Welcome to
General physics
General Physics
References
1- Physics for Scientists and Engineers , Raymond A. Serway - Emeritus, James
Madison , ninth edition
2- Physics for Scientists and Engineers: a Strategic Approach with Modern Physics,
Global Edition
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION: PHYSICS AND MEASUREMENTS
1.1 Physics and Measurements
1.2 Physical Quantity
1.3 Unit systems
1.4 Derived quantities
1.5 Dimensional Analysis
1.6 Vector and Scalar
1.7 Coordinate system
1.7.1 The rectangular coordinates
1.7.2 The polar coordinates
1.8 Properties of Vectors
1.8.1 Vector addition
1.8.2 Vector subtraction
1.9 The unit vector
1.10 Components of a vector
1.11 Product of a vector
1.11.1 The scalar product
1.11.2 The vector product
1.1 Physics and Measurements
• Physics is based on experimental observations
and quantitative measurements. These
observations have described by numbers and
units.
• Numbers give us how large our measurement
was, and the units tell us the nature of this
measurement.
Height = 2.29 m
Number + Unit
1.2 Physical Quantity
Basic
Physical Quantity
Time Length Mass
1.3 Unit systems
Two systems of units are widely used in the world, the metric and the
British systems. The metric system measures the length in meters
whereas the British system makes use of the foot, inch, ….. The metric
system is the most widely used. Therefore the metric system will be
used
By international agreement the metric system was formalized in 1971
into the International System of Units (SI). There are seven basic
units in the SI as shown in table only three units are used, the
meter, kilogram, and second”.
Quantity Name Symbol
Length meter m
Mass kilogram kg
Time second s
Temperature kelvin K
Electric current ampere A
Number of particles mole mol
Luminous intensity candela cd
Mass
The SI unit of mass is the Kilogram, which is defined as the mass of a
specific platinum-iridium alloy cylinder.
Time
The SI unit of time is the Second, which is the time required for a
cesium-133 atom to undergo 9192631770 vibrations.
Length
The SI unit of length is Meter, which is the distance traveled by light
is .vacuum during a time of 1/2999792458 second
1.4 Derived quantities
All physical quantities measured by physicists can be expressed in
terms of the three basic unit of length, mass, and time. For example,
speed is simply length divided by time, and the force is actually mass
multiplied by length divided by time squared.
[Speed] = L/T = LT-1
[Force] = ML/T2 = MLT-2
where [Speed] is meant to indicate the unit of speed, and M, L, and T
represents mass, length, and time units.
1.5 Dimensional Analysis
The word dimension in physics indicates the physical nature of the
the quantity. For example the distance has a dimension of length, and
speed has a dimension of length/time .
The dimensional analysis is used to check the formula, since the
rmulaodimension of the left hand side and the right hand side of the f
. must be the same
Example 1.1
Using the dimensional analysis check that this equation x = ½ at2 is
.correct, where x is the distance, a is the acceleration and t is the time
Solution
L
L= ×T 2 = L
T2
This equation is correct because the dimension of the left and right side
.of the equation have the same dimensions
Example 1.2
Show that the expression v = vo + at is dimensionally correct, where v
and vo are the velocities and a is the acceleration, and t is the time
Solution
The right hand side
L
[v] =
T
The left hand side
L L
[at] = 2
×T =
T T
Therefore, the expression is dimensionally correct.
Example 1.3
Suppose that the acceleration of a particle moving in circle of radius r
with uniform velocity v is proportional to the rn and vm. Use the
dimensional analysis to determine the power n and m.
Solution
Let us assume a is represented in this expression
a = k rn vm
. Where k is the proportionality constant of dimensionless unit
The right hand side
L
[a] =
T2
The left hand side
Ln + m
m
n m L
[k r v ] = L = m
n
T T
therefore
L Ln + m
=
T2 Tm
hence
n+m=1 and m=2
Therefore. n =-1 and the acceleration a is
a = k r-1 v2
k=1
v2
a=
r
1.6 Vector and Scalar
Scalars: One that can be described by a single
number (along with the unit)
• Water freezes at a temperature of 0o C or 32o F
• The mass of a book is 198.2 g
• The length of room is 5 m
• The car kinetic energy was 0.345 J
Vectors: A quantity that deals with magnitude
and direction is called a vector quantity.
