PHYSICS CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1:
Physical quantities and
measurements
(5 Hours)

1
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Learning Outcome:
1.1 Physical Quantities and Units (2 hours)
At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
State basic quantities and their respective SI units: length
(m), time (s), mass (kg), electrical current (A), temperature
(K), amount of substance (mol) and luminosity (cd).
State derived quantities and their respective units and
symbols: velocity (m s-1), acceleration (m s-2), work (J),
force (N), pressure (Pa), energy (J), power (W) and
frequency (Hz).
Use dimensional analysis to check homogeneity and
construct equation of physics.
Perform conversion between SI and British units.

2
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
1.1 Physical Quantities and Units
Physical quantity is defined as a quantity which can be measured.
It can be categorised into 2 types
Basic (base) quantity

Derived quantity

Basic quantity is defined as a quantity which cannot be derived

from any physical quantities.
Table 1.1 shows all the basic (base) quantities.
Quantity Symbol SI Unit Symbol
Length l metre m
Mass m kilogram kg
Time t second s
Temperature T/ kelvin K
Electric current I ampere A
Amount of substance N mole mol
Table 1.1 Luminous Intensity candela cd 3
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Derived quantity is defined as a quantity which can be expressed
in term of base quantity.
Table 1.2 shows some examples of derived quantity.

Derived quantity Symbol Formulae Unit

Velocity v s/t m s-1
Volume V lwt M3
Acceleration a v/t m s-2

Density m/V kg m-3

Momentum p mv kg m s-1
Force F ma kg m s-2 @ N

Table 1.2
Work W Fs kg m2 s-2 @ J

4
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Unit is defined as a standard size of measurement of
physical quantities.
Examples :
1 second is defined as the time required for
9,192,631,770 vibrations of radiation emitted by a
caesium-133 atom.
1 kilogram is defined as the mass of a platinum-iridium
cylinder kept at International Bureau of Weights and
Measures Paris.
1 meter is defined as the length of the path travelled by
light in vacuum during a time interval of
1
s
299,792,458

5
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
The unit of basic quantity is called base unit
addition unit for base unit:

unit of plane angle - radian (rd)

rad 180o
180o
1 rad 57.296o

unit of solid angle- steradian (sr)

The common system of units used today are S.I unit (System
International/metric system) and cgs unit - UK.
The unit of derived quantity called derived unit
6
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
1.1.1 Unit Prefixes
It is used for presenting larger and smaller values.
Table 1.3 shows all the unit prefixes.
Prefix Value Symbol
tera 1012 T
giga 109 G
mega 106 M
kilo 103 k
deci 101 d
centi 102 c
milli 103 m
micro 106
Table 1.3 nano 109 n
pico 1012 p
Examples:
5740000 m = 5740 km = 5.74 Mm

0.00000233 s = 2.33 106 s = 2.33 s 7

PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
1.1.2 Conversion of Unit
Table 1.4 shows the conversion factors between SI and British units for
length and mass only.

Length Mass
1 m = 39.37 in = 3.281 ft 1 kg = 103 g
1 in = 2.54 cm 1 slug = 14.59 kg
1 km = 0.621 mi 1 lb = 0.453 592 kg
1 mi = 5280 ft = 1.609 km 1 kg = 0.0685 slug
1 angstrom () = 1010 m
Table 1.4

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PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Example 1 :
Solve the following problems of unit conversion.
a. 30 mm2 = ? m2 b. 865 km h1 = ? m s1
c. 300 g cm3 = ? kg m3 d. 17 cm = ? in
e. 24 mi h1 = ? km s1
Solution :
a. 30 mm2 = ? m2
1 mm
10 m
2 3
2

1 mm 2 10 6 m 2
30 mm 2 30 10 6 m 2 or 3.0 10 5 m 2
b. 865 km h-1 = ? m s-1
865 10 3 m
1st method : 865 km h 1

1 h
865 10 3
m
865 km h
1


1
3600
1
s
865 km h 240 m s 9
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
2nd method : 865 km h 1 865 km 1000 m 1 h

