STPM PHYSICS [CHAPTER 1 PHYSICAL QUANTITIES ANS UNITS] Name: Date:

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1.1 Basic Quantities and SI Units







1. Base Quantities and SI Units

Base Quantities SI Units Symbols
Mass


Length


Time


Thermodynamic temperature


Amount of substance


Electric Current


Luminous intensity





2. Derived Quantities and Units
- A quantity can be derived from the base quantities by combining the base
quantities




Examples of Derived Quantities
Derived
quantities
Defining equations Base quantities used Derived units
Area


Volume


Speed


Force


Momentum



Practices 1.1
1. Derive the units of the following derived quantites
(a) power (b) torque




2. Derive the unit, in terms of base units, of the quantity q in the following
equation:
L
pr
t
V
q
t
8
4
=
where V, t, p, r, L represent volume, time, pressure, radius and length
respectively.




3. Show that the term p(V1-V2), where p represent pressure and V1, V2 represent
volume, has a unit which is the same as that of energy.


Physical Quantity
something which can be observed and measured, example;
Length, area, volume, speed,etc..


STPM PHYSICS [CHAPTER 1 PHYSICAL QUANTITIES ANS UNITS] Name: Date:

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1.2 Dimensions of Physical Quantities

1.2.1 Dimensions

1. Symbol of Dimensions for Base Quantities
Base Quantities Dimensions
Mass
Length
Time
Temperature
Amount of substance
Current

2. A quantity X in mechanics, for examples, speed, momentum, kinetic energy
normally involves with mass, length and time only. Hence, its dimensions can be
expressed in the following way:
| |
z y x
T L M X =

3. A physical quantity may not have dimension. It is said to be dimensionless.
A dimensionless quantity does not have unit.


Practices 1.2.1
1. Find the dimensional expression for (a) force, (b) work



2. The moment of inertia I of a uniform rod of mass m and length l about an axis
through one end of the rod and perpendicular to the axis of the rod is given by
the formula
2
3
1
ml I =
Determine (a) the unit of I,
(b) the dimensional expression for I.
3. The dimensional expression for the viscosity q of a liquid is given as follows:
| |
1 1
= T ML q
What is the unit of q?





4. The unit of thermal conductivity is
1 1
K Wm . Determine the dimensional
expression for .




1.2.2 Principle of Homogeneity of Dimensions

1. If both sides of an equation have the same dimensions, then it is dimensionally
homogeneous and the equation is correct.


Practices 1.2.2
1. A convex lens has focal length f and its surfaces have radii of curvature r1 and
r2. The refractive index of the material of the lens is n. All these quantities are
related through the equation
)
1 1
)( 1 (
1
2 1
r r
n
f
+ =
Show that this equation is dimensionally correct.



2. Show that the equation
2
2
1
at ut s + = is dimensionally correct.



STPM PHYSICS [CHAPTER 1 PHYSICAL QUANTITIES ANS UNITS] Name: Date:

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3. Given the following equations:
(a)
q
Axp
v = (b)
p
Bx
v
q
= (c)
xp
C
v
q
=
where v,x p, q represent the speed of an object, width of the object, density of
Liquid , coefficient of viscosity of liquid(unit:
1 1
s kgm ) while A,B,C are dimensionless
constants. Determine which equation(s) is/are dimensionally correct.






1.2.3 Dimensional Analysis

1. Dimensional analysis : used to determine an algebraic expression showing how a
physical quantity is related to other different physical quantities.

Example : Establish an expression for the period t of a simple pendulum which
shows how t is related to the mass m of the pendulum bob, the length l
of the string and acceleration g due to gravity.

Let the expression be
z y x
g l km t = , where k is dimensionless constant.
| | T t = | |
z y x z y x
LT L M g l km ) (
2
=

z z y x
T L M T
2 +
= M: x=0
Equate the indices of each dimensions L: y+z=0
T: -2z=1
Solving, we get x=0. y=1/2, z=-1/2
The expression is
g
l
k g l km t = =

2
1
2
1
0





Practices 1.2.3
1. Factor influencing the speed v of the sound in a medium may be density d,
wavelength and Youngs modulus E. On the basic of dimensional analysis,
obtain the expression for v. Take| |
2 1
= T ML E




2. Obtain an expression which shows how the mass m of a large object displaced
by river water depends on water velocity v, water density and acceleration due
to gravity.