• The wind had a velocity of 25 km/h from the North
• The momentum was 1.234 kg m/s to the left
Vector Quantity Scalar Quantity
Displacement Length
Velocity Mass
Force Speed
Acceleration Power
Field Energy
Momentum Work
1.7 Coordinate system
1.7.1 The rectangular coordinates y (m)
The rectangular coordinate system in
two dimensions is shown in Figure 1.1. (x,y)
This coordinate system is consist of a
fixed reference point (0,0) which called
the origin. A set of axis with x (m)
appropriate scale and label. (0,0)
Figure 1.1
1.7.2 The polar coordinates
y (m)
Sometimes it is more convenient to use
the polar coordinate system (r,θ),
where r is the distance from the origin (x,y)
to the point of rectangular coordinate r
(x,y), and θ is the angle between r and
θ
the x axis. x (m)
Figure 1.2
1.7.3 The relation between coordinates
The relation between the rectangular
coordinates (x,y) and the polar coordinates
(r,θ) is shown in Figure 1.3, where,
x = r cos θ (1.1) r y
And
θ x
y = r sin θ (1.2)
Squaring and adding equations (1.1) Figure 1.3
and (1.2) we get
r = x2 + y2 (1.3)
Dividing equation (1.1) and (1.2) we get
x
tan θ= (1.4)
y
Example 1.4
The polar coordinates of a point are r =
5.5m and θ =240o. What are the Cartesian
coordinates of this point?
Solution
x = r cos θ = 5.5×cos 240o = -2.75 m Figure 1.4
y = r sin θ = 5.5×sin 240o = -4.76 m
1.8 Properties of Vectors
r r r
R = A+ B
1.8.1 Vector addition
Only vectors representing the same r
B
physical quantities can be added. To
r r r
add vector A to vector B as shown A
r
in Figure 1.5, the resultant vector R is
Figure 1.5
r r r
R = A+ B (1.5)
Notice that the vector addition obeys the commutative law, i.e.
r r r r
A+ B = B+ A (1.6)
r
A
r r r r r r
R = A+ B R = A+ B
r r
B B
r
B
r r
A A
Figure 1.6
Notice that the vector addition obeys the associative law, i.e.
r r r r r r
A + ( B + C ) = ( A + B) + C (1.7)
r r r r r
R = A + (B + C) C
r r
B+C
r
B
r
A
Figure 1.7
1.8.2 Vector subtraction
r r
The vector subtraction A − B is evaluated as the vector subtraction i.e.
r r r r
A − B = A + (− B) (1.8)
r
A
r
r r −B
A− B
Figure 1.8
r r
where the vector − B is the negative vector of B
r r
B + (− B ) = 0 (1.9)
1.9 The unit vector
A unit vector is a vector having a magnitude of
unity and its used to describe a direction in space.
r A
a ﻀﺭﺏ ﻤﺘﺠﻪ ﺍﻟﻭﺤﺩﺓA ﻴﻤﻜﻥ ﺘﻤﺜﻴﻠﻪ ﺒﻤﻘﺩﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺠﻪA ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺠﻪ
ﻜﺎﻟﺘﺎﻟﻲ
r a
A =aA (1.10)
Figure 1.9
rectangular ( ﻟﻤﺤـﺎﻭﺭ ﺍﻹﺴـﻨﺎﺩ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﻌﺎﻤـﺩﺓi, j, k) ﻜﺫﻟﻙ ﻴﻤﻜﻥ ﺘﻤﺜﻴل ﻤﺘﺠﻬﺎﺕ ﻭﺤﺩﺓ
-:( ﻜﻤﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺸﻜل ﺍﻟﺘﺎﻟﻲx, y, z) coordinate system
y
i ≡ a unit vector along the x-axis
j j ≡ a unit vector along the y-axis
i k ≡ a unit vector along the z-axis
k x
z
Figure 1.10
1.10 Components of a vector
r
Any vector A lying in xy plane can be resolved into two components
one in the x-direction and the other in the y-direction as shown in
Figure 1.11
y
A
Ax=A cosθ (1.11) Ay
Ay=A sinθ (1.12) θ x
Ax
r Figure 1.11
The magnitude of the vector A
A= Ax2 + Ay2 (1.13)
The direction of the vector to the x-axis
A
θ = tan-1 y (1.14)
Ax
r
A vector A lying in the xy plane, having rectangular components Ax
and Ay can be expressed in a unit vector notation
r
A = Axi + Ayj (1.15)
r
A = Ax i + Ay j r
R r
r B
B = Bx i + B y j r
A
r r r
R = A + B = ( Ax + Bx )i + (Ay + B y ) j
Figure 1.12
Example 1.5
r r
Find the sum of two vectors A and B given by
r r
A = 3i + 4 j and B = 2i − 5 j
Solution
Note that Ax=3, Ay=4, Bx=2, and By=-5
r r r
R = A + B = (3 + 2)i + (4 − 5) j = 5i − j
r
The magnitude of vector R is r
R
R = Rx + R y = 25 + 1 = 26 = 5.1
2 2
Figure 1.13
r
The direction of R with respect to x-axis is
Ry −1
θ = tan −1 = tan −1 = −11o
Rx 5
Example 1.6
The polar coordinates of a point are r=5.5m and θ=240o. What are the
rectangular coordinates of this point?