1 h 1 km 3600 s
865 km 1000 m 1 h
1
865 km h
1 h 1 km 3600 s
865 km h 1 240 m s 1
c. 300 g cm-3 = ? kg m-3
300 g 10 -3
kg 1 cm 3
300 g cm
-3

1 cm 3
1 g
10 - 2 3
m 3
300 g cm 3 3.0 105 kg m -3

10
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
d. 17 cm = ? in
2.54
1
in
17 cm 17 cm
1 cm
17 cm 6.69 in
e. 24 mi h-1 = ? km s-1
24 mi 1.609 km 1 h
24 mi h -1

1 h 1 mi 3600 s
24 mi h 1 1.07 10 -2 km s -1

11
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
1.1.3 Dimensional Analysis
Dimension is defined as a technique or method which the physical
quantity can be expressed in terms of combination of basic
quantities.
It can be written as
[physical quantity or its symbol]
Table 1.5 shows the dimension of basic quantities.

[Basic Quantity] Symbol Unit

[mass] or [m] M kg
[length] or [l] L m
[time] or [t] T s
[electric current] or [I] A@I A
[temperature] or [T] K
[amount of substance] N mole
Table 1.5 or [N]
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PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Dimension can be treated as algebraic quantities through the
procedure called dimensional analysis.
The uses of dimensional analysis are
to determine the unit of the physical quantity.

to determine whether a physical equation is correct or not

dimensionally by using the principle of homogeneity.

Dimension on the L.H.S. = Dimension on the R.H.S

to derive a physical equation.

Note:
Dimension of dimensionless constant is 1,

e.g. [2] = 1, [refractive index] = 1

Dimensions cannot be added or subtracted.

The validity of an equation cannot determined by dimensional

analysis.
The validity of an equation can only be determined by experiment.

13
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Example 2 :
Determine a dimension and the S.I. unit for the following quantities:
a. Velocity b. Acceleration c. Linear momentum
d. Density e. Force

Solution :
a.
Velocity change in displaceme nt

or
time interval
v s
t
v L LT 1
T
The S.I. unit of velocity is m s1.

14
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
b. a v c. p m v
t
LT 1 p MLT1
a
T p MLT 1
a LT 2 S.I. unit : kg m s1.
Its unit is m s2.
d. m F m a

e.

V F MLT2
m
l w h F MLT 2
M S.I. unit : kg m s2.
L L L
ML3
S.I. unit : kg m3.
15
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Example 3 :
Determine Whether the following expressions are dimensionally correct
or not.
a. s ut 1 at
2
where s, u, a and t represent the displacement,
2
initial velocity, acceleration and the time of an object respectively.
b. v u 2 gs where s, u, v and g represent the displacement,
initial velocity, final velocity and the gravitational acceleration
respectively.
l
c. T 2 where T, l and g represent the period of simple
g
pendulum , length of the simple pendulum and the gravitational
acceleration respectively.

16
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Solution :
a. Dimension on the LHS : s L
Dimension on the RHS : ut ut LT1 T L
and
1
2

at 2 21 a t 1 LT -2 T 2 L
2

Dimension on the LHS = dimension on the RHS

Hence the equation above is homogeneous or dimensionally correct.

b. Dimension on the LHS : v LT -1

Dimension on the RHS : u LT

1

and

2 gs 2g s 1LT-2 L L2T-2
Thus v u 2 gs
Therefore the equation above is not homogeneous or dimensionally
incorrect. 17
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Solution :
c. Dimension on the LHS : T T
l
Dimension on the RHS :

2 l g
1 21
2 2

l
2
1 L LT
1
2 2
21
T
g
l
T 2
g
Therefore the equation above is homogeneous or dimensionally
correct.
18
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Example 4 :
The period, T of a simple pendulum depends on its length l,
acceleration due to gravity, g and mass, m. By using dimensional
analysis, obtain an equation for period of the simple pendulum.
Solution :
Suppose that : T l g m
x y z

Then T klx g y m z (1)

where k, x, y and z are dimensionless constants.

T k l g m
x y z

T 1L LT M z
x 2 y

T Lx y T 2 y M z
L0 T1M 0 Lx y T 2 y M z

19
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
By equating the indices on the left and right sides of the equation, thus
x y 0 (2)
2y 1
y 12 (3)
z0
By substituting eq. (3) into eq. (2), thus
x 1
2
0
x 1
2
Replace the value of x, y and z in eq. (1), therefore
1 12 0
T kl g m2

l
T k
g
The value of k can be determined experimentally.

