Quantities and units of the S.I.

system
Quantities are the values of anything than can be measured; Mass, Force, Current Voltage…
Every value of quantity needs to have its units; 50kg, 20N, 5A, 12V…

Standard form:
Very big or vey small quantities need to be converted to standard form in order to help you manage these numbers better –
Don’t forget to add the unit at the end of the standard form to complete the quantity
Standard form are numbers between 1 and 10 multiplied by 10 x

Ex. 340 becomes 3.4 x 102 and 0.00340 becomes 3.4 x 10 -3

Kg
m
N
S.I. Prefixes:
Another way to write very big or very small quantities is by writing prefixes to replace the 10ˣ of the standard form quantity –
Don’t forget to add the unit at the end of the prefix to complete the quantity;
A common example of prefixes if 10mm Unit = meters
prefix = 10⁻³

These are all the possible prefixes you will need to learn them by heart as
these will be used in many equations to express the answer:
As you can see there aren’t prefixes for all
the possible answers.

In cases such as 713 × 10² g you will have to

arrange the answer to fit the closest prefix in
this case it is k – × 10³:
We do this by simply moving the point 1 step
to the left so that the × 10² turn to × 10³;

713 × 10² g = 71.3 × 10³ g = 7.13 kg

Express the following using prefixes:

S.I. Based quantities and Derived quantities:

Base quantities are fundamental measurements that form the foundation of the International System of Units (SI). These
quantities cannot be defined in terms of other measurements and represent essential concepts in science and engineering.
Each base quantity has a specific unit, which allows for consistent and accurate measurement.

Each of these quantities have their own

definition, example;
Meters - the distance light travels in a
vacuum in 1/299,792,458 seconds

But you will only need to know the

definition of Mole and Current further on.
Derived quantities are physical measurements that are calculated from base quantities through mathematical relationships
(their formula). Unlike base quantities, which are fundamental and independent, derived quantities are defined in terms of
two or more base quantities.

These are just some derived quantities to give you an

idea of what they are:
Notice how for example m . m is written as m² and how m/ (s . s) is
written as m s⁻²
This is the format of how units will be written from now on.
Negative indices will replace the division sign and by placing units
next to each other you will be replacing the multiplication sign.
(These are just basic indices rules)

Derived units with special names are simply derived units witch have names instead of their actual derived units these are
used when the derived unit is too long due to long equations.
Express the following’s units as a product of base units:
Homogeneity of physical quantities:

Many physical quantities can be calculated using more than just 1 formula.
If both equations are correct when the quantities behind the equals are expressed as base units and simplified, the simplified units
should match for both equations.
These are called homogeneous expressions.
Scientists use this method to check weather a new formula is correct.

Example:
1) Volume = L . B . H = m . m . m. = m³
2) Volume = mass / density = kg / kg m⁻³ = 1 / m⁻³ = m³
Since the units of the quantities on the left hand side (L.H.S) of the equation are identical to the units on the right hand side (R.H.S) then
the equation is homogeneous with respect to (w.r.t) its units (you always need to add this – learn it by heart)

However there are also equations including numbers

When converting an equation into base units you remove any numbers in the equation and convert the quantities
However even if an equation with numbers is homogeneous it doesn’t mean the formula is correct as you are not taking into
consideration the numbers This means not all homogeneous equations are correct.

Kinetic Energy - As indicated in the ‘derived units with special names’ table the units of K.E. = kg m² s⁻²
K.E. = ½ mv²
K.E. = mv² (remove numbers)
K.E. = kg (m s⁻¹)²
K.E. = kg m² s⁻²
Since the units of the quantities on the L.H.S of the equation are identical to the units on the R.H.S then the equation is homogeneous w.r.t
its units
 How to prove an equation is homogeneous in a correct format:

Prove the following equation is homogeneous:

2 terms 3 or more terms

L.H.S R.H.S 1 2 3

Units on L.H.S = kg m² s⁻²

Units of V = m
1 2 Units of U = m
Units on R.H.S = 2 𝑚 𝑣
2
Units of at = m. s
¿𝑚𝑣 =m
−1 2
¿ 𝑘𝑔 ( 𝑚 s )
Since units of each term are the same then the equation is
2 −2
¿ 𝑘𝑔 𝑚 𝑠 homogeneous w.r.t the base units

Since the units of the quantities on the L.H.S of

the equation are identical to the units on the
R.H.S then the equation is homogeneous w.r.t its
units
Exercise – Prove that the following equations are homogeneous with respect to their base units:
A-Level questions:
 Materials
Classification of solids:
In physiscs we will mainly focus on 3 different types of materials being:
1. Metals such as iron and steel and aluminium
2. Glassy subtenses such as the regular window glass
3. Polymers such as rubber and polythene

Each material has a different atomic structure (structure of atoms). These different atomic structures is what makes each
material unique with its strength and weakneses in properties.
Atomic structure:
Metals:
Most solids, including all metals are crystalline. A crystalline atomic structure is when atoms in a solid are arranged in a neat, repeating pattern.
This orderly setup makes the solid have specific properties, like how it looks and how it melts

Glass:
Glass is an example of an amorphous solid, the atoms are arranged in a messy way without a long-term pattern. They only show some order over
short distances. Glassy substances are amorphous because of how they’re made. Glass is heated until it melts (to be more maliable). As it cools, it
becomes thicker (this is called increasing viscosity). Instead of forming a regular pattern like crystals, the disordered structure of the liquid gets
“frozen” in place as it cools down quickly.