Solution
x=r cosθ = 5.5 × cos240 = -2.75 m
y=r sinθ = 5.5 × sin 240 = -4.76 m
Example 1.7
r
Vector A is 3 units in length and points along the positive x axis.
r
Vector B is 4 units in length and points along the negative y axis. Use
graphical methods to find the magnitude and direction of the vector (a)
r r r r
A + B , (b) A - B
Solution
r
A
θ
r r r
r r B A− B r
A+ B −B
θ
r
A
Figure 1.14
r r r r
A+ B = 5 A − B =5
θ = -53o θ = 53o
Example 1.8
r r
Two vectors are given by A = 3i − 2 j and B = −i − 4 j . Calculate (a)
r r r r r r r r
A + B , (b) A - B , (c) A + B , (d) A − B , and (e) the direction of
r r r r
A + B and A − B .
Solution
r r
(a) A + B = (3i − 2 j ) + (−i − 4 j ) = 2i − 6 j
r r
(b) A - B = (3i − 2 j ) − (−i − 4 j ) = 4i + 2 j
r r
(c) A + B = 2 2 + (−6) 2 = 6.32
r r
(d) A − B = 4 2 + 2 2 = 4.47
r r
(e) For A + B , θ = tan-1(-6/2) = -71.6o = 288o
r r
For A - B , θ = tan-1(2/4) = 26.6o
Example 1.9
r
A vector A has a negative x component 3 units in length and positive y
r
component 2 units in length. (a) Determine an expression for A in
r
unit vector notation. (b) Determine the magnitude and direction of A .
r r
(c) What vector B when added to A gives a resultant vector with no x
component and negative y component 4 units in length?
y
Solution
r
Ax = -3 units & Ay = 2 units A
r θ
(a) A = Axi+Ayj=-3i+2j units x
r
(b) A = Ax + Ay = (−3) 2 + (2) 2 = 3.61 units
2 2
θ = tan-1(2/-3) = 33.7o (relative to the –x axis)
r r r r r r
(c) Rx = 0 & Ry = -4; since R = A + B, B = R − A
Bx = Rx – Ax = 0-(-3) = 3
By = Ry – Ay = -4-2 = -6
Therefore,
r
B = Bx i + By j = (3i − 6 j) units
Example 1.10
A particle moves from a point in the xy plane having rectangular
coordinates (-3,-5)m to a point with coordinates (-1,8)m. (a) Write
vector expressions for the position vectors in unit vector form for these
two points. (b) What is the displacement vector?
Solution
r
(a) R1 = x1i + y1 j = (−3i − 5 j )m
r
R2 = x 2i + y 2 j = (−i + 8 j )m
r r r
(b) Displacement = ∆R = R2 − R1
r
∆R = ( x 2 − x1 )i + ( y 2 − y1 ) j = −i − (−3i) + 8 j − (−5 j ) = (2i + 13 j )m
1.11 Product of a vector
There are two kinds of vector product
the first one is called scalar product or
dot product because the result of the B
product is a scalar quantity. The second
is called vector product or cross product
because the result is a vector θ
perpendicular to the plane of the two A
vectors.
