UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PANGASINAN

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
Prepared by Engr. Larissa G. Saculles

1. PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, UNITS AND VECTORS

1.1 Nature of Physics
Physics – is one of the most fundamental of the sciences. Physics is also the foundation of all engineering and
technology. The word physics comes from the Greek word “physikos”, meaning “of nature” or “natural
philosophy”.
Physics is an experimental science. Physicists observe the phenomena of nature and try to find patterns that
relate these phenomena. These patterns are called physical theories or, when they are very well established
and widely used, physical laws or principles.
1.2 Standards and Units
Physical Quantities - Any number that is used to describe a physical phenomenon quantitatively. Example:
mass, length and height.
Unit - Reference standard used to compare with a measured quantity. Example: When we say that a Ferrari 458
Italia is 4.53 meters long, we mean that it is 4.53 times as long as a meter stick, which we define to be 1 meter
long.
Systems of Units
1. English or British System – also known as the foot-pound-second (fps) system
2. Metric System – the system of units used by scientists and engineers around the world, but since 1960 it has
been known officially as the International System, or SI (Systeme International).
Basic Quantities and Units

Table 1.1. SI Base Units

Physical Quantity Unit Abbreviation Definition
Mass Kilogram kg It is equal to the mass of the international prototype of the
kg, a particular cylinder of platinum-iridium alloy that is
preserved in a vault at Sevres, France, by the International
Bureau of Weights and Measures.
Length Meter m The length equal to the distance traveled by light, in
vacuum, in a time of 1/299,792,458 second
Time Second s It is the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation
corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine
levels of the ground state of the cesium-133 atom.
Temperature Kelvin K The fraction 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature
of the triple point of water.
Amount of substance Mole mol The mole is the amount of substance of a system which
contains as many elementary entities as there are atoms
in 0.012 kilogram of carbon-12.
Electric Current Ampere A Amount of electric current that will produce an attractive
force of 2.7 × 10-7 newton per meter of separation
between the two wires
Luminous intensity Candela cd The candela is the luminous intensity, in a given direction,
of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of
frequency 540 × 1012 hertz and that has a radiant intensity
in that direction of 1/683 watt per steradian.

08 Jan 2024 - EngrLGS Page 1 of 13

 1. PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, UNITS AND VECTORS
Derived Quantities and Units
- Combination of the basic quantities and units. Example: Force: 1 Newton, N = 1 kg-m/s2
Unit Prefixes

Table 1.2. Prefixes Used in the Metric System

Prefix Abbreviation Meaning Example
Exa E 1018 1 exameter (Em) = 1 x 1018 m
15
Peta P 10 1 petameter (Pm) = 1 x 1015 m
Tera T 1012 1 terameter (Tm) = 1 x 1012 m
9
Giga G 10 1 gigameter (Gm) = 1 x 109 m
6
Mega M 10 1 megameter (Mm) = 1 x 106 m
3
Kilo K 10 1 kilometer (km) = 1 x 103 m
Hecto h 102 1 hectometer (hm) = 1 x 102 m
1
Deka da 10 1 dekameter (dam) = 1 x 10 m = 10 m
Deci d 10-1 1 decimeter (dm) = 1 x 10-1 = 0.1 m
Centi c 10-2 1 centimeter (dm) = 1 x 10-2 = 0.01 m
-3
milli m 10 1 millimeter (mm) = 1 x 10-3 = 0.001 m
-6
micro µ 10 1 micrometer (µm) = 1 x 10-6
-9
Nano n 10 1 nanometer (nm) = 1 x 10-9
pico p 10-12 1 picometer (pm) = 1 x 10-12
-15
femto f 10 1 femtometer (fm) = 1 x 10-15
-18
atto a 10 1 attometer (am) = 1 x 10-18

1.3 Unit Consistency and Conversions

Unit consistency or dimensionally consistent means that in a physical equation, each side of the expression
should have the same units otherwise the equation is an error.
Example: If a body moving with constant speed v travels a distance d in a time t, these quantities are
related by the equation: d=vt. If d is measured in meters, then the product vt must also be expressed in meters.
Unit Conversion is the process of changing the unit of a quantity to another one within the same system or into
another system.
Dimensional Analysis – factor-label method or unit factor method. Is a way to analyze and solve problems
using the units, or dimensions, of the measurements.

