Applied Physics

Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

 Contact Hours: Credit Hours:

 Theory =2.0

----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

 Textbook and Reference Books:

 1. Halliday, Resnick and Walker, Fundamentals of Physics, John
Wiley & Sons
 2. Houg D. Young and Roger A. Freedman, University Physics,
 Addison-Weslay
 3. Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett, Jr. Physics for Scientists
and Engineers with Modern Physics.
 4. Halliday, Rsenick, Principles of Physics, International Student
 Version
 5. Paul A. Tipler, GeneMosca, Physics for Scientists and
Engineers with Modern Physics


THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

 Vectors:
 1. Review of vectors, Ordinary Differentiation of Vector, Gradient of Scalar field, Divergence and Curl of Vector Field, Line and Surface
Integrals with applications.
 Mechanics:
 2. Newton Laws and their Applications(Simple Accelerometer, Banked Curve and Rotor), Frictional Forces and determination of Co-
efficient of Friction, Work-Energy Theorem, applications of law of Conservation of Energy, Angular Momentum, Centre of Mass of two-
particles, Many-particles and Solid Object, Rotational Inertia of Solid Bodies.
 Electrostatics And Magnetism:
 3. Electric field due to Discrete and Continuous Charge Distribution
 Electrostatic Potential of discrete and Continuous cVectors:
 Mechanics:
 3. Electric field due to Discrete and Continuous Charge Distribution
 harges, Applications of Gauss’s Law, Lorentz Force and Hall effect, Ampere’s Law, Magnetic Field due to Circular Current Loop and
Solenoid, Magnetic dipole, Atomic and Nuclear Magnetism, Magnetization, Magnetic Materials.
 Semiconductor Physics:
 4. Energy levels in a Semiconductor, Hole concept, Intrinsic and Extrinsic regions, Law of Mass Action. P-N junction, Transistors.
 Waves And Oscillations:
 5. Simple Harmonic Oscillator, Damped Harmonic Oscillation, Forced Oscillation and Resonance, Types of Wave and Superposition
Principle, Wave Speed on a stretched string. Wave equation, Energy & Power of a Wave.
 Optics And Lasers:
 6. Huygens Principle, Two-slit interference, Single-Slit Diffraction, Resolving power of Optical Instruments. Principles for Laser action,
Types of Laser, Applications of Laser.
 Modern Physics:
 7. Planck’s explanations of Black Body Radiation Photoelectric Effect, Compton Effect, De-Broglie Hypothesis, Electron Microscope,
Atomic structure, X-rays and Moseley’s Law, Atomic Nucleus and Properties of Nucleus, Radioactive Decay and Radioactive Dating,
Radiation Detection Instruments, Nuclear Reactions.

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

Learning outcomes
 Understand that physical quantities have
numerical magnitude and a unit
 Recall base quantities and use prefixes
 Show an understanding of orders of magnitude
 Understand scalar and vector quantities
 Determine resultant vector by graphical method
 Measure length with measuring instruments
 Measure short interval of time using stopwatches

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

1.1 Physical Quantities
Quantitative versus qualitative
• Most observation in physics are quantitative
• Descriptive observations (or qualitative) are usually
imprecise
Qualitative Observations Quantitative Observations
How do you measure What can be measured with
artistic beauty? the instruments on an
aeroplane?
1.1 Physical Quantities

• A physical quantity is one that can be

measured and consists of a magnitude and
unit. Measuring

70 4.5 m
length
km/h


SI Vehicles
Not
units
Exceeding
are 1500 kg In
commo Unladen
n Weight
today
1.1 Physical Quantities

Are classified into two types:

• Base quantities
• Derived quantities Derived quantity is like
Base quantity the house that was
is like the brick – build up from a collection
the basic building of bricks (basic quantity)
block of a house
Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

 SI Units – International System of Units

Base Quantities Name of Unit Symbol of Unit

length metre m
mass kilogram kg
time second s
electric current ampere A
temperature kelvin K
amount of mole mol
substance
luminous intensity candela cd

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

1.2 SI Units

This Platinum Iridium

cylinder is the standard
kilogram.
1.2 SI Units
 1.2 SI Units

• Example of derived quantity: area

Defining equation: area = length × width
In terms of units: Units of area = m × m =
m2
Defining equation: volume = length × width × heigh
In terms of units: Units of volume = m × m × m
= m2
Defining equation: density = mass ÷ volume
In terms of units: Units of density = kg / m3 = kg
m−3
 1.2 SI Units

• Work out the derived quantities for:

distance
Defining equation: speed = time
In terms of units: Units of speed =
velocity
Defining equation: acceleration =time
In terms of units: Units of acceleration =
Defining equation: force = mass × acceleration
In terms of units: Units of force =
 1.2 SI Units

• Work out the derived quantities for:

