CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
TO PHYSICS

Understanding Physics
Physics is a branch of science concerning of
natural phenomena and
properties of matter, light and energy.

There are many branches of study in physics

such as:
Mechanics

Optics

Heat

Waves
Electricity

Nuclear
physics
Magnetism

Physical Quantities
Any quantity that can be measured by a
scientific measurement.
can be categorised into:
Base quantities
Derived quantities

Base Quantities
Physical quantities that cannot be defined in
terms of other physical quantities.
Examples:
Base quantity

Symbol

SI Unit

Unit symbol

Length

meter

Mass

kilogram

kg

Time

second

Temperature

Kelvin

Electric current

Ampere

Derived Quantities
Physical quantities derived from the combinations of
base quantities through multiplication or division or
both these operations.
Examples:
Derived
quantity

Symbol

Formula

Unit

Volume

length x breadth x height

m x m x m = m3

Speed

Area

Density

distance
time
length x breadth

mass
volume

m
-1
=
ms
s
m x m = m2
kg3 = kg m-3
m

Try yourself!!
Derived
quantity

Symbol

Formula

Velocity

Displacement
Time taken

Momentum

Mass x Velocity

kg x ms

Change in velocity
Time taken

ms-1
s

Acceleration

Force

Mass x Acceleration

Pressure

Force
Area

Unit

m =
ms-1
s
-1
= ms-2

kg x ms-2 = N
(Newton)
kg x ms-2 = Pa
m2
(Pascal)

Prefixes
use in calculations involving very large or very
small numbers.
Prefixes
Tera
Giga
Mega
Kilo
Deci
Centi
mili
micro
nano
pico

Value
x 1012
x 109
x 106
x 103
x 10-1
x 10-2
x 10-3
x 10-6
x 10-9
x 10-12

Numerical value
1 000 000 000 000
1 000 000 000
1 000 000
1 000
0.1
0.01
0.001
0.000 001
0.000 000 001
0.000 000 000 001

Symbol
T
G
M
k
d
c
m

n
p

Scientific Notation / Standard Form

Method of expressing very large or very small
numbers.
Is written in the form of :

A x 10n
Examples:

where 1 A<10
and
n is an integer.

Exercise!!!
Write the following quantities in standard
form.
5.21 x 10 -10 m
a) 0.000000000521 m = ______________
-2
2.413
x
10
J
b) 0.02413 J = _________________
3.036 x 1012 km
c) 3 036 000 000 000 km = _____________
d) Speed of light,
3.0 x 108 ms-1
300 000 000 ms-1 = ____________

Conversion of Units
Units WITH
prefixes

Example:

X prefix

Units WITHOUT
prefixes

Convert the units.

a) 500kg = _____ g
500kg = 500 x k x g k = 103
= 500 x 103 g
= 5 x 102 x 10 3 g
= 5 x 105 g

b) 0.3 m s = ______ s

m = 10-3

0.3 ms = 0.3 x m x s
= 0.3 x 10-3 s
= 3 x 10-1 x 10-3 s
= 3 x 10-4 s

Exercises!!!
Express the following measurements in the units specified.

a) 2.15 km =
b) 12.4 A =
____________m
____________ A
= 2.15 x
= 12.4 x
kxm
xA
= 2.15 x
= 12.4 x
103 m
10-6A
= 1.24 x 10
x 10-6A
= 1.24 x
10-5A
c) 0.0008 Gm =

d) 13.6 ms =

Units WITHOUT
prefixes

Example:

prefix

Units WITH
prefixes

Convert the units.

a) 5000 g = _____ Tg
5000 g = 5000 x T x g
T
= 5000 Tg
T = 1012
1012
= 5 x 103 Tg
10 12
= 5 x 10-9 Tg

b) 0.06 m2 = _____ cm2

c2 m2

0.06 m2 = 0.06 x c 2 x m2
c2
=
0.06 cm2
(10-2) 2
c = 10-2
= 6 x 10-2
10- 4
= 6 x 102 cm2

cm2

NOTE!!!
m2 = m x m

m3 = m x m x m

cm2 = (cm)2
= cm x cm
= c 2 x m2

cm3 = (cm)3
= cm x cm x cm
= c3 x m 3

Exercises!!!
Express the following measurements in the units specified.

a) 634 g =
b) 0.000056A =
____________
kg x k x g _______ A= 5.6 x 10-5 x
= 634
k
xA
= 6.34 x
102 kg

3
10
= 5.6 x
6.34 x 10 d)
10-5
A s = ___________
c) 1 100m2 ==___________
13.6
-6
2kg
10
cm
ms
= 1.36 x
= 1 x 102 x
= 5.6 X
2
2
10
x
m
x
s
c xm
10 A
c2

m
= 1 x 102 cm2

= 1.36 x

Units WITH
prefixes

Example:

x prefix
prefix

Units WITH OTHER

prefixes

Convert the units.

a) 1000 Mg = _____ Tg

M = 106

1000 Mg = 1000 x 106 g

= 1 x 103 x 106 xT x g
T
9
= 1 x 10 Tg
10 12
= 1 x 10-3 Tg

b) 0.48 m = _____ cm

= 10-6

0.48 m = 0.48 x 10-6 m

= 4.8 x 10-1 x 10-6 x c x m
c
= 4.8 x 10-7 cm
10-2
= 4.8 x 10-5 cm

Exercise!!!

Express the following measurements in the units specified.

a) 3.86 ms =
b) 546 mg =
___________
___________
3.86 ms ns
= 3.86 x
546 mg = kg
5.46 x 102 x
10-3 s
10-3g
= 3.86 x 10= 5.46 x 103
x n xs
k xg

n
k
=
3.86
x 10 d) 13.6 km==5.46 x 10c)
0.0008
Gm
=
3
ns
kg
-9 -4 __________Mm
________m
0.0008 Gm = 8 10
x 10
x13.6km = 1.36 x 10
103 x 1
6
= 3.86 x 10
109 m
m
=
5.46
x
10
ns
= 8 x 105 kg
= 1.36 x 104
x xm
Mxm