PHY 101 - GENERAL PHYSICS I: WEEK 1

(2-Credit Units)

Department of Physics and Materials Science.

Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria.

Lecturer: Mr. O. K. AZEEZ

November 30, 2023

Course Outline: Space and time, units and dimension, vectors and scalars, addition and
multiplication of vectors, dierentiation of vectors, solved problems.

Contents
1 Introduction 2
1.1 Space and time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2 Units and dimension: Tools of Physics 3

2.1 Dimensional Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

3 Vectors and Scalars 5

3.1 Vector Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.2 Addition and Multiplication of vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.3 Magnitude of a Vector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.4 Scalar Product (Dot Product) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.5 Angles between two vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.6 Cross Product (Vector Product) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.7 Dierentiation of Vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

4 Sample Questions/Assignment 8

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1 Introduction
The scope of Physics is very wide. It covers a vast variety of natural phenomena. It includes the
study of mechanics; heat and thermodynamics; optics; waves and oscillations; electricity and
magnetism; atomic and nuclear physics; electronics and computers etc. Recently, need for so-
lutions of quite a few problems has led to the development of subjects like biophysics, chemical
physics, astrophysics, soil physics, geophysics etc., thus widening the scope of physics further.
In physics, we study large objects such as stars, planets etc.; and tiny objects like elementary
particles; large distances such as 1026 m (size of the universe) as well as small distances such
as 10−14 m (size of the nucleus of an atom); large masses such as 1055 kg (mass of universe)
as well as tiny masses of 10−30 kg (mass of an electron). Physics is perhaps the most basic of
all sciences. All developments in engineering or technology are nothing but the applications
of Physics. The study of Physics has led to many exciting discoveries, inventions and their
applications for example:

i. A falling apple led to the understanding of gravitation.

ii. Production of electrical energy by hydro, thermal or nuclear power plants (imagine the
life and the world without electricity).

iii. Receiving messages and visuals from anywhere on the globe by telephone and television,

iv. Landing on the moon and the study of planets like Mars and other astronomical objects
with robotic control from the ground,

v. The study of the outer space with the help of articial satellites, and satellite mounted
telescopes,

vi. Lasers and its numerous applications

vii. High speed computers, and many more.

1.1 Space and time

Space
Denition
Space refers to the three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur. It includes
the distance between objects and the physical environment in which all events take place.

Characteristics:
i. Three Dimensions: In classical physics, space is often described using three dimensions:
length, width, and height.

ii. Relative Nature: The concept of space is relative, meaning that the position of an
object can be described concerning another object or a reference point.

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 iii. Expansiveness: Space is vast and seemingly innite, containing galaxies, stars, planets,
and other celestial bodies.

Time
Denition
Time is a measure of the progression of events. It is a fundamental concept that allows us
to sequence events, compare their durations, and quantify the intervals between them.

Characteristics:
i. Irreversibility: Time typically ows in one direction, from the past, through the present,
and into the future. This property is often expressed through the arrow of time.

ii. Measurement: Time is measured in various units, such as seconds, minutes, hours,
days, etc.

iii. Subject to Relativity: According to Einstein's theory of relativity, time is not abso-
lute; it can be aected by gravity and relative motion.

2 Units and dimension: Tools of Physics

Physics is based on measurement. Measurements are made by comparisons to welldened
standards which dene the units for our measurements. The S. I system (popularly known as
the metric system ) is the one used in physics. Its unit of length is the meter, its unit of time
is the second and its unit of mass is the kilogram. Other quantities in physics are derived
from these. Fundamental Quantities are those physical quantity that cannot be expressed in
terms of other quantities. Its is an independent quantities. With the need of agreed units in
mind, the 14th General Conference on Weights and Measures held in 1971, adopted seven base
or fundamental units. These units form the S. I system. The name S. I is abbreviation for
Systeme International d'Unites for the International System of units. The system is popularly
known as the metric system. The S. I units along with their symbols are given in Figure
1. Derived Quantities are those physical quantities that are derived from the combination of
fundamental quantities. It is a dependent quantities. For example acceleration, volume, force,
surface tension, stress, momentum e.t.c

Figure 1: Fundamental Units

As a convenience in using the S. I system we can associate prexes with the basic units to
represent powers of 10. The most commonly used prexes are given in Figure 2

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 Figure 2: Prexes for powers of ten

2.1 Dimensional Analysis

In the realm of physics, the term "dimension" refers to the inherent physical nature of a quan-
tity. Dimensional analysis is a method employed in physics that leverages the principle that
when physical quantities are combined or equated, they must be expressed in terms of the same
fundamental dimensions (such as mass, length, or time). This condition is crucial for drawing
inferences about the relationships between these quantities.