1.4 Uncertainty and Significant Figures

Uncertainty – is also called the error because it indicates the maximum difference there is likely to be between
the measured value and the true value. The uncertainty or error of a measured value depends on the
measurement technique used.
Accuracy – is a measure of how close a measurement comes to the actual or true value of whatever is
measured. We often indicate the accuracy by writing the number, the symbol ±, and a second number indicating
the uncertainty of the measurement. We can express accuracy in terms of fractional error or percent error

Precision – is a measure of how close a series of measurements are to one another

Accepted value – correct value based on reliable references

Experimental value – value measured in the lab

08 Jan 2024 – EngrLGS Page 2 of 13

 1. PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, UNITS AND VECTORS
Scientific (exponential) Notation – sometimes called powers-of-10 notation, a number is written as the product
of two numbers: a coefficient and 10 raised to a power.
Significant Figures in Measurement – include all of the digits that are known, plus a last digit that is estimated
or uncertain
1. Nonzero digits are always significant
2. Zeroes between nonzero digits are always significant.
3. Zeroes at the end of a number that contains a decimal point are always significant.
4. Zeroes at the end of a number that does not contain a decimal point may or may not be significant.
5. Leftmost zeros appearing in front of nonzero digits are not significant

Rules in Addition and Subtraction. The answer to an addition or subtraction calculation should be rounded
to the same number of decimal places as the measurement with the least number of decimal places.
Rules in Multiplication and Division. In calculations involving multiplication and division, you need to round
the answer to the same number of significant figures as the measurement with the least number of significant
figures.

Practice Exercises on Conversion of Units

1. The world land speed record is 763.0 mi/h, set on October 15, 1997, by Andy Green in the jet-engine car
Thrust SSC. Express this speed in meters per second.
2. The world’s largest cut diamond is the First Star of Africa (mounted in the British Royal Sceptre and kept in
the Tower of London). Its volume is 1.84 cubic inches. What is its volume in cubic centimeters? In milliliters? In
cubic meters?
3. The density of water at 20 ℃ is 1000 kg/m3. Convert this to lbm/ft3.
4. The density of gold is 19.3 g/cm 3. What is this value in kg/m 3?
5. How many years older will you be 1.00 gigasecond from now? Assume 365-day year.
6. A solid steel cylinder has a length of 5 inches and a radius of 2.5 cm. What is the its volume in cubic
centimeters?

1.5 Vectors
Scalar quantity – when a physical quantity is described by a single number. Physical quantities that have
magnitude only but no direction. Example: time, temperature, mass and density.
Vector quantity – has both magnitude (the “how much” or “how big” part) and a direction in space. Example:
displacement, force, velocity
Vector Representation
a. Graphical representation – line with an arrowhead at its tip.
b. Vector notations – vectors are usually denoted with capital letters written in boldface or with special
markings. Example: A or ⃗⃗⃗
𝐴, B or ⃗⃗⃗
𝐵
Indicating Directions of (coplanar) Vectors:
Method 1: Using the angle 𝜃 that the vector males with the “zero reference line (usually the positive x-axis)”,
measured going counterclockwise.

08 Jan 2024 – EngrLGS Page 3 of 13

 1. PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, UNITS AND VECTORS

Example: Vector A = 3 units at 35° is a vector having a magnitude of 3 units, and whose direction 𝜃 is 35° from
the positive x-axis measured going counterclockwise.

Method 2: Using Geographic Directions

Example: The figure below shows vector A = 3 units, 𝜃𝐴 = 25° and vector B = 3 units, 𝜃𝐵 = 30°.

