th

Physics,
4
Physics, 4thEdition
Edition
James S. Walker
James S. Walker

Copyright

2010
Pearson
Education,
Inc.
Copyright
2010
Pearson
Education,
Inc.

Chapter 1
Introduction to Physics

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Units of Chapter 1
Units of Length, Mass, and Time
Dimensional Analysis
Significant Figures
Converting Units
Scalars and Vectors
Problem Solving in Physics

1-2 Why and How We Measure

Physics attempts to describe nature in an
objective way through measurement.
Measurements are expressed in units;
officially accepted units are called
standard units.
Major systems of units:
1. Metric
2. British (used by the U.S., but no longer by
the British!)
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1-2 SI Units of Length, Mass, and Time

Length, mass, and time are fundamental
quantities; combinations of them will form all
the units we will use through Chapter 14.
In this text, we will be using the SI system of
units, which is based on the metric system.

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1-2 SI Units of Length, Mass, and Time

SI unit of length: the meter. The original
definition is on the left, the modern one is on the
right.

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1-2 SI Units of Length, Mass, and Time

SI unit of mass: the kilogram
Originally, the kilogram was
the mass of 0.10 m3 of water.

Now, the standard kilogram is

a platinum-iridium cylinder
kept at the French Bureau of
Weights and Measures.
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1-2 SI Units of Length, Mass, and Time

SI unit of time: the second
The second is defined as a certain number of
oscillations of the cesium-133 atom.

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1-2 More about the Metric System

The British system of units is used in the U.S.,
with the basic units being the foot, the pound
(force, not mass), and the second.
However, the SI system is virtually ubiquitous
outside the U.S., and it makes sense to
become familiar with it.

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1-2 More about the Metric System

In the metric system, units of the same type of
quantity (length or time, for example) differ from
each other by factors of 10. Here are some
common prefixes:

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Is there anything wrong with this

picture???

1-3 Dimensional Analysis

Any valid physical formula must be dimensionally
consistent each term must have the same
dimensions

From the table:

Distance = velocity time
Velocity = acceleration time
Energy = mass (velocity)2

1-3 Unit Analysis

A powerful way to check your calculations is to
use unit analysis.
Not only must the numerical values on both
sides of an equation be equal, the units must
be equal as well.

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1-4 Unit Conversions

A conversion factor simply lets you express a quantity
in terms of other units without changing its physical
value or size.

The fraction in blue is

the conversion factor;
its numerical value is 1.
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1-5 Significant Figures

Calculations may contain two types of numbers:
exact numbers and measured numbers.
Exact numbers are part of a definition, such as
the 2 in d = 2r.
Measured numbers are just thatfor example,
we might measure the radius of a circle to be
10.3 cm, but that measurement is not exact.

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1-5 Significant Figures

Significant figures in calculations:
1. When multiplying and dividing quantities, leave as
many significant figures in the answer as there are in
the quantity with the least number of significant
figures.
2. When adding or subtracting quantities, leave the
same number of decimal places (rounded) in the
answer as there are in the quantity with the least
number of decimal places.
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1-7 Scalars and Vectors

Scalar a numerical value. May be positive or

negative. Examples: temperature, speed,
height
Vector a quantity with both magnitude and
direction. Examples: displacement (e.g., 10
feet north), force, magnetic field

1-8 Problem Solving in Physics

Problem solving guidelines:

Summary:

1. Read the problem carefully

1. READ

2. Sketch the system

2. DRAW

3. Organize known data

3. DATA

4. Identify appropriate equations

4. EQUATIONS

5. Solve the equations

5. SOLVE

6. Check your answer

6. SANITY

1-8 Problem Solving

Summary:
1. READ
2. DRAW
3. DATA
4. EQUATIONS
5. SOLVE
6. SANITY
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Supplemental Topic: Density

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Summary of Chapter 1

Physics is based on clear laws and principles

Units of length are meters; of mass, kilograms;
and of time, seconds
All terms in an equation must have the same
dimensions
The result of a calculation should have only as
many significant figures as the least accurate
measurement used in it

Summary of Chapter 1
Convert one unit to another by multiplying by
a conversion fraction
Scalars are numbers; vectors have both
magnitude and direction
Problem solving: read, sketch, visualize,
strategize, identify equations, solve, check,
explore limits