In the course of physics, there is often a need either to derive a mathematical expression
or equation or to validate its accuracy. Dimensional analysis serves as a valuable approach for
these tasks, capitalizing on the concept that dimensions can be treated as algebraic entities.
Operations such as addition or subtraction are permissible only when quantities share the same
dimensions. Consequently, in an equation, the terms on opposite sides must possess identical
dimensions for the equation to be considered accurate. Any deviation from this principle
indicates a potential error in the equation, unless there is an accounting for a constant factor.

Exercises
Convert 4.50 × 103 Kg/m3 to g/cm3 .

Solution: ρ = 4.50 × 103 Kg/m3

4.50×103 ×1000g
ρ= 106 cm3

ρ = 4.5g/cm3

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Quiz
The speed of sound v in a medium depends on its wavelength λ, the Young Modulus E and
the density ρ of the medium: Use the method of base units to derive a formula for the speed
of sound v in a medium.

3 Vectors and Scalars

3.1 Vector Analysis
Vector quantities are those which have both magnitude (size) and direction. Thus displace-
ment is a distance measured in a specied direction. Velocity is a speed in a specied direction.
Vectors are added by geometrical methods.

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 Scalar Quantities are those which have only magnitude (size) but no direction.

Vector Representation
We represent a vector by a straight line which has an arrow head indicating the direction of the
given vector. The length of the line is drawn proportional to the magnitude of the vector. E.g.
→
−
given the vector A . The direction of the arrow must be put into consideration when solving
problems

3.2 Addition and Multiplication of vectors

Simple algebraic addition or subtraction can be used if two or more vectors are inclined at an
angle to each other

RESULTANT VECTOR
The resultant vector is that single vector which would have the same eect in magnitude and
direction as the original vectors acting together.

There are two methods of adding vectors. These are

i. the parallelogram method
ii. the triangle method
The parallelogram method: The resultant of two vectors inclined to each other may be
represented by the diagonal of a parallelogram drawn with the two vectors as adjacent sides.

In this method, the two vectors are drawn from a common origin and a parallelogram is
constructed using these two vectors as adjacent sides. The resultant is the diagonal drawn from
the common origin. The parallelogram laws of vectors states that if two vectors are represented
in magnitude and direction by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram, the diagonal of the paral-
lelogram drawn from the point of intersection of the vectors represent the resultants vector in
magnitude and direction R = P + Q.

In solving problems on parallelogram of vectors, the following trigonometric relationships

are often found to be useful:

i. The cosine formula, for a triangle with sides a, b, c where b makes an angle θ then
b = a2 + c2 − 2ac cos θ
2

ii. Pythagoras theorem for a right angle triangle c2 = a2 + b2

For a vector in two dimensions (x and y ), we use i and j to represent the unit vector in
x-axes and y -axes respectively.

For a vector in space that has three dimension, the vector A is written as A = Ax i+Ay j+Az k

Addition
We can only add vectors that are in the same direction. Thus when two vectors A and B are
added together, we get a third vector C known as the resultant vector. A + B = C . Hence,
resultant means the result obtained when two or more vectors are added together.

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 Examples 1 Given the vectors A = 2i + j + 3k and B = 3i + 2j + 6k
A + B = (2i + 3i) + (j + 2j) + (3k + 6k)
A + B = C = 5i + 3j + 9k

Example (2)
Given a = 31 + 4j + 8k, b = 51 − 3j − 4k, c = 31 − 2j + k,
nd a + b + c
Solution
a + b + c = D = (31 + 51 + 31) + (4j − 3j − 2j) + (8k − 4k + k)
D = 11i − j + 9k

3.3 Magnitude of a Vector

The magnitude of a vector is known as the size of the vector. It is also referred to as the length
of the vector. The p
magnitude of the vector A = Ax i + Ay j + Az k is denoted by |A| and is
expressed as |A| = (Ax )2 + (Ay )2 + (Az )2 .
Example
Find the magnitude of the vector B = 3i + 4j − 2k
solution:
p
|B|√= (3)2 + (4)2 + (−2)2
|B| = 29 = 5.4

3.4 Scalar Product (Dot Product)

The scalar product of two vectors a and b written as a.b is dened as the product of the lengths
of the two vectors and the cosine of the angles between them. Thus, if 0 is the angle between the
vectors a and b, then a.b = |a||b|cosθ Let i and j be two unit vectors which are perpendicular
(having an angle of 90o )

i.i = 1 × cos 0 = 1 i.j = 1 × cos 90 = 0

j.j = 1 × cos 0 = 1 j.k = 1 × cos 90 = 0
k.k = 1 × cos 0 = 1

Hence i.i = 1, j.j = 1, k.k = 1

The scalar product can sometimes be called the dot product.

