AP Physics B 2014

1
AP Physics Notes Introduction

Table of Contents

1. Model, Theory, Law, Principal
2. Uncertainty & Significant Figures
3. Metric Prefixes & Powers of 10
4. SI units
5. References


Model, Theory, Law, Principal:

Model an analogy or mental image of the phenomena in terms of something we are
familiar with

Theory more detailed, attempts to solve a set of problems, often with mathematics

Law concise, general statement as to how nature behaves, can be applied over a wide
range of phenomena
Ex/ Newtons laws

Principle used for less general statements
Ex/ Archimedes Principle

( Model ! Theory ! Law / Principle )


Uncertainty & Significant Figures:

Uncertainty every measurement has a certain degree of uncertainty
Ex/ 5.8 0.1cm

Percent Uncertainty



Significant Figures
1. Non-zero digits are always significant.
2. Any zeros between two significant digits are significant.
3. A final zero or trailing zeros in the decimal portion ONLY are significant.

Practice Problems:
http://science.widener.edu/svb/tutorial/sigfigures.html

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Metric Prefixes & Powers of 10:

Common Metric Prefixes
Factor Name Symbol
10
9
giga G
10
6
mega M
10
3
kilo k
10
-1
deci d
10
-2
centi c
10
-3
milli m
10
-6
micro
10
-9
nano n
10
-12
pico p


The easiest way to convert one unit of measurement to another unit of measure is to initially convert its
metric prefix to its associated power of ten while also rewriting the original numerical value in scientific
notation. The final answer can then be simplified by just combining exponents.

A number is expressed in scientific notation when it is in the form
a ! 10
n
where 1" a <10 and n { ... -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3 ... )
Rules of exponents:
" 10
x
! 10
y
= 10
x + y

" 10
x
10
y
= 10
x - y

" 10
-n
= 1 10
n


Given below is an expanded diagram of a meter stick showing the relationships between meters, decimeters
(10
-1
m), centimeters (10
-2
m), and millimeters (10
-3
m).


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Let's now look at a few examples of converting numbers from one metric prefix to another.

Example #1
628 nm = ? meters
628 nm = 628 ! 10
-9
meters [definition of the metrix prefix nano]
628 nm = 6.28 ! 10
2
! 10
-9
meters
628 nm = 6.28 ! 10
2+(-9)
meters
628 nm = 6.28 ! 10
-7
meters
Example #2
628 nm = ? m
using the answer to Example #1 we can replace 628 nm with 6.28 ! 10
-7
meters
6.28 ! 10
-7
meters = ? m
since m equals 10
-6
meters, we rewrite -7 as -1+(-6)
6.28 ! 10
-1+(-6)
meters = ? m
remember that adding exponents means multiplying powers of 10
6.28 ! (10
-1
! 10
-6
) meters = ? m
(6.28 ! 10
-1
) ! (10
-6
meters) = 6.28 ! 10
-1
m = 0.628 m

Example #3
If a liter equals 1000 cm
3
, then a cube that is 100 cm on each edge would hold how many liters?

V = l w h = (100 cm)
3
= (10
2
cm)
3
= 10
6
cm
3

the question now becomes how many liters are in 10
6
cm
3

10
6
cm
3
= ? L
since 1 L = 10
3
cm
3
, we rewite 6 as 3+3
10
(3+3)
cm
3
= ? L
remember that adding exponents means multiplying powers of 10
(10
3
! 10
3
) cm
3
= ? L
10
3
! (10
3
cm
3
) = 10
3
L
Example #4
How many m
3
does a cube 100 cm on an edge occupy?

V = l w h = (100 cm)
3
= (10
2
cm)
3
= 10
6
cm
3

V = l w h = (100 cm)
3
= (1 m)
3
= 1 m
3


10
6
cm
3
= 1 m
3

Example #5
How many m
3
are present in a cube having a volume of 1000 cm
3
?

1000 cm
3
= 10
3
cm
3
= ? m
3

using the answer to Example #4 we know that 10
6
m
3
= 1 m
3

10
3
cm
3
= 10
(-3+6)
cm
3
= ? m
3

remember that adding exponents means multiplying powers of 10
(10
-3
! 10
6
) cm
3
= ? m
3

10
-3
! (10
6
cm
3
) = 10
-3
m
3


Now you practice two conversions problems.


1. How many mm are in each of the following measurements: 500 m, 50 cm, 5 m?



2. Rank the following from smallest to largest: 500 #m, 50 cm, 50 dm, and 5 mm.


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Powers of 10 Demo:
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/


Order-of-magnitude using powers of 10 in estimating. Round all numbers to nearest
power of 10, then complete math operation


SI Units:

Given in the table below are the fundamental units of measure for the Systeme Internationale - or the MKS
metric system.
SI fundamental units
Quantity Name MKS Unit
length meter m
mass kilogram kg
time second s
electric current ampere A
temperature kelvin K
amount of substance mole mol

These are the basic units from which all other metric units of measure are derived. For example:

Speed is a derived quantity that expresses how rapidly an object travels a given distance with respect to
time. It is measured in m/sec.

(scalar) quantity: speed
(formula) variable: v
units of measure: m/sec

Presented below are the most common derived units from mechanics. This link will take you to a more
complete summary of the formulas and units of measure used in standard introductory physics courses.

name vector/scalar variable common formula
unit of
measure
relationships
length scalar L m 1 m = 100 cm
height scalar h m
area scalar A
A = Lw
m
2
1 m
2
= (100 cm)
2

volume scalar V
V = Lwh
m
3
1 m
3
= (100 cm)
3

mass scalar m or M kg 1 kg = 1000 g
density scalar D D = M / V kg/m
3
1 kg/m
3
= 10
-3
g/cm
3

distance scalar d m
displacement vector s m
time scalar t sec
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speed scalar r r = d / t m/sec
velocity vector v v = s / t m/sec
momentum vector p p = mv kg m/sec
acceleration vector a a = $v /$t m/sec/sec m/sec
2

gravity vector g g = GM
E
/R
E
2
m/sec
2
9.8 m/sec
2

force vector F F = ma
MKS: kg(m/sec
2
) N (newton)
tension vector T N strings, wires
spring constant scalar k F = -kx N/m
impulse vector J J = $p = Ft kg m/sec N sec
pressure vector P P = F / A N/m
2
Pa (Pascal)
work scalar W W = F%r
MKS: kg(m
2
/sec
2
) N m = J (Joule)
energy scalar E W = $K kg(m
2
/sec
2
) N m = J (Joule)
gravitational potential energy U
g
= mgh
elastic potential energy U
s
= &ks
2

kinetic energy KE = &mv
2

power scalar P P = W / t watt = J / sec
frequency scalar f f = #events / t 1/sec Hz (Hertz)
period scalar T T = 1 / f sec
angle scalar ' or radians 90 = (/2 rads
torque vector ! ! = rFsin' m nt
temperature scalar T K or C 0 K = -273C

Metric Definitions:
http://dev.physicslab.org/Document.aspx?doctype=3&filename=IntroductoryMathematics_metricsystemde
finitions.xml

References:

http://dev.physicslab.org/search.aspx
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/
http://science.widener.edu/svb/tutorial/sigfigures.html