LESSON 1

Understanding Physics The study of the laws that determine the structure of the universe with reference to the matter and energy of which it consists. The study was divided into separated fields; heat , the properties of matter, light, sound ,wave, electricity, magnetism, mechanics, nuclear physics etc. In physics , there is the need to make careful observations, precise and accurate measurements. Understanding natural phenomena and observing everyday objects such as a table, a mirror etc and discuss how they are related to physics concepts has always been a central aim of physics. The roots of all science are firmly based in experiment. Of course , mastering scientific skills applying scientific knowledge must be the important thing to learn physics. Physical Quantities Physics is based on measurement. We discover physics by learning how to measure the quantities that are involved in physics and we call its as physical quantities. The meaning of Physical Quantities Physical quantities are quantities that can be measured. Examples of physical quantities are length, mass, time, weight, pressure, current and force. A physical quantity is a property ascribed to phenomena, objects, or subtances that be quantified. Example are: (i) Frequency of oscillation frequency is the quantity and oscillation is the phenomenon (ii) Length of a wooden block Length is the quantity and the wooden block is an object (iii) Density of water density is the quantity and the water is the substance There are two types of the physical quantities, Base quantities Derived quantities

Base Quantities The physical quantities which are used as the basis for the measurement and cant be derived from other physical quantities. There are five base quantities as shown in the following table:
Base quantity Length Mass Time Temperature Current Symbol Unit name Unit Abbreviation Measured by

Derived Quantities The physical quantities which were derived from base quantities by multiplication operation or division operation or both There are three examples for derived quantities as shown in the following table.
Derived quantity Area Velocity Density Symbol In term of the base quantities Derived unit Unit Abbreviation

Example 1 State the following derived quantities in terms of the base quantities. (a) Acceleration (Hint: Acceleration = change of velocity ) time (b) Momentum (Hint : Mometum = mass x velocity ) Solution

Example 2 State the base units for the following derived quantities: (a) Force (Hint : Force = mass x acceleration ) (b) Impulse (Hint : Impulse = change of momentum) (c) Work (Hint : Work = force x displacement) Solution (a)

A vector is any quantity with size (magnitude) and specified direction. Examples of vector quantities are displacement, weight, force, velocity, acceleration and momentum.

TUTORIAL 1
1 Which one of the following is not a base quantity? A C 2 Length Current B D Weight Time

Which one of the following is not a base unit? A C Celcius Kilogram B D Ampere Second

(b)

All derived quantities can be derived from base quantities by A addition operation or subtraction operation addition operation or subtraction operation or both multiplication operation or division operation multiplication operation or division operation or both

(c)

B C D 4

The S.I. base unit for mass is A C gram kilogram B D miligram mikrogram

Scalar and Vector quantities A scalar is any quantity with size (magnitude) but without specified direction. Examples of scalar quantities include mass, time, length, temperature, energy, work, speed and pressure.

Which one of the base quantities is not involve in force? A C Length B Temperature D Time Mass

Which of the derived quantities is the combination of a base quantities only? A B Force Volume

Acceleration

13 7 Which one of the following pairs of derived quantities is true? A B C D 8 Work and mass Force and current Pressure and temperature Weight and potential difference

Base quantitiy o C Derived kg m 2 s -2 quantity D Area Basie m2 quantitiy The kinetic energy of a moving object is given by E=mv2 where m = mass and v = velocity. The number of the base quanrtities involve in the kinetic energy ,E is or are B Temperature C Work A B C 1 2 3

Which of the following physical quantities is a base quantity A B C D The weight of an astronaut on the Moons surface is 10 N. The velocity of a cyclist rides a bycle is 70 km h-1 The perimeter of a field is 380 m The power of a lamp is 60 W.

14

Which of the following pairs of physical quantities and S.I. units is true? S.I. unit foot squared Kilogram Joules per minute Kilograms per metre cubed

Physical quantitiy A B C D 15 Area Weight Power Density

Which one of the base quantities is not involve in acceleration? A B C Length Mass Time

Which one of the following is true? A The S.I. units of charge is A s B The S.I. units of volume is cm 3 C The S.I. units of velocity is km h - 1 D The S.I. units of acceleration is cm s- 2 A physical quantitiy is given by M=ed2 where the unit of e is unit kilogram and the unit of d is metre. The units of M are A C E kg 2 m kg m 2 kg 2 m 2 B D kg - 2 m kg m - 2

10

Which one of the following apparatus is not used to measure the density of a metal cube? A B C Ruler Stop watch Triple beam balance 16

11

Which one of the following derived quantities contains length and time only? A B Velocity Force Physical quantity A Momemtum B D Type of physical quantity Derived quantity Momemtum Pressure S.I. Unit Kg m s-2 s,

17

12 Which one of the following is true?

The period of oscillation for an inertial balance is given by T2= km where T = The period of oscillation and the unit is m = Mass and the unit is kg

k = constant The units of k is A kg s2 C kg s E kg2 s B kg- 1 s 2 D kg- 2 s-1 22 The power of a student to run up a stair is given by the equation Power = force X displacement time (a) State the base quantities contain in the equation above. .................................................................... (b) State the power in term of base quantities. ....................................................................

18

Which of the followinq quantity is a scalar quantity. A C Weight Force B D Volume Acceleration

19

Which of the followinq quantity is a vector quantity. A C Work Velocity B D Power Distance

20

Which one of the following pairs of vector quantities is true? A B C Impulse and area Power and pressure Weight and velocity

21

(a) The current flows through a metal conductor is is defined by the equation current = charge time Based on the equation, which of the quantities above are (i) (ii) base quantities ....................................................... derived quantities

....................................................... (b) What are the S.I.units of charge? ...............................................................