o Rules for measurement and comparison
o Units for measurement

⚫ A unit:
➢ Is the unique name assigned to the measure of a quantity (mass,
time, length, pressure, etc.)
➢ Corresponds to a standard, a physical quantity with value 1.0 unit
(e.g. 1.0 meter = distance traveled by light in a vacuum over a
certain fraction of a second)
➢ For example:
➢ There are seven fundamental quantities in physics:
o Length, mass, time, temperature, electric current, luminous
intensity, amount of substance.
➢ In mechanics, the three fundamental quantities are length, mass,
and time.
➢ All other quantities in mechanics can be expressed in terms of
these three.

Example 1:
The International System of Units (Systéme International (SI)):
The SI system of units was established in 1960

Meter, Second, and Kilogram:


o Length: The meter is defined as the distance traveled by light
during a precisely specified time interval (1/299 792 458 of a
second).

o Time: The second is defined in terms of the oscillations of light


emitted by an atomic (cesium-133) source. Accurate time signals
are sent worldwide by radio signals keyed to atomic clocks in
standardizing laboratories.

o Mass: The kilogram is defined in terms of a platinum–iridium


standard mass kept near Paris. For measurements on an atomic
scale, the atomic mass unit, defined in terms of the atom carbon-
12, is usually used.
o Density: The density of a substance (ρ) is the amount of mass
contained in a unit volume

1.3 Dimensional Analysis

➢ Dimension has a specific meaning – it denotes the physical nature


of a quantity.
➢ Dimensions are often denoted with square brackets [--].
o Length [L]
o Mass [M]
o Time [T]

Dimensional Analysis
➢ Technique to check the correctness of an equation or to assist in
deriving an equation
➢ Dimensions (length, mass, time, combinations) can be treated as
algebraic quantities.
o Add, subtract, multiply, divide
➢ Both sides of equation must have the same dimensions.
➢ Any relationship can be correct only if the dimensions on both
sides of the equation are the same.
➢ Cannot give numerical factors: this is its limitation
Example 2:
o Given the equation: x = ½ at 2 Check dimensions on each
side:

o The T2’s cancel, leaving L for the dimensions of each side.


o The equation is dimensionally correct.
o There are no dimensions for the constant.

Example 3 (power law):


Example 4:

Solution

1.4 Conversion of Units:


Sometimes it is necessary to convert units from one measurement
system to another or convert within a system (for example, from minute
to second).
Example 5:
Example 6:

Important:
Always Include Units When performing calculations with numerical
values, include the units for every quantity and carry the units
through the entire calculation.

Example 7:
Example 8:

Example 9:

Solution

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