• The three (basic)fundamental Physical quantities and units are:

• Mass: Mass is the measure of the amount of matter in a body. The

fundamental unit of mass is Kilogram .
• Time: Time is a measurable period. The basic fundamental unit of time is
second .
• Length: The length of an object is the distance between the two ends of an
object.

• Three systems of unit and their fundamental units:

• C.G.S system
• F.P.S system
• M.K.S system
• Units of length , mass and time

No. System of units Length(L) Mass(m) Time(t)

1 British system (or) FPS Foot(ft) Slug(sl) Second (s)

system

2 CGS units Centimeter (cm) gram(g) Second(s)

3 SI unit Metre(m) Kilogram(kg) Second(s)

 Unit 1
Motion , Forces and Energy
Powers of ten shorthand
The small figures 1, 2, 3, etc. are called
4000 = 4 × 10 × 10 × 10 = 4 × 103 powers of ten. The power shows how many
400 = 4 × 10 × 10 = 4 × 102 times the number has to be multiplied by 10
40 = 4 × 10 = 4 × 101 if the power is greater than 0 or divided by
4 = 4 × 1 = 4 × 100 10 if the power is less than 0.
0.4 = 4/10 = 4/101 = 4 × 10−1 Note that 1 is written as 100.
0.04 = 4/100 = 4/102 = 4 × 10−2 This way of writing numbers is called
0.004 = 4/1000 = 4/103 = 4 × 10−3 standard notation.
• Length
The unit of length is the metre (m) and is the distance travelled by light in a vacuum during
a specific time interval. At one time it was the distance between two marks on a certain metal bar.
Submultiples are:
1 decimetre (dm) = 10−1 m
1 centimetre (cm) = 10−2 m
1 millimetre (mm) = 10−3 m
1 micrometre (μm) = 10−6 m
1 nanometre (nm) = 10−9 m
5
A multiple for large distances is 1 kilometre(km) = 103 m ( mile approx.)
8
Many length measurements are made with rulers;
the correct way to read one is shown in Figure :
The reading is 76 mm or 7.6 cm. Your eye must be
directly over the mark on the scale or the thickness
of the ruler causes a parallax error.
Significant figures
Significant figures are the number of digits in a value, often a measurement, that contribute to
the degree of accuracy of the value. We start counting significant figures at the first non-zero
digit.

If a number is expressed in standard notation,

the number of significant figures is the number of
digits before the power of ten. For example,
2.73 × 103 has three significant figures.
1 How many millimetres are there in these measurements?
a 1 cm =10mm
b 4 cm=40mm
c 0.5 cm=5mm
d 6.7 cm =67mm
e 1 m =1000mm
2 What are these lengths in metres?
a 300 cm =3m
b 550 cm =5.5m
c 870 cm=8.7m
d 43 cm=0.43m
e 100 mm =0.1m
3 a Write the following as powers of ten with one figure before the decimal point:
100 000 , 3500 , 428000000 , 504 , 27056
100 000 = 1x 105
3500 =3.5 x103
428000000 =4.28 x108
504 =5.04 x102
27056 =2.706x104

b Write out the following in full:

103 , 2 × 106 , 6.92 × 104 , 1.34 × 102 , 109
103 =1000
2 × 106 =2000000
6.92 × 104 = 69200
1.34 × 102 =134
109 =1000000000
4 a Write these fractions as powers of ten:
1 7 1 3
, , ,
1000 100000 10000000 60000
Ans:
1
= 1 x10 -3
1000

7
=7 x10 -5
100000

1
=1 x 10 -7
10000000

3
= 5 x 10 -5
60000
b Express the following decimals as powers of ten with one figure before the
decimal point: 0.5 , 0.084 , 0.000 36 , 0.001 04
• Ans:
0.5 =5x10 -1
0.084 =8.4 x10 -2
0.000 36 =3.6 x10 -4
0.001 04= 1.04 x10 -3
Area
area of a square or rectangle = length × breadth
1
area of triangle = × base × height
2
The area of a circle of radius r is π r2 where
π = 22/7 or 3.14
its circumference is 2πr.
The SI unit of area is the square metre (m2)
Worked example
Calculate the area of the triangles shown in Figure .
1
a area of triangle = × base × height
2
1
area of triangle ABC = × AB × AC = 1/2 × 4 cm × 6 cm = 12 cm2
2
1
b area of triangle PQR = × PQ × SR = 1/2× 5 cm × 4 cm = 10 cm2
2
• Volume
Volume is the amount of space occupied. The unit of volume is the cubic metre (m3) but as
this is rather large, for most purposes the cubic centimetre (cm3) is used.
1 1 1 1
• 1cm3 = 𝑚 x m x 𝑚 = 𝑚3 = 10 -6m3
100 100 100 1000000
For a regularly shaped object such as a rectangular block,
volume = length × breadth × height
The volume of a cylinder of radius r and height
h is πr 2h.

The volume of a liquid may be obtained by pouring it into a measuring cylinder .

Measuring cylinders are often marked in millilitres
(ml) where 1 ml = 1 cm3
1 litre =1000 cm3 = 1 dm3
Worked example
a Calculate the volume of a block of wood which is 40 cm long, 12 cm wide and 5 cm high in
cubic metres.
volume V = length × breadth × height
= 40 cm × 12 cm × 5 cm
= 2400 cm3
= 2400 × 10−6 m3
= 2.4 × 10−3 m3
b Calculate the volume of a cylinder of radius 10 mm and height 5.0 cm in cubic metres.
volume of cylinder V = πr2h
r = 10 mm = 1.0 cm and h = 5.0 cm
so V = πr2h
= π × (1.0 cm)2 × 5.0 cm
= 16 cm3 = 16 × 10−6 m3 = 1.6 × 10−5 m3
Time
The SI base unit of time is the second .
The second was originally defined as of a day .
One day is the time taken by the Earth to rotate once about its axis.
But the Earth’s rotation is not quite constant .
For accuracy ,the second is now defined in terms of the frequency of oscillation of a cesium
atom.
Scalar quantity Vector quantity
-Magnitude only -Magnitude and direction

Distance Displacement
Speed Velocity
Mass Force
Temperature Acceleration
Volume
Scalars and vectors
-A scalar quantity has magnitude (size) only.