Polymers: Polymers are material with large molecules made up of 1,000 to 100,000 atoms.
Natural examples include rubber, while synthetic examples include plastics like polythene and
perspex. They consist of repeating units called monomers arranged in long, flexible chains.
Synthetic polymers are created through a chemical reaction called polymerization, where
many small molecules join to form larger ones.
Forces:
There are two main types of forces:

1.Compressive Force: When an object is subjected to a compressive force, it is pushed together and is said to be under
compression.

2.Tensile Force: When an object experiences a tensile force, it is stretched and is said to be under tension.

When a force is applied to an object, it can change its shape. The amount of deformation depends on:

•Size and Shape: The object's dimensions (2 mm thick Chinese gear or 10mm german gear) and overall form (circle tringle).
•Material Properties: The type of material the object is made from (thungsten or jablo)
•Direction of the Force: The way the force is applied (pulling, pushing, or at an angle).
Hooke’s Law:
To study material and their relationship to forces springs are commonly used as they can easily be deformed without having to apply very big forces.

F/N

Force / N Extension
…N …m
... N …m
... N …m
…N …m

Δ 𝑥/𝑚
The graph illustrates how a spring or metal wire stretches when a force is applied:
•A straight line through the origin indicates that the extension is directly proportional to the applied force.

This relationship is expressed by the equation:

(They all mean the same only the symbols are different; Force = spring constant x change in extension)
where k is the constant of proportionality stiffness in this case called spring constant.

•This principle is known as Hooke’s Law, which states that the extension of an elastic body is directly proportional to the force producing it.

•Stiffness Constant Definition:

•The stiffness constant or in the case of a spring, the spring constant is the constant of proportionality between the force and the extension in the region where
Hooke’s law is obeyed.
Springs in series:

When 2 springs, identical or not, are connected together by their ends, like in the picture to the left they are in series.

When dealing with series spring you need to to be mindfull of the following points when calculating Force, Extension or Spring Constant:

1. Force: The force F is the same for both springs as both of them are lifting the same weight.
2. Extention: The total extention = extention of spring 1 () + extention of spring 2 () Keep
Spring 1

in mind that the extention for spring 1 is not always = to the extention for spring 2 as the springs in series are not always identical
3. Spring constant: This constant formula is not given and In the exam you may be asked to give and prove the formula for the spring
constant. This is what you should show:

(divide F from both sides)

Spring 2

Spring 1:
Thus this is the equation for the spring constant in series springs
Spring 2:

F
Springs in parallel:

When 2 identical springs, are connected together by both their ends, like in the picture to the left they are in parallel.
Y When dealing with parallel spring you need to to be mindfull of the following points when calculating Force, Extension or Spring Constant:

1. Force: The force total F of the weight is equally divide by the 2 springs, Thus .
2. Extention: The total extention is the same for both springs and is mesures from Y to Z.
3. Spring constant: This constant formula is not given and In the exam you may be asked to give and prove the formula for the spring
constant. This is what you should show:

Spring 1: (divide from both sides)

Z F
Spring 2: Thus this is the equation for the spring constant in parallel spring
Stress, Strain and Young’s Modulus:
Stress:
When a perpendicular force or tension F is applied to the end of an
object of cross-sectional area A, the object will experience a stress. F

Defenition: The stress is defined as the force per unit area.

And has units: N or Pa.

Strain:
The applied stress causes the object to change shape, thus it is strained in other
words there is a change in length.

Defenition: The strain is defined as the change in length per unit original length.
Strain has no units as it is expressed as a ratio or percentage
 We already know that the graph of hookes law is like so:

𝐹
If we divide Force(F) by Area(A) we will get stress
in the Y-axis and Srain in the X-axis.
Note: By dividing or multiplying the values in the
axis the graph wont change its shape in general
but can change the gradient.

∆𝑙 ∆𝑙
𝑙
As you already know the gradient(m)

As th gradient for the graph of hookes law was the constant of proportionality called spring constant
In the graph of Stress against Strain the gradient is also a constant of proportionality but this time called: Young modulus of material and is its’ formula.

Defenition of young modulus: When hooke’s law is obeyed the stress / strain ratio is a constant of proportionalty known as young modulus of of material.

Units: Young modulus =

• Young’s modulus is a measure of the stiffness of a material.

• Materials that are stiff and hard to deform have a large Young’s modulus thus the graph is steeper.
• Flexible materials are easy to deform hence have a small Young’s modulus and the graph is not steep.
2. The graphs in the diagram show how the force F needed to produce an
extension varies for three different springs A, B and C.
a) Calculate the gradient of each line and hence find the stiffness of each
spring.
b) Use your graph to find the force needed to produce an extension of 0.12
m in: (i) A (ii) B (iii) C.
c) Use your graph to find the extension produced by a force of 16 N in (i) A
(ii) B.
3. A load of weight 20 N was hung from a vertical spring of stiffness 100Nm -1 .
a) What is the extension?
b) A second identical spring was hung side by side with the first spring to help
support the load, i.e. in parallel. What was then the extension? What was the
stiffness of these two springs?
c) The second spring was removed, and instead placed between the first spring
and the load, i.e. in series. What was then the extension? What was the stiffness
of two springs?
d) For springs of stiffness , write down the stiffness, in terms of , of two springs (i)
in parallel (ii) in serie
Sep 2015 no. 13d