20
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Example 5 :
Determine the unit of in term of basic unit by using the equation
below:
4
Pi Po
R
where Pi and Po are pressures of the soap bubble and R is the radius
of the bubble.
Solution :

P F ma MLT

2
ML T1 2
A A L 2

R L

21
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
RPi Po
1
4
1
RPi Po
4
Since Pi Po P thus
1
RP
4

1L ML1T 2
MT 2
Therefore the unit of is kg s-2

22
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Exercise 1.1 :
1. Deduce the unit of (eta) in term of basic unit for the equation
below:
F v

A l
where F is the force, A is the area, v is the change in velocity
and l is the change in distance.
ANS. : kg m-1 s-1
2. A sphere of radius r and density s falls in a liquid of density f. It
achieved a terminal velocity vT given by the following expression:

2
2r g
vT s f
9 k
where k is a constant and g is acceleration due to gravity.
Determine the dimension of k.
ANS. : M L-1 T-1 23
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Exercise 1.1 :
3. The escape velocity, v for a tomahawk missile which escape the
gravitational attraction of the earth is depend on the radius of the
earth, r and the acceleration due to gravity, g. By using dimensional
analysis, obtain an expression for escape velocity, v.
ANS. : v k gr
4. Show that the equation below is dimensionally correct.
R 4 P1 P2
Q
8 L
Where R is the inside radius of the tube, L is its length, P1-P2 is
the pressure difference between the ends, is the coefficient of
viscosity ( N s m-2) and Q is the volume rate of flow ( m3 s-1).

24
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Learning Outcome:
1.2 Scalars and Vectors (3 hours)
At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
Define scalar and vector quantities, unit vectors in
Cartesian coordinate.
Explain vector addition and subtraction operations and
their rules. Visualize resultant vector graphically by
applying
commutative rule
associative rule, and
distributive rule
Resolve vector into two perpendicular components (2-D)
and three perpendicular components (3-D):
Components in the x, y and z axes.

Components in the i, j , k unit vectors.

25
 PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Learning Outcome:
www.kmph.matrik.edu.my/physics

1.2 Scalars and Vectors (3 hours)

At the end of this topic, students should be able to:
Define and use dot (scalar) product;

A B AB cos B A cos
and the magnitude of cross (vector) product;

A B AB sin B A sin

26
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
1.2 Scalars and Vectors
Scalar quantity is defined as a quantity with magnitude only.
e.g. mass, time, temperature, pressure, electric current,
work, energy and etc.
Mathematics operational : ordinary algebra

Vector quantity is defined as a quantity with both magnitude

& direction.
e.g. displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, momentum,
electric field, magnetic field and etc.
Mathematics operational : vector algebra

27
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
1.2.1 Vectors

Vector A
Length of an arrow magnitude of vector A
Direction of arrow direction of vector A

Table 1.6 shows written form (notation) of vectors.

displacement velocity acceleration

s v a
s v a
s (bold) v (bold) a (bold)
Table 1.6
Notation of magnitude of vectors.

v v

a a
28
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Two vectors equal if both magnitude and direction are the same.
(shown in figure 1.1)

Q
PQ
Figure 1.1
P
a scalar quantity k
If vector A is multiplied by
Then, vector A is kA

kA
A

A
if k = +ve, the vector is in the same direction as vector A.
if k = - ve, the vector is in the opposite direction of vector A. 29
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
1.2.2 Direction of Vectors
Can be represented by using:
a) Direction of compass, i.e east, west, north, south, north-east,
north-west, south-east and south-west
b) Angle with a reference line
e.g. A man throws a stone with a velocity of 10 m s-1, 30 above
horizontal.

y

v
30
0 x

30
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
c) Cartesian coordinates
2-Dimension (2-D)

s ( x, y) (2 m, 4 m)
y/m

4

s

0
x/m
2

31
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
3-Dimension (3-D)

s ( x, y, z ) (4, 3, 2) m
y/m

s
x/m
0 4

z/m
32
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1

d) Polar coordinates
F 50 N,120

F
120

e) Denotes with + or signs.

