Cluq,ltr l; Tlie lnlemational System: SI twt, 1

CIIAP[ER 1.

THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM:: SI UNITS

INTRODUCTION
A metric system which uses the-meter, kilogram and second as fundamental
units., has been adopted around the world. This is known as the SI •
international system.

· Length in meter (m)

Mass in kilogram (kg)
Time in second (s)
These units are know as fundamental
� units. It is also referred to as the HD,
... �· .
. . . .

system.

SCIENTIFIC NOTATION

Scientific notation Prefix Symbol

1012 T tera
109 .G giga
106 M mega
1()3 k kilo
10-3. m ml·u·l
1()4 micro
10_, n nano
10-11 p pico

UNIT OF FORCE
TheSI unit of force is the newton (N).
F - ma
F - force in newton (N)
m - mass in kilogram (kg)
a - acceleration.in meter/second1 (ni/s1)

If a body is to be accelerated from the earth's surface, the acceleration dae

to gravity (g).must be overcome. { 1.-t$ \$ w$£,:) . w"E.t-.1 ...t'°"'._," t«.
. Y£1&-1'1c., "- �,s1'A�C..1..;-
g - 9.81 m/s1

Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering Electrical &,ittttring Principles l

Cape Peninsula University of Technology
 l.

Example: Calculate the force required to lift a 200 kg elevator.

F - ma
- 20C): X 9.81
- 1.962kN

WORK
Work is done when moving a body over a certain distance.
W - Fd
W. - work injoule (J)
· F - force in newton (N)
d - distance in meter (m)

'_ J Example: Calculate the w,�rk done in· raising the 200 kg elevator �·
a height of 20 lheter.
W - Fd mgd =mad·
• - 200 X 9.81 X 20
- 39.24 kJ

ENERGY
Energy is the capacity for doing work. Energy can exist in several aw..

Potential Energy is the energy due to position.

'""""'--- . .... ...,.._..... ;.... ., �-__....----�....._....,----------
A ·dam filled with water has the potential for doing work as the water runs
to a lower level.
W Fh
- mgh

Po�ntial energx, Ep = mgh Joule h = Height in metet- (• ,.

Example:
A dam with the following average dimensions 30 km long, 1.2 km wide and
30 m deep is situated at an average height of· too m above sea level.
Calculate the potential energy of the ·water.

w Fh I liter water 1 kg
mgh · I liter 1000 an'

Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering Electrical &,ittttring Principles l

Cape Peninsula University of Technology
A dam with the following average dimensions 30 km long, 1.2 km wide and
30 m deep is sihrated at an average height of 100 m above sea level.
Calculate the potential energy of the water. 'i:
 Ep:ffixgxh
For the mass (m): The length of the dam: 30km
:
The width of the dam 1,2knr
The depth of the dam :30m

What can we calculate?

The volume of the dam: length of the dam x the width of the dam x the depth of the Dam
(in cm3) : (30 x 1000 x 100) x(t,2x 1000 x 100) x (30 x too;
: 1.08 x 1015 cm3
3
However, we also know that:
and
1 litre: I kg
1 litre: 1000cm3
e I
rh 3 lOOOcwr

Therefore, to get the mass of the dam, we do the following:

The mass of the dam in kg the volume of the dam

rex l0'' x lkg
1.08
1'l
x 1 kg
E *#, I
1000cm3
: 1.08 x1012 kg

Finally, we can calculate the potential energy of the water:

Ep :mxgxh
:1.08 x 10r2x 9.81 x 100
: 1.05948 x l0r5J
 Chapter 1: The IIIUnlM'Ollal System: SI Ulifr.. . 3

- · 3) x 1kgxgx
( Volume.of water In cm . h
· 1000 · .

:=(30x103x100) x (1.2 x 10� x 100) x (30 x 100)

x1x9�81x100
1000

= 1.05948 X 1015J

It is the ener ssessed b When the velocity is

increased from o to v in a time t, its average acceleration is:

j a - .v/t
a"d a - acceleration in m/s2
�c-rc. V
-
velocity in m/s (maximum velocity)
a"L t tilne in seconds
Average velocity - v/2
Distance traveiled - (average velocity) x t
d - ½vt

II.,"°"
w - Fd
- mad
- , mx:,a.x¼...v,1
- ½mv2 �,,u.; .. .\,i\r.a..•
Kinetic Energy, F.wr. - ½ mv2 Joule ac.c.,i,ri

POWER
p - Wit Watt
p - Power in watt (W)
w - work in joule (J)
t - time in seconds (s)

Example: Calculate the power developed by a hydro electric power IIIJlita

if the total m� of water from the dam in the previous es-pie
is released within 15 weeks.
P =· Wit

(1.05948 X 1015) / (15 X 7 X 24x 60 X 60) = 116.79 MW

Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering Electrical &,ittttring Principles l

Cape Peninsula University of Technology
 £!gtn: J: 11u llllernational System: SI U...

TEMPERATURE AND HEAT

There are two SI tern erature scales. Celsius scale and Kelvin scale.

0 °C 273.15 K
100 ° c 373.15K
-273.15 ° C 0 K absolute zero temperature

The Kelvin tern erature scale is also known as the absolute seal .

To raise 1 litef'-of water through 1 ° C requires an energy input of 4187 J.

is is known as the Joules e uivalent or the mechani ·val nt of heat.

When water is heated, the container must also be raised to the same
�/ temperature. The water e uivalent is the quantity of water_ that will absorb
the same amount of energy as the water container when heated through a
given temperature change.

Note: The. container specifications may also be expr�ed as the

efficiency in percentage. Thus, if an urn ·has an_ eflideoey Gf
only 80 % ; , then 20 % of the input power is lost to Ital
radiation of the surface area of the urn.

Example: Calculate the amount of energy and power to boil 10 litres of

water in 15 minutes. The water equivalent of the urn is 0.15
liter. Room temperature is 25 ° C.

- �tt4P .r# Wlltt.l -

ENERGY (Total water) x tern raise x 4 187J C,ao, ... � -u
..1...
(f0 + .fS) x75 x �187 - • ,oo•cJ
3.19 MJ (Total energy input for the urn.)

POWER Energy/t
,(3.19 X 10 6>/(15 X 60)
3.54 kW

OUTPUT ENERGY = 10 x 75 x 4187 = 3.14 MJ

EFFICIENCY X 100
=

Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering Electrical &,ittttring Principles l

'
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
 CHAPTER 1: SI UNITS:

UNIT FORMULA MEASURED IN SYMBOL

FORCE F= m a Newtons N
[F] where m = mass in kg
and a = acceleration in m/s2
WORK · W = Fxd = mxaxd Newton metres / Nm / J
[W] where F = force in newtons Joules
and d = distance in metres
ENERGY E ::: MX C,. X .bt
Joules J
[E] [ Fo«.. 1� PE.�A'fi � l \+E1\ J
�-'otential E p= mxgxh
Energy where m = mass in kg
g = gravitational
acceleration constant
h = height in metres

Kinetic E k= ½xmxv2
Energy = mxaxd

where m = mass in kg
a = acce1eration
. 1n. m/s2
= v/t
d = distance travelled
= average velocity xt
= v/2 X t
= ½vt

POWER P = W It Watts w
[P] Where W = work
T = time

Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering Electrical &,ittttring Principles l

Cape Peninsula University of Technology