-Other examples of scalars are distance, speed, time, mass, pressure, energy and
temperature.

-A vector quantity has both its size (magnitude) and direction are stated.

-For example, a force of 10 N, but rather a force of 10 N acting vertically

downwards.
Worked example
Calculate the resultant of two forces of 3.0 N and 4.0 N
acting at right angles to each other.
Worked example
Calculate the resultant of two forces of 3.0 N and 4.0 N
acting at right angles to each other.

Let FX = 3 N and FY = 4.0 N

Fig . Addition of two perpendicular vectors.

2 2 2 2
F= 𝐹𝑥 + 𝐹𝑦 = 3 + 4 = 25 =5N

𝐹𝑦 4
tan 𝜃 = = = 1.3
𝐹𝑥 3
𝜃 = 53°
The resultant is a force of 5.0 N acting at 53° to the force of 3.0 N.
Practice
1 Calculate the following square roots.
a 62 + 82
b 52 + 72
c 22 + 92
2 Calculate
a tan 30°
b tan 45°
c tan 60°.
3 Calculate the resultant of two forces of 5.0 N and 7.0 N which are at
right angles to each other.
4 At a certain instant a projectile has a horizontal velocity of 6 m/s and a
vertical velocity of 8 m/s.
a Calculate the resultant velocity of the projectile at that instant.
b Check your answer to a by a graphical method.
Exam-style questions
1 A chocolate bar measures 10 cm long by 2 cm wide and is 2 cm thick.
a Calculate the volume of one bar. [3]
b How many bars each 2 cm long, 2 cm wide and 2 cm thick have the same total
volume? [3]
c A pendulum makes 10 complete oscillations in 8 seconds. Calculate the time period of
the pendulum. [2]
Ans : 1(a) volume of one bar = 10cm x 2cm x2cm = 40 cm
40𝑐𝑚3
(b) no of bar = = 5 bars
8𝑐𝑚3
8𝑠
(c) time period = = 0.8 s
10
2 a A pile of 60 sheets of paper is 6 mm high.
Calculate the average thickness of a sheet of the paper. [2]
b Calculate how many blocks of ice cream each 10 cm long, 10 cm wide and 4
cm thick can
be stored in the compartment of a freezer measuring 40 cm deep, 40 cm wide and
20 cm high. [5]
[Total: 7]
6𝑚𝑚
Ans: (a) average thickness of a sheet of paper = =0.1 mm
60

𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑧𝑒𝑟 40×40×20 32000

(b) number of block = = = = 80
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 10×10×4 400
3 A Perspex container has a 6 cm square base and contains water to a height of
7 cm
(Fig).
a Calculate the volume of the water. [3]
b A stone is lowered into the water so as to be completely covered and the
water rises
to a height of 9 cm. Calculate the volume of the stone. [4]
[Total: 7]
Ans :
(a) Volume of water =7cm x 6cm x6cm =252cm3
(b) volume of the stone = 6cm x 6cm x (9-7)cm=72cm3
4 a State the standard units of length and time. [2]
b A measurement is stated as 0.0125 mm.
State the number of significant figures. [1]
c Write down expressions for i the area of a circle [1]
ii the circumference of a circle [1]
iii the volume of a cylinder. [2]
[Total: 7]
Ans (a) metre and second
(b) 3
(c) (i)πr2 (ii) 2πr (iii) πr2 h
6 a Select which of the following quantities is
a vector.
A length
B temperature
C force
D time [1] Ans: C force

b Two forces of 5 N and 12 N act at right angles to each other.

Using a piece of graph paper determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant
force graphically. State the scale you use to represent each vector. You will need
a protractor to measure the angle the resultant makes with the 5 N force. [7]
[Total: 8] 2 𝐹𝑦 12
F= 𝐹𝑥 2 + 𝐹𝑦 = 5 2 + 12 2 tan 𝜃 = = = 2.4 12N
𝐹𝑥 5
= 169 =13N 𝜃 = 67° θ
13N at 67° to 5N force 5N
• Vernier Caliper - A vernier calliper is defined as a measuring device that is used
for the measurement of linear dimensions. It is also used for the measurement
of diameters of round objects with the help of the measuring jaws.
The simplest type enables a length to be measured to 0.01 cm.
Vernier scales are also used on barometers, travelling microscopes and
spectrometers.
• Micrometer
A gauge that measures small distances or thicknesses between its two faces.
• This measures very small objects to 0.001 cm. If the drum has a scale
• of 50 divisions round it, then rotation of the drum by
• one division opens the jaws by 0.05/50 = 0.001 cm =(0.01mm)
length of a object = 2.5 mm on the shaft scale + 33 divisions on the drum scale
= 0.25 cm + 33(0.001) cm
= 0.283 cm
5 (a) 2mm + (31div x0.01mm)=2.31mm

(b) 14.5mm +( 47divx0.01mm) =14.97mm

Simple pendulum

1.The time for one oscillation is the period T . Determine the period of your pendulum.
2. The frequency f of the oscillations is the number of complete oscillations per second
and equals 1/T. Calculate a value for f for your pendulum.
Figure :
The correct
way to
measure
with a ruler