+

- +

33
-
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
1.2.3 Addition of Vectors
There are two methods involved in addition of vectors graphically i.e.
Parallelogram

Triangle
For example : A B

A B

Parallelogram Triangle

A B A B
B
B
O O
A A 34
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Triangle of vectors method:
a) Use a suitable scale to draw vector A.
b) From the head of vector A draw a line to represent the vector B.
c) Complete the triangle. Draw a line from the tail of vector A to the
head of vector B to represent the vector A + B.

A B B A Commutative Rule

A

B
B A
O

35
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
If there are more than 2 vectors therefore
Use vector polygon and associative rule. E.g. PQ R

Q
P R

PQ R

P

PQ
R

Q

PQ R P Q R Associative Rule
36
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Distributive Rule :

a. A B A B


, are real number
b. A A A
For example :
Proof of case a: let =2




A B 2 A B

A B

B
O
A
2 A B
37
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1

A B 2 A 2B

2 A 2B

2B

O
2A


2 A B 2 A 2B
38
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Proof of case b: let = 2 and = 1

A 2 1A 3 A

A

3A
A A 2 A 1 A
2A

A
3A


2 1A 2 A 1A 39
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
of
1.2.4 Subtraction Vectors
For example : CD

D
C
D


CDC D
Parallelogram Triangle

C C
O O
CD CD D
D

40
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Vectors subtraction can be used
to determine the velocity of one object relative to another object
i.e. to determine the relative velocity.
to determine the change in velocity of a moving object.

Exercise 1.2 :
1. Vector A has a magnitude of 8.00 units and 45 above the positive x
axis. Vector B also has a magnitude of 8.00 units and is directed along
the negative x axis. Using graphical methods and suitable scale to

determine
a) A B b) A B

c) A 2B d) 2A B
(Hint : use 1 cm = 2.00 units)

41
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
1.2.5 Resolving a Vector
1st method : 2nd method :

y y

D D
Dy Dy

0
x
0 x
Dx Dx

Dx Dx
cos Dx D cos sin Dx D sin
D D
Dy Dy
sin D y D sin cos D y D cos
D D
42
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
The magnitude of vector D:

D or D Dx 2

Dy
2

Direction of vector D:

1
Dy Dy
tan tan
or

Dx Dx
Vector D in terms of unit vectors written as

D Dxi Dy j

43
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Example 6 :
A car moves at a velocity of 50 m s-1 in a direction north 30 east.
Calculate the component of the velocity
a) due north. b) due east.
Solution :
N a) v N v sin 60 or v N v cos 30

vN 50 sin 60 vN 50 cos 30

v 30 v 43.3 m s 1
N v N
60
W E
vE b) v E v cos 60 or vE v sin 30
vE 50 cos 60 vE 50 sin 30
vE 25 m s 1
S

44
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Example 7 :

F
120
x
S
A particle S experienced a force of 100 N as shown in figure above.
Determine the x-component and the y-component of the force.
Solution :
y Vector x-component y-component

Fx F cos 60 Fy F sin 60

Fx 100cos 60 Fy 100sin 60
F Fy
Fx 50 N Fy 86.6 N
60 120 or
F or

Fx S
x Fx F cos 120 Fy F sin 120

Fx 100cos 120 Fy 100sin 120

Fx 50 N Fy 86.6 N
45
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Example 8 : y

F2 (30N )

F1 (10 N )
45o 20
x
30o O

F3 (40N )

The figure above shows three forces F1, F2 and F3 acted on a particle
O. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant force on
particle O.