The figure above means that:

i. Vector A = 3 units 25° EN (East of North)
ii. Vector A = 3 units 65° NE
iii. Vector B = 3 units 30° SW
iv. Vector B = 3 units 60° WS

08 Jan 2024 – EngrLGS Page 4 of 13

 1. PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, UNITS AND VECTORS
1.6 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, the negative of one vector is added to the
other. 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. 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) R; b) C-A-D

Solution:
Let Vectors directed towards the right be positive
Vectors directed towards the left be negative

a) R or Resultant =A+B+C+D+E
= 50 m + (-20 m) + (-30 m) + 25 m + (-60 m)
= -35 m (The magnitude of the Resultant vector is 35 m and directed towards the
left)
b) C-A-D = C+(-A) +(-D)
= -30 m + (-50 m) + (-25 m)
= -105 m (The magnitude of C-A-D is 105 m and directed toward left)

ii. 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
e. Solve the R using sine law and cosine law

08 Jan 2024 – EngrLGS Page 5 of 13

 1. PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, UNITS AND VECTORS
iii. 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 or head-to-tail
fashion.
Example: Solution:

iv. Triangle Method is similar to the Parallelogram Method but with two vectors connected from tip-to-tail or
heat-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 R of the two coplanar vectors can be calculated by trigonometry using cosine law for a non-right-
angled triangle.
c. The angle between the vector and the R can be calculated using sine law for a non-right-angled
triangle.

v. Component Method
Many vector operations and analyses are done using their components. These are two or more vectors which
when combined or added will give the original vector. For coplanar vectors 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 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

Example: Ax and Ay (which in this case are both positive) are the component vectors of vector A

08 Jan 2024 – EngrLGS Page 6 of 13

 1. PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, UNITS AND VECTORS
Using Components to Do Vector Calculations
1. Finding a vector’s magnitude and direction from its components – by applying the Pythagorean theorem.
Example: We have components Ax and Ay, to find the magnitude of vector A:

𝐴 = √𝐴2𝑥 + 𝐴2𝑦
𝐴𝑦
tan 𝜃 =
𝐴𝑥
2. Multiplying a vector by a scalar.
Example: If we multiply a vector A by a scalar c:
⃗⃗⃗
𝐷 = c𝐴⃗⃗⃗ , is the product of c and the corresponding component of A:
𝐷𝑥 = c𝐴𝑥 , 𝐷𝑦 = c𝐴𝑦 (components of 𝐷 ⃗⃗⃗ = c𝐴
⃗⃗⃗ )
3. Using components to calculate the vector sum (R) of two or more vectors.

A vector in three dimensions:

08 Jan 2024 – EngrLGS Page 7 of 13

 1. PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, UNITS AND VECTORS
Practice Exercises on Addition of Vectors
1. A cross-country skier skis 1.00 km north and then 2.00 km east on a horizontal snowfield. How far and in
what direction is she form the starting point?
2. What are the x and y-components of Vector D in the figure below?

3. Three players on a reality TV show are brought to the center of a large, flat field. Each is given a meter stick,
a compass, a calculator, a shovel, and (in a different order for each contestant) the following three displacements:
𝐴: 72.4 m, 32.0° east of north
⃗ : 57.3 m, 36.0° south of west
𝐵
𝐶 : 17.8 m, due south
The three displacements lead to the point in the field where the keys to a new Porsche are buried. Two players
start measuring immediately, but the winner first calculates where to go. What does she calculate?
4. A postal employee drives a delivery truck along the route shown in figure below. Determine the magnitude
and direction of the resultant displacement by drawing a scale diagram and component method.

5. Compute the x- and y-components of the vectors A, B, C, and D in the figure below.

08 Jan 2024 – EngrLGS Page 8 of 13

 1. PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, UNITS AND VECTORS
6. A disoriented physics professor drivers 3.25 km north, then 2.20 km west, and then1.50 km south. Find the
magnitude and direction of the resultant displacement, using component method and polygon method.

⃗ ; b) 𝐴 − 𝐵
7. Use the figure below. Find the magnitude and direction of a) 𝐴 + 𝐵 ⃗ ; c) 𝐵
⃗ − 𝐴, by component method.

8. Vector 𝐴 has y-component Ay= +13.0 m. 𝐴 makes an angle of 32° counterclockwise from th +y-axis. A) What
is the x-component of 𝐴? b) What is the magnitude of 𝐴?

1.7 Unit Vectors

A unit vector is a vector that has a magnitude of 1, with no units. Its only purpose is to point – to describe a
direction in space. A caret or “hat” ( ̂ ) is used as symbol for a unit vector.