Force
Defining equation: Pressure =
Area
In terms of units: Units of pressure =
Defining equation: Work = Force × Displacement
In terms of units: Units of work =
Workdone
Defining equation: Power =Time
In terms of units: Units of power =
Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1.2 SI Units
Relation with Base
Derived Special
and Derived Unit
Quantity Name
Quantities
area length × width
volume length × width ×
height
density mass  volume
speed distance  time
acceleratio change in velocity 
n time
force mass × acceleration newton
(N)
pressure force  area pascal
(Pa)
work force × distance joule (J)
power work  time watt (W)
THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT
Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1.3 Prefixes

 Prefixes simplify the writing of very large or

very small quantities
Prefix Abbreviation Power
nano n 10−9
micro  10−6
milli m 10−3
centi c 10−2
deci d 10−1
kilo k 103
mega M 106
giga G 109

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

1.3 Prefixes

• Alternative writing method

• Using standard form
• N × 10n where 1  N < 10 and n is an
integer

This galaxy is about 2.5 × The diameter of this

106 light years from the atom is about 1 ×
Earth. 10−10 m.
1. A physical quantity is a quantity that can
be measured and consists of a numerical
magnitude and a unit.
2. The physical quantities can be classified
into base quantities and derived
quantities.
3. There are seven base quantities: length,
mass, time, current, temperature, amount
of substance and luminous intensity.
4. The SI units for length, mass and time are
metre, kilogram and second respectively.
5. Prefixes are used to denote very big or very
small numbers.
1.4 Scalars and Vectors

• Scalar quantities are quantities that have

magnitude only. Two examples are shown
below:
Measuring Mass Measuring Temperature
1.4 Scalars and Vectors

• Scalar quantities are added or subtracted by

using simple arithmetic.
Example: 4 kg plus 6 kg gives the answer 10
kg
6 kg
4 kg

+ =
10 kg
 1.4 Scalars and Vectors

• Vector quantities are quantities that have

both magnitude and direction

A Force
Magnitude = 100 N
Direction = Left
1.4 Scalars and Vectors

• Examples of scalars and vectors

Scalars Vectors
distance displacement
speed velocity
mass weight
time acceleration
pressure force
energy momentum
volume
density
1.4 Scalars and Vectors
Adding Vectors using Graphical Method
• Parallel vectors can be added arithmetically

4N
6N 4N
2N

2N 2N
1.4 Scalars and Vectors
Adding Vectors using Graphical Method
• Non-parallel vectors are added by graphical
means using the parallelogram law
– Vectors can be represented graphically by arrows

5.0 cm 20.0 N
Direction = right
– The length of the arrow represents the magnitude of
the vector
– The direction of the arrow represents the direction of
the vector
– The magnitude and direction of the resultant vector can
be found using an accurate scale drawing
1.4 Scalars and Vectors

• The parallelogram law of vector

addition states that if two vectors acting at
a point are represented by the sides of a
parallelogram drawn from that point, their
resultant is represented by the diagonal
which passes through that point of the
parallelogram
1.4 Scalars and Vectors
Another method of Adding Vectors
• To add vectors A and B
– place the starting point of B at the ending point of
A
– The vector sum or resultant R is the vector joining
the starting point of vector A to the ending point
of B
– Conversely, R can also be obtained by placing the
starting point of A at the ending point of B
– Now the resultant is represented by the vector
joining the starting point of B to the ending point
of A
• See next slide
1.4 Scalars and Vectors

B
A

A
B
1. Scalar quantities are quantities that only
have magnitudes
2. Vector quantities are quantities that have
both magnitude and direction
3. Parallel vectors can be added arithmetically
4. Non-parallel vectors are added by graphical
means using the parallelogram law
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Accurate Measurement
• No measurement is perfectly accurate
• Some error is inevitable even with high
precision instruments
• Two main types of errors
– Random errors
– Systematic errors
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Accurate Measurement
• Random errors occur in all measurements.
• Arise when observers estimate the last
figure of an instrument reading
• Also contributed by background noise or
mechanical vibrations in the laboratory.
• Called random errors because they are
unpredictable
• Minimise such errors by averaging a large
number of readings
• Freak results discarded before averaging
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Accurate Measurement
• Systematic errors are not random but
constant
• Cause an experimenter to consistently
underestimate or overestimate a reading
• They Due to the equipment being used –
e.g. a ruler with zero error
• may be due to environmental factors – e.g.
weather conditions on a particular day
• Cannot be reduced by averaging, but they
can be eliminated if the sources of the
errors are known
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Length
• Measuring tape is used to measure relatively
long lengths
• For shorter length, a metre rule or a shorter
rule will be more accurate
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time

• Correct way to read the scale on a ruler

• Position eye perpendicularly at the mark on
the scale to avoids parallax errors
• Another reason for error: object not align or
arranged parallel to the scale
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
• Many instruments do not read exactly zero
when nothing is being measured
• Happen because they are out of adjustment
or some minor fault in the instrument
• Add or subtract the zero error from the
reading shown on the scale to obtain
accurate readings
• Vernier calipers or micrometer screw gauge
give more accurate measurements
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
• Table 1.6 shows the range and precision of
some measuring instruments