46
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
y
Solution :

F1 y F1
F3 x

20
x
30o O 45o F1 x F2 x

F
F3 3y

F2 y F2

Fr

F F1 F2 F3

Fr


Fx

Fy

Fx

F1x F2 x F3 x

Fy F1 y F2 y F3 y 47
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Solution :

Vector x-component y-component

F1 x F1 cos 20
F1 y F1 sin 20
F1 F1 x 10 cos 20 F1 y 10 sin 20

F1 x 9.40 N F1 y 3.42 N
F2 x 30 cos 45 F2 y 30 sin 45
F2 21.2 N
F2 x 21.2 N F2 y
F3 x 40 cos 30 F3 y 40 sin 30
F3
F3 x 34.6 N F3 y 20.0 N

Vector F x 9.40 21.2 34.6 F 3.42 21.2 20.0

y

sum
F x 4.00 N Fy 37.8 N
48
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Solution :
The magnitude of the resultant force is

Fr F F
x
2
y
2

Fr 4.00 37.8
2 2

Fr 38.0 N y
264
and its direction is Fx
x
tan

1 F y

84.0
O

F
x Fy
37.8
1
tan Fr
4.00
84.0 or 264 from positive x - axisanticlockwise
49
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Exercise 1.3 :
1. Vector A has components Ax = 1.30 cm, Ay = 2.25 cm; vector B
has components Bx = 4.10 cm, By = -3.75 cm. Determine
a) the components of the vector sum A B ,
b) the magnitude and direction of A B ,
c) the components of the vector B A,
d) the magnitude and direction of B A . (Young & freedman,pg.35,no.1.42)
ANS. : 5.40 cm, -1.50 cm; 5.60 cm, 345; 2.80 cm, -6.00 cm;
6.62 cm, 295
2. For the vectors A and B in figure 1.2, use the method of vector
themagnitude and directionyof
resolution to determine
a) the vector sum A B ,


b) the vector sum B A , B 18.0 m s -1
c) the vector difference A B ,
d) the vector difference B A.
(Young & freedman,pg.35,no.1.39)
A 12.0 m s -1 37.0
x
ANS. : 11.1 m s-1,
77.6; U think;
0
28.5 m s-1, 202; 28.5 m s-1, 22.2 50
Figure 1.2
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
1.2.6 Unit Vectors
notations a , b, c
E.g. unit vector a a vector with a magnitude of 1 unit in the direction
of vector A.

A A
a 1
A a
Unit vectors are dimensionless.

a 1
Unit vector for 3 dimension axes :
x - axis i @ i(bold)
y - axis j @ j (bold) i j k 1
z - axis k @ k (bold )
51
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
y

j
x
k
i
z
Vector can be written in term of unit vectors as :

r rx i ry j rz k
Magnitude of vector,

r rx 2 ry 2 rz 2
52
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
E.g. :


s 4i 3 j 2k m
s 42 32 22 5.39 m

y/m

3 j

s
x/m
2k 0 4i

z/m

53
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Example 9 :
Two vectors are given as:


a 2i 4 j 5k m


b 7i 8 j k m
Calculate

b and its magnitude,
a) the vector a
b) the vector b a and its magnitude,

c) the vector 2 a b and its magnitude.
Solution :

a) a
b a b 2 7 5i
a b a
x x x

y y by 4 8 4 j
a b a

b 5 1 6k

z z z

a b 5i 4 j 6k m
The magnitude, a b 52 42 62 8.78 m
54
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
b)

b a x bx ax 7 2 9i


b a y by a y 8 4 12 j


b a z bz a z 1 5 4k


b a 9i 12 j 4k m
The magnitude, b a 92 122 42 15.5 m

c)

2a b x 2ax bx 22 7 3i


2a b y 2a y by 2 4 8 0 j


2a b z 2a z bz 25 1 11k


2 a b 3i 11k m
The magnitude, 2a b 32 112 11.4 m
55
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
1.2.7 Multiplication of Vectors
Scalar (dot) product
The physical meaning of the scalar
product can be explained by
considering two vectors A and B as shown in figure 1.3a.

A

Figure 1.3a

B
shows
Figure 1.3b
the projection of vector B onto the direction
of
vector A .
A B A component of B parallel to A
A A
B cos

Figure 1.3b Figure 1.3c
B Acos B
shows
Figure 1.3c the projection of vector A onto the direction of


vector B . A B B component of A parallel to B 56


PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
From the figure 1.3b, the scalar product can be defined as

A B AB cos
meanwhile from the figure 1.3c,

B A B A cos
where : angle between two vectors
The scalar product is a scalar quantity.
The angle ranges from 0 to 180 .
When 0 90

scalar product is positive
9 0 180 scalar product is negative
90 scalar product is zero
The scalar product obeys the commutative law of multiplication i.e.