NOTE: When two vectors are perpendicular, their dot product is zero because the cosine
of 900 is zero.
Summary
Hence the dot product of two vectors is a scalar.

Work Example
Find the dot product of the following pairs of vectors
i. a = 5i + 3j and b = 41 − 6j

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 ii.m = i + 4j − 5k and n = 5i − 3j

Solution
i. a.b = (5i + 3j).(4i − 6j) = 5(4) + 3(−6) = 20 − 18 = 2. Please don't forget that i.i = 1
and j.j = 1

ii. m.n = (i + 4j − 5k)(5i − 3j + 0k) = 1(5) + 4(−3) + −5(0) = 5 − 12 = −7

3.5 Angles between two vectors

The angle θ between vectors can be gotten from the denition of a scalar product.

thus from a.b = |a||b| cos θ, cos θ = a.b

|a||b|

3.6 Cross Product (Vector Product)

The vector product of two vectors A and B is also known as the cross product given by the
relationship A × B = |A||B|sinθ. The cross of two vectors A and B equals a third vector C .
Where C is a vector whose direction is perpendicular to both A and B .
Hence A × B = C = |A||B| sin θ.

⃗ = b1 i + b2 j + b3 k , then the cross product of ⃗a × ⃗b is

⃗ = a1 i + a2 j + a3 k and B
if vector A
given as
i j k
⃗
⃗a × b = a1 a2 a3 = (a2 b3 − a3 b2 )i + (a3 b1 − a1 b3 )j + (a1 b2 − a2 b1 )k
b1 b2 b3

3.7 Dierentiation of Vectors

The derivative of a vector is found by dierentiating each component of the vector with respect
to the variable of interest. To study the calculus of vector-valued functions, we follow a similar
path to the one we took in studying real-valued functions. In Cartesian coordinates, the
derivative of the vector.
⃗ = xi + yj + zk while the veclocity is given by
The position vector is given by r(t)
dr dax day daz
v= dt
= dt
i + dt
j + dt
k

Example 1: ⃗ = 4t3 i + cos 2tj + e2t2 k , nd

The displacement of a particle is given as S
⃗
dS
dt

Solution: ⃗
dS
dt
= 12t2 i − 2 sin 2tj + 4te2t k
2

Quiz: A particle moves along a curve whose parametric equations are x = e−t , y = 2 cos 3t,
z = 3 sin 3t, where t is the time. (a) Determine its velocity and acceleration at any time t. (b)
Find the magnitudes of velocity and acceleration at t = 0.

4 Sample Questions/Assignment
1. Which of the following are vector quantities?
I. Work II. Displacement III. Acceleration IV. Electric eld intensity V. Magnetic induction.

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 2. Which of the following are scalar quantities?
I. Torque II. Electric potential III. Kinetic energy IV. Momentum

3. Which of the following is a set of vectors? (A) Velocity, volume and Upthrust (B) Density,
capacitance and distance (C) Weight, displacement and moment (D) Mass, force and impulse

4. Which of the following quantity is NOT a fundamental quantity? (A) Temperature (B)
Volume (C) Time (D) Luminous intensity

5. The thickness of a thin lm of semi conducting material is 6.0ν m.The value in km is
(A) 6 × 10−6 (B) 6 × 10−3 (C) 6 × 10−9 (D) 6 × 103

6. The dimension of coecient of viscosity of a uid is .............

7. Given the vectors A = (2i + j + 3k)m and B = (3i + 2j + 6k)m, nd |A| + |B|

8. If A = −5i + 6j − 3k and B = 3i + 4j + 2k , determine A.(A × B)

9. Given the vectors A = 4i − 8j − 3k and B = 6i − 3j − 4k , nd a vector C such that

2C − 2A + 3B = 0

10. What is the angle between the vectors A = 2i + 3j and B = i − 2j

Assignment submission deadline: Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 10:00 AM. Point of Sub-
mission Physics lab SL2