In an xy-coordinate system:

⃗⃗⃗ = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗̂
Then, we can write a vector A in terms of its components as: 𝐴
Also, we can express the vector sum R of two vectors A and B as follows:
⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗̂
⃗⃗⃗
𝐵 = 𝐵𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗̂
⃗⃗⃗
𝑅 = ⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 + ⃗⃗⃗
𝐵 = (𝐴𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗̂) + (𝐵𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗̂)
= (𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑥 )𝑖̂ + (𝐴𝑦 + 𝐵𝑦 )𝑗̂
= 𝑅𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝑅𝑦 𝑗̂

08 Jan 2024 – EngrLGS Page 9 of 13

 1. PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, UNITS AND VECTORS
If not all of the vectors lie in the xy-plane, then we need a third component.

⃗⃗⃗ = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘̂
𝐴
𝐵 = 𝐵𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝐵𝑧 𝑘̂
⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗ = 𝐴
𝑅 𝐵 = (𝐴𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘̂ ) + (𝐵𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝐵𝑧 𝑘̂ )
⃗⃗⃗ + ⃗⃗⃗
= (𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑥 )𝑖̂ + (𝐴𝑦 + 𝐵𝑦 )𝑗̂ +(𝐴𝑧 + 𝐵𝑧 )𝑘̂
= 𝑅𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝑅𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑅𝑧 𝑘̂

Practice Exercises on Unit Vectors

1. Given the two displacements
⃗⃗⃗ = (6.00𝑖̂ + 3.00𝑗̂ - 1.00𝑘̂ ) 𝑚 and
𝐷
⃗⃗⃗ = (4.00𝑖̂ - 5.00𝑗̂ + 8.00𝑘̂ ) 𝑚
𝐸
Find the magnitude of the displacement 2𝐷 ⃗⃗⃗ − 𝐸
⃗⃗⃗ .

2. a) Write each vector in the figure below in terms of the unit vectors 𝑖̂ and 𝑗̂. b) use unit vectors to express
vector ⃗⃗⃗
𝐶 , where ⃗⃗⃗
𝐶 = 3.00𝐴⃗⃗⃗ − 4.00𝐵
⃗⃗⃗ . c) Find the magnitude and direction of ⃗⃗⃗
𝐶.

3. Given two vectors ⃗⃗⃗ 𝐴 = −2.00𝑖̂ + 3.00𝑗̂ + 4.00𝑘̂ and ⃗⃗⃗

𝐵 = 3. 00𝑖̂ + 1.00𝑗̂ - 3.00𝑘̂ ), a0 find the magnitude of
⃗⃗⃗ − ⃗⃗⃗
each vector; b) use unit vectors to write an expression for the vector difference 𝐴 𝐵 ; and c) find the magnitude
of vector difference ⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 − ⃗⃗⃗
𝐵.

4. In each case, find the x- and y-components of vector ⃗⃗⃗

𝐴 : a) ⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 = 3.20𝑖̂ - 6.50𝑗̂; b) ⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 = 18.20𝑗̂ - 7.910𝑖̂; c)
⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 = −12.0𝑖̂ + 21.2𝑗̂; d) 𝐴 = 5.0𝐵 , where 𝐵 = 8𝑖̂ - 4𝑗̂.

08 Jan 2024 – EngrLGS Page 10 of 13

 1. PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, UNITS AND VECTORS
1.8 Product of Vectors

1. Scalar Product (or Dot Product) – yields a result that is a scalar quantity.
We denote the scalar product of two vectors ⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 and ⃗⃗⃗
𝐵 by ⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 • ⃗⃗⃗
𝐵

⃗⃗⃗ • ⃗⃗⃗
i. Calculating the scalar product of two vectors, 𝐴 𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 cos ∅ = |𝐴||𝐵| cos ∅

The scalar product may be positive, negative, or zero.

ii. Using Components to Calculate the Scalar Product

The scalar product of two vectors is the sum of the products of their respective components.

2. Vector Product (or Cross Product) – as the name suggests, the vector product is itself as vector.
We denote the vector product of two vectors ⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 and ⃗⃗⃗
𝐵 by ⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 × ⃗⃗⃗
𝐵.

i. Calculating the magnitude of the vector product of two vectors, ⃗⃗⃗

𝐴 × ⃗⃗⃗
𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 sin ∅

We use the right-hand rule in finding the direction of vector product.

