Lecture 3: Introduction to Physics 101

Chapter 1 :
• Scalars and Vectors (1.5)

Chapter 2:
• Distance and Displacement, Speed and Velocity
(2.1,2.2)

Physics 101: Lecture 3, Pg 1

 Conversion of Units – Example

A Cheetah’s acceleration when hunting

can be
a=6.1 m/s2
What is its acceleration in ft/min2 ?

Conversion factor:
1 ft = 0.3048 m

1 - 72 ft/min2
2 - 0.072 ft/min2
3 - 72 x 103 ft/min2 correct

Physics 101: Lecture 3, Pg 2

 Dimensional Analysis - Example

Determine how the time t of a free fall of an object

depends on its mass m, the height h from which it
is dropped and the acceleration g due to gravity.

1 - V h/g correct

2 - m h/g
3 - h/g

Physics 101: Lecture 3, Pg 3

 Trigonometry - Example

Which one of the following expressions may be used to

correctly find the angle q ?

q
2 cm
90

5
c
m
1 - q = cos-1 (5/2)
2 - q = tan-1 (2/5)
3 - q = tan-1 (5/2) correct

Physics 101: Lecture 3, Pg 4

 Trigonometry
Right triangle:
Definition of sine, cosine and
tangent:
adjacen q hypotenuse
t ha h
to angle Sin q = ho/h
90

ho Cos q = ha/h
opposite to angle
Tan q = ho/ha

Pythagorean Theorem: h2 = ho2 + ha2

Any Triangle: Laws of Cosines, Sines (see E.2)

Physics 101: Lecture 3, Pg 5
 Trigonometry - Example

The silhouette of a Christmas tree is an isosceles

triangle.
The angle at the top of the triangle is 30 degrees,
and the base measures 2 meters across.

How tall is the tree (in meters) ?

Physics 101: Lecture 3, Pg 6

 Scalars and Vectors

Scalars are quantities which are completely

specified by their magnitude (single number+unit).

There are physical quantities which are not

completely specified by their magnitude.

Example: Displacement

Physics 101: Lecture 3, Pg 7

 Scalars and Vectors

Example: Displacement

Displacement is the difference between final and initial

position of a body.

Assume a person is at an initial position A. What do you have to

specify to completely pin down the person’s final
position with respect to A ?

To be able to describe both magnitude and direction of a

physical quantity we use vectors.

Physics 101: Lecture 3, Pg 8

 Vectors

Vectors are graphically represented by arrows:

 The direction of the physical quantity is given by the

direction of the arrow.
 The magnitude of the quantity is given by the
length of the arrow.

Physics 101: Lecture 3, Pg 9

 Addition and Subtraction of Vectors

 Graphical: Tail-to-head method

 Using vector components (e.g. 2 dimensional space) :
R = A+B = (Ax+Bx) x + (Ay+By) y

Physics 101: Lecture 3, Pg 10

 Lecture 3:

• Scalars and Vectors

• Distance and Displacement

I strongly suggest that you try the

example problems in the textbook.
If you have trouble with any of them, please
go to office hours for help!

Physics 101: Lecture 3, Pg 11