A B B A

57
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Example of scalar product is work done by a constant force where the
expression is givenby

W F s F s cos sF cos
The scalar product of the unit vectors are shown below :
y
i i i 2 cos 0 o 1 1 1
2

j j j 2 cos 0 o 12 1 1
k k k 2 cos 0 o 1 1 1
2
j
x
k
i i i j j k k 1
z
i j 11cos 90 o 0
j k 11cos 90 o 0 i j j k i k 0
i k 11cos 90 o 0 58
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Example 10 :
Calculate the A B and the angle between vectors A and B for the
problems.
following
a) A i 2 j 3k b) A
4i 3 j k

B 2i j 5k B 2 j 3k ANS.:-3; 99.4
Solution
:
a) A B

1 2i i 2 1 j j 35k k
A B 2 2 15
A B 19
The magnitude of the vectors: A 12 22 32 14
The angle ,
B 22 12 52 30

A B AB cos
1 A B 1 19
cos cos


AB 14 30
158 59
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Vector (cross) product
Consider two vectors : A xi yj zk

B pi qj rk
In general, the vector product
is defined
as
A B C
and its magnitude is given by

A B C A B sin AB sin
where : angle between two vectors
The angle ranges from 0 to 180 so the vector product always
positive value.
quantity.
Vector product is a vector
The direction of vector C is determined by

RIGHT-HAND RULE
60
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
For example:
How to use right hand rule :

Point the 4 fingers to the direction of the 1st vector.

Swept the 4 fingers from the 1st vector towards the 2nd vector.

The thumb shows the direction of the vector product.

C A B C
B

A
B C
B A C

A
A B B A but A B B A

Direction of the vector product (C ) always
perpendicular to the
plane containing the vectors A and B.
61
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
The vector product of the unit vectors are shown below :
y
i j j i k
j k k j i
j
k
x k i i k j
i
i i i 2 sin 0 o 0
z
j j j 2 sin 0 o 0 i i j j k k 0

k k k 2 sin 0 o 0
Example of vector product is a magnetic force on the straight
conductor carrying current places in magnetic field where the


expression is given by
F I l B
F IlB sin 62
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
The vector product can also be expressed in determinant form as

i j k

A B x y z
p q r
1st method :

A B yr zq i xr zp j xq yp k
2nd method :

A B yr zq i zp xr j xq yp k
Note :
The angle between two vectors can only be determined by
using the scalar (dot) product.
63
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Example 11 :
A 5 2 j 4k
i
Given two vectors :
B i j 5k

Determine
a) A B and its magnitude b) A B
c) the angle between vectors A and B .
Solution :
i j k
a)
A B 5 2 4
1 1 5

A B 25 41i 55 41 j 51 21k

A B 10 4i 25 4 j 5 2k
A B 14i 21 j 7 k
A B 14 21 7
2 2 2
The magnitude,

A B 26.2 64
PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
b)


A B 5i 2 j 4k i j 5k


A B 51i i 21 j j 45k k

A B 5 2 20
A B 23
c) The magnitude of vectors,

A 5 2 4
2 2 2
45
B 12 12 52 27
Using the scalar (dot) product formula,

A B AB cos

1 A B
1 23
cos cos

AB 45 27
48.7
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PHYSICS CHAPTER 1
Exercise 1.4 :

1. If vector a = 3i + 5 j b = 2i +4 j , determine


and vector

a) a b , b) a b , c) a b b .
ANS. : 2k; 26; 46

2. Three vectors are given as follow :

a 3i 3 j 2k ; b i 4 j 2k and c 2i 2 j k

Calculate

a) a b c , b) a b c , c) a b c .
ANS. : 21; 9; 5i 11 j 9k


3. If vector P 3i 2 j k and vector Q 2i 4 j 3k,
determine

a) P Q
b) the angle between P and Q .
ANS. : 10i 7 j 16k; 92.8

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PHYSICS CHAPTER 1

THE END
Next Chapter
CHAPTER 2 :
Kinematics of Linear Motion

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