1.3 Scalar and Vector

Scalar Quantity Vector Quantity


Example: Example:




1. Vector can be label
a) a bold-faced type letter, force, F
b) a normal letter with overhead arrow., force F

2. Vector can be represented by a straight arrow. Length represented the
magnitude and arrow represented the direction.

A B

STPM PHYSICS [CHAPTER 1 PHYSICAL QUANTITIES ANS UNITS] Name: Date:

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1.3.1 Addition and Subtraction of Vector

The parallelogram law of vector addition
The law is used whenever we wish to add
together two or more vectors.Draw AB =u and
AD=v from a common starting point.The diagonal
AC represents the resultant vector u
+
v

Triangle Law of Addition
- The resultant vector of the vector u and v can be
obtained by connecting the starting point of u with
the endpoint of v.
i.e: Draw AB =u and BC =v , thus two sides of a
triangle ABC are obtained.

Practices 1.3

1. Two horizontal forces act at the same point on a body. One force of magnitude
10N acts towards the east. The second force of magnitude 10N acts at north 50
east. Determine the resultant of the two forces by
(a) drawing a scaled diagram, (b) calculation.



2. A straight river of width 250m flows at a rate of 2ms
-1
. A person can row a boat at
a speed of 2.5ms
-1
in calm water. The person starts to row a boat at a point on
one side of the river bank to another point directly opposite to the starting point
on the other side of the river bank. Determine
(a)The time taken for the journey of the path is always perpendicular to the river
bank.
(b)The shortest time taken to cross the river.



Subtraction of vector - Subtraction of vector b from the vector a can be written as
a-b.
- Also called addition of vector a with the negative vector b. i.e a

+(-b)

Uses- Vector subtraction can be used
(a) to determine the velocity of one body relative to
another
(b) to determine the change in velocity experienced by a
moving body.


1.3.2 Vector Resolution

A vector can be split up into two and more than two vectors, called the components
of the original vector. The process of splitting the vector into its component called
resolving the vector.

- We often resolve a vector P into two components which are perpendicular to each
other, as in figure. P
x
, is along the x-axis and P
y
is along the y axis.

Practices 1.3.1
Three coplanar forces act at a point O, as shown in
Figure.
(a) Resolve these forces along the x-axis and the y-
axis.
(b) Determine the resultant of the system of forces.



P
Px
Py
u
STPM PHYSICS [CHAPTER 1 PHYSICAL QUANTITIES ANS UNITS] Name: Date:

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1.4 Uncertainty (Errors)

1.4.1 Uncertainty in Measurement

1. Uncertainty in Measurement-
A measures value of a physical quantity (like length, mass) is not exact because it
has some uncertainty.

2. Quantity related with uncertainty

a) Precision - uncertainty can be reduced if using a more sensitive instrument to
measure the quantity. Less uncertainty, more precise.

b) Significant Figures The magnitude of physical quantity is expressed in term
of a numerical figure. Each digit in the figure is known as significant figures.
The more significant figure a value carries, the higher precision it is.


3. Processing Significant Figure

Addition and Subtraction - the final value must have the same number of
decimal places as that measured value which has the least number of decimal
places.

Multiplication and Division The final calculated value must have as many
significant figures as that measured value which has the least number of
significant number.


Practices 1.4.1
1. How many significant figures are expressed in the following measured values?
(a) 2.56cm (b) 4.05cm (c)0.25cm (d)2.560cm (e) 2.00x10
3
N



2. Determine (a) P=1.275cm+11.2cm (b) Q=5.232cm-2.35cm


3. Determine the area of a rectangle of length 72.95cm and breadth 6.57cm



1.4.2 Systematic Uncertainties and Random Uncertainty


Systematic Error Random Error
Errors that can consistently
affect readings. It cannot be
reduced by taking the
average of multiple
readings.
It mostly caused by defect in
instrument.
Random errors happen
when
i) Incorrect positioning of eye or
instrument
ii) Sudden change of
environment factor
Examples









Techniques to Reduce Error







STPM PHYSICS [CHAPTER 1 PHYSICAL QUANTITIES ANS UNITS] Name: Date:

Prepared by, Tang SE 6