Figure 1.15
A.B = +ve when 0 90o
A.B = -ve when 90o 180
A.B = zero when 90
Example 1
Find the angle between the two vectors
A 2i 3 j 4k B i 2 j 3k
Solution Ax Bx Ay B y Az Bz
cos
AB
Ax Bx Ay By Az Bz = (2)(1)+(3)(-2)+(4)(3)=8
A 2 2 32 4 2 29
B 12 (2) 2 32 14
8
cos 0.397 66.6
29 14
A B
B A B AB sin
A
A B AB sin
A B Ax i Ay j Az k Bx i By j Bz k
To evaluate this product we use the fact that the angle
between the unit vectors i, j , k is 90o.
y
ii 0 i j k ik j
j
j j 0 jk i j i k i
kk 0 k i j k j i k
z x
A B Ay Bz Az By i Az Bx Ax Bz j Ax By Ay Bx k
Chapter 2
Mechanics: Dynamics
The Law of Motion
The Concept of Force
The word force refers to an interaction with an object by means
of muscular activity and some change in the object’s velocity.
Forces do not always cause motion, however. For example,
when you are sitting, a gravitational force acts on your body and
yet you remain stationary.
Fundamental Forces in Nature
Gravitational
forces
Electromagnetic
forces
Types of force
Strong
forces
Weak forces
Newton’s Laws of Motion
Newton's first law
The law of equilibrium
Newton's second law
Newton’s Laws The law of acceleration
Newton's third law
The law of action-reaction
Newton's First Law
Newton's first law, the law of equilibrium, states that an object at
rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in
motion with a constant velocity unless acted on by a net external
force.
The net force (total force, resultant force or
0
F
unbalanced force) on an object is equal to zero.
when no force acts on an object, the
acceleration of the object is zero.
From the first law, we conclude that any isolated
object is either at rest or moving with constant
velocity.
The tendency of an object to resist any attempt
to change its velocity is called inertia.
We can define force as that which causes a
change in motion of an object.
Newton's Second Law
Newton's second law, the law of acceleration, states that the
acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force
acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.
ma
F
where m is the mass of the body and a is the acceleration of the body
The net force (total force, resultant force or unbalanced force) on
an object is the vector sum of all forces acting on the object.
Then the unit of the force is (Kg.m/s2) which is called Newton (N)
Components of force
F x max F y may Fz ma z
Example 1
A hockey puck having a mass of 0.30
kg slides on the frictionless,
horizontal surface of an ice rink. Two
hockey sticks strike the puck
simultaneously, exerting the forces on
the puck shown in the Figure. The
force F1 has a magnitude of 5.0 N,
and the force F2 has a magnitude of
8.0 N.
Determine both the magnitude and
the direction of the puck’s
acceleration.
Solution
Newton's Third Law
Newton's third law, the law of action-reaction, states that when two
bodies interact, the force which body "A" exerts on body "B" (the
action force) is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the
force which body "B" exerts on body "A" (the reaction force).
F12 F21
2
Gravitational Force and Weight
All objects are attracted to the Earth. The attractive force exerted by the
Earth on an object is called the gravitational force 𝐹𝒈 . This force is
directed toward the center of the Earth, and its magnitude is called the
weight of the object.
We saw in previous lecture that a freely falling object experiences an
acceleration 𝒈 acting toward the center of the Earth. Applying Newton’s
second law 𝐹 = m𝑎 to a freely falling object of mass m, with 𝑎 = 𝑔
and 𝐹 = 𝐹𝒈
𝐹𝒈 = 𝒎𝒈
Therefore, the weight of an object, being defined as the magnitude of
𝐹𝒈 , is equal to mg:
𝐹𝒈 = 𝒎𝒈 = 𝑾
Because it depends on g, weight varies with geographic location.
Because g decreases with increasing distance from the center of the
Earth, objects weigh less at higher altitudes than at sea level.
Force of Friction
When an object is in motion on a surface or through a
viscous medium, there will be a resistance to the motion.
This resistance is called the force of friction
This is due to the interactions between the object and its
environment
We will be concerned with two types of frictional force
Force of static friction: fs
Force of kinetic friction: fk
Direction: opposite the direction of the intended motion
If moving: in direction opposite the velocity
If stationary: in direction of the vector sum of other forces
Force of friction
Static of friction Kinetic of friction
fs = s N fk = k N
Example 1
Suppose a block with a
mass of 2.50 kg is
resting on a ramp. If the
coefficient of static
friction between the
block and ramp is 0.350,
what maximum angle
can the ramp make with
the horizontal before the
block starts to slip
down?
Solution
Newton 2nd law:
F x mg sin s N 0
F y N mg cos 0
Then N mg cos
F x mg sin s mg cos 0
mg sin s mg cos
tan s 0.350
tan1 (0.350) 19.3