Instrument Range of Accuracy

measurement
Measuring tape 0−5m 0.1 cm
Metre rule 0−1m 0.1 cm
Vernier calipers 0 − 15 cm 0.01 cm
Micrometer screw 0 − 2.5 cm 0.01 mm
gauge
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Vernier Calipers
• Allows measurements up to 0.01 cm
• Consists of a 9 mm long scale divided into
10 divisions
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Vernier Calipers
• The object being measured is between 2.4
cm and 2.5 cm long.
• The second decimal number is the marking
on the vernier scale which coincides with a
marking on the main scale.
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
• Here the eighth marking on the vernier
scale coincides with the marking at C on the
main scale
• Therefore the distance AB is 0.08 cm, i.e.
the length of the object is 2.48 cm
1.5 Measurement of Length and
• The reading shown is 3.15 cm.
Time
• The instrument also has inside jaws for measuring
internal diameters of tubes and containers.
• The rod at the end is used to measure depth of
containers.
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Micrometer Screw Gauge
• To measure diameter of fine wires, thickness
of paper and small lengths, a micrometer
screw gauge is used
• The micrometer has two scales:
• Main scale on the sleeve
• Circular scale on the thimble
• There are 50 divisions on the thimble
• One complete turn of the thimble moves the
spindle by 0.50 mm
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Micrometer Screw Gauge
• Two scales: main scale and circular scale
• One complete turn moves the spindle by 0.50
mm.
• Each division on the circular scale = 0.01 mm
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Precautions when using a micrometer
1. Never tighten thimble too much
– Modern micrometers have a ratchet to avoid this
2. Clean the ends of the anvil and spindle
before making a measurement
– Any dirt on either of surfaces could affect the
reading
3. Check for zero error by closing the
micrometer when there is nothing between
the anvil and spindle
– The reading should be zero, but it is common to
find a small zero error
–Correct zero error by adjusting the final
measurement
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Time
• Measured in years, months, days, hours,
minutes and seconds
• SI unit for time is the second (s).
• Clocks use a process which depends on a
regularly repeating motion termed
oscillations.
Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1.5 Measurement of Length and

Caesium atomic clock
Time
 1999 - NIST-F1 begins operation with an
uncertainty of 1.7 × 10−15, or accuracy to
about one second in 20 million years

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Time
• The oscillation of a simple pendulum is an
example of a regularly repeating motion.
• The time for 1 complete oscillation is
referred to as the period of the oscillation.
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Pendulum Clock
• Measures long intervals of time
• Hours, minutes and seconds
• Mass at the end of the chain
attached to the clock is allowed to
fall
• Gravitational potential energy
from descending mass is used to
keep the pendulum swinging
• In clocks that are wound up, this
energy is stored in coiled springs
as elastic potential energy.
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Watch
• also used to measure long intervals of time
• most depend on the vibration of quartz
crystals to keep accurate time
• energy from a battery keeps quartz crystals
vibrating
• some watches also make use of coiled
springs to supply the needed energy
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Stopwatch
• Measure short intervals of time
• Two types: digital stopwatch, analogue
stopwatch
• Digital stopwatch more accurate as it can
measure time in intervals of 0.01 seconds.
• Analogue stopwatch measures time in
intervals of 0.1 seconds.
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Errors occur in measuring time
• If digital stopwatch is used to time a race,
should not record time to the nearest 0.01
s.
• reaction time in starting and stopping the
watch will be more than a few hundredths
of a second
• an analogue stopwatch would be just as
useful
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Ticker-tape Timer
• electrical device making use of the oscillations
of a steel strip to mark short intervals of time
• steel strip vibrates 50 times a second and makes
50 dots a second on a paper tape being pulled
past it
• used only in certain physics experiments
1.5 Measurement of Length and
Time
Ticker-tape Timer
• Time interval between two consecutive dots
is 0.02 s
• If there are 10 spaces on a pieces of tape,
time taken is 10 × 0.02 s = 0.20 s.
• Counting of the dots starts from zero
• A 10-dot tape is shown below.
1. The metre rule and half-metre rule are
used to measure lengths accurately to 0.1
cm.
2. Vernier calipers are used to measure
lengths to a precision of 0.01 cm.
3. Micrometer are used to measure length to
a precision of 0.01 mm.
4. Parallax error is due to:
(a) incorrect positioning of the eye
(b) object not being at the same level as
the marking on the scale
Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

5. Zero error is due to instruments that do not

read exactly zero when there is nothing being
measured.
6. The time for one complete swing of a
pendulum is called its period of oscillation.
7. As the length of the pendulum increases, the
period of oscillation increases as well.

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT

Chapter 1 Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

THEME ONE: MEASUREMENT