08 Jan 2024 – EngrLGS Page 11 of 13

 1. PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, UNITS AND VECTORS

Also, the vector product is not commutative but instead is anticommutative: For any two vectors ⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 and ⃗⃗⃗
𝐵,
⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 × 𝐵 = −𝐵 × 𝐴⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗

ii. Using Components to Calculate the Vector Product

The vector product of any vector with itself is zero: 𝑖̂ × 𝑖̂ = 𝑗̂ × 𝑗̂ = 𝑘̂ × 𝑘̂ = 0.

The right-handed coordinate most commonly used:

The vector product of ⃗⃗⃗

𝐴 × ⃗⃗⃗
𝐵 in terms of their components and corresponding unit vectors:

Practice Exercises on Product of Vectors

1. Find the scalar product ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ of the two vectors in the figure below. The magnitudes of the vectors are A =
𝐴 • 𝐵
4.00 and B = 5.00.

𝐴 = 2.00𝑖̂ + 3.00𝑗̂ + 1.00𝑘̂ and ⃗⃗⃗

2. Find the angle between the vectors ⃗⃗⃗ 𝐵 = −4.00𝑖̂ + 2.00𝑗̂ - 1.00𝑘̂ .
3. Vector ⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 has magnitude 6 units and is in the direction of the +x-axis. Vector ⃗⃗⃗
𝐵 has magnitude of 4 units and
lies in the xy-plane, making an angle of 30° with the +x-axis (Refer to figure below). Find the vector product
⃗⃗⃗
𝐶 = ⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 × ⃗⃗⃗
𝐵 .

References
o Young, H. et. Al (2012) Sears and Zemanky’s University Physics with Modern Physics 13th Edition, Pearson
Education Inc.
o Singer, F. (1975) Engineering Mechanics: Statics and Dynamics, Third Edition, Harper & Row Publishers, Inc.
o Physics Today (2014) A more fundamental International System of Units Volume 67, Issue 7 retrieved from
https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday

08 Jan 2024 – EngrLGS Page 12 of 13

 1. PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, UNITS AND VECTORS
NAME:
BLOCK:

Table 1.3 METRIC/ENGLISH UNIT CONVERSION TABLE

LENGTH AREA
1 in = 1000 mil 1 acre = 43 560 ft2
= 2.54 cm 1 are = 100 m2
1 ft = 30.48 cm 1 hectare = 10000 m2
= 12 in PRESSURE
1 yd = 3 ft 1 atm = 101325 Pa
1m = 3.28 ft = 14.7 psi
1 fathom = 6 ft = 760 mmHg
1 chain = 66 ft = 29.92 inHg
1 mile = 5280 ft = 760 torr
1 n. mile = 6080 ft 1 bar = 100 kPa
1 Angstrom = 1 x10-10m 1 MPa = 1 N/mm2
MASS ENERGY
1 kg = 2.2 lbm 1 BTU = 1055 J
1 lbm = 16 oz = 252 cal
1 slug = 32.2 lbm = 778 ft-lbf
1 tonne = 1000 kg 1 kcal = 4.187 kJ
= 1 MT 1 eV = 1.602 x 10-19 J
= 2200 lbm 1J = 107 erg
1 short ton = 2000 lbm 1 chu = 1.8 BTU
1 long ton = 2240 lbm POWER
VOLUME 1 Hp = 746 W
1L = 1000 cm3 = 550 ft.lbf/s
1 m3 = 1000 L = 2545 Btu/hr
1 ft3 = 7.481 gal 1 metric Hp = 736 W
1 gal = 3.7853 L 1 kW = 3412 Btu/hr
= 4 quarts 1 TOR = 3.516 kW
1 quart = 2 pints = 12 000 Btu/hr
VISCOSITY 1 BoHP = 35 322 kJ/hr
1 Poise = 1 g/cm.s FORCE
= 100 cP 1N = 1 x105 dyne
= 0.1 Pa.s 1 kgf = 9.81 N
1 cP = 1x10-3 kg/m.s 1 lbf = 32.174 lbm.ft/s2
= 6.72 x10-4 lbm/ft.s ANGLE
SPEED/ACCELERATION 1 rev = 360o
1 knot = 1 naut. mile/hr = 2π rad
1 m/s = 3.6 kph = 400 grad
2
9.81 m/s = 32.2 ft/s2 = 400 gons
= 6400 mils

08 Jan 2024 – EngrLGS Page 13 of 13