Lecture 3 Vectors and Dimensions Length [L] Mass [M] Time [T]

y
C B By

Dimensional analysis
All physical quantities are functions of a small number of fundamental quantities In mechanics these are Length [L] Mass [M] Time [T] For example: Velocity = distance/time =L/T Area = distance x distance = L2 These are called the dimensions of the quantity In any physics equation the dimensions of the two sides must be the same

B A Ay x Ax x

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Dimensional Analysis
This is a very important tool to check your work Its also very easy! Example: Example: Doing a problem you get the answer distance d = vt 2 (velocity x time2) Dimensions on left side = L Dimensions on right side = L / T x T2 = L x T Left and right dimensions dont match, so answer must don be wrong!! wrong!!

Dimensional Analysis
Units SI English Time Length Area Volume s s m ft L m ft L2 m ft L3 Velocity m/s ft/s mph L/T Acceleration m/s ft/s L/T

Dimension T

Use [ ] to denote dimensions of a physical quantity [v] = m/s = L/T [A] = m = L Units must be given in all problems. A number without a unit is meaningless and WRONG Dimensional analysis provides an important check on answers
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UIUC

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Dimensional Analysis
The period P of a swinging pendulum depends only on the length of the pendulum d and the acceleration of gravity g. Which of the following formulas for the period P could be correct ? (a) P = 2

Solution
Try the first equation
2

(1) L

(dg)2

(b)

d P = 2 g

(c)

d P = 2 g

L T2

L4 T T4

Not Right !!

Length d has units of length (L) Acceleration g has units of (L / T 2) Period P has units of time (T ) T

(1) P = 2 (dg )

(2)

P = 2

d g

(3)

P = 2

d g

UIUC

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Solution
Try the second equation

Solution
Try the third equation

(2)

L = T2 T L 2 T

Not Right !!

(3)

L = T2 =T L T2

This has the correct units!

(1) P = 2 (dg )

(2)

P = 2

d g

(3)

P = 2

d g

(1) P = 2 (dg )

(2)

P = 2

d g

(3)

P = 2

d g

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Estimation
Use physical insight to estimate unknown quantities These are estimates, only accurate to an order of magnitude (factor of 10) Only use one significant figure Use estimation to check your answers to a problem Example: How many piano tuners work in Minneapolis?

How many piano tuners work in Minneapolis?

~4 people / family

# pianos

1 pianos 1 family 5 family 4 person 5 pianos = 10 Mnpls

2 x 10

persons Mnpls

Second: How many piano tunings? Each piano should be tuned once a year but many pianos never get tuned. Average time between tunings ~ 2years tuning Year

1piano = 0 .5

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How many piano tuners work in Minneapolis?

Vectors
In 1 dimension, we can specify a physical quantity with one number (including a sign). Called a scalar quantity In 2 or 3 dimensions, we need more than one quantity, called a vector To illustrate this, consider the displacement vector r in 2 dimensions. y Draw x,y axes y Need 2 quantities to specify r B The two distances dx, dy, or r The length r and the angle dy To fully specify the position in the plane we also need the position (x,y) A x (x,y) where it starts (Often the origin of the dx axes (0,0)) x
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105 pianos 0.5

tuning tunings = 0.5 105 year piano year

How many tunings can 1 tuner do per year? Each tuning takes ~2 hours

1 tuner = 4 tunings = 4 tunings 250 day day

work days Year

= 10 3 tunings Year

0.5 10 5 Tunings / Year = 0 . 5 10 2 Tuners = 50 Tuners 10 3 Tunings / Year Tuner

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Vectors:
Example: Where is Oxford? Example Choose origin at London Choose coordinates of distance (miles), and direction (N,S,E,W) Oxford is 30 miles West and 40 miles north of London We can represent the position of Oxford relative to London by the red vector, called the displacement vector

Vectors...
There are three common ways of indicating that something is a vector quantity: Boldface notation: A Usually in the lectures Arrow notation: In the book Hat notation :

Oxford

40mi

By pythagoras It has a magnitude

A A A

50 mi

30

+ 40

= 50 miles

and direction

=tan-1(40/30)=53o N of W.

It has components (30,40)miles

30mi London
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Vectors...
The components of r are its (x,y,z) coordinates r = (rx ,ry ,rz ) = (x,y,z) Consider this in 2-D (since its easier to draw) and take the origin at the start of the vector: rx = x = r cos (x,y) y ry = y = r sin where r = |r | r r = tan-1( y / x ) The components of a vector are independent quantities. All physics and all equations are satisfied independently in each coordinate. x

Vectors...
The magnitude (length) of r is found using the Pythagorean theorem: r x

r = r = x2 + y 2
y

in 3D r = x2 + y 2 + z 2

The magnitude of a vector clearly does not depend on its direction.

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Vector addition:
Consider the vectors A and B. Find A + B.
A A B A B

Unit Vectors:
A Unit Vector is a vector having length 1 and no units It is used to specify a direction Unit vector u points in the direction of U Can represent U as its magnitude U times u U=U u Useful examples are the Cartesian unit vectors [ i, j, k ] directions of the x, y and z axes Any vector r can be written r = xi + yj + zk Where x, y, z are the magnitudes of the components
y

C=A+B

C We can arrange the vectors as we want, as long as we maintain their length and direction!!
B C=B + A

j k i
x

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Vector addition using components:

Vector Addition
j A = i + 2 + 3k B = 2i 4 + k j

A + B = 3i 2 + 4k j

y
C B By

j C = i + 2k

j A + B + C = 4i + 2k

Comparing components of (a) and (b): Cx = Ax + Bx Cy = Ay + By The x and y component equations are satisfied independently True however we draw the axes

B A Ay x Ax x

A + C = 2i + 3 + k j j A + C + B = 4i + 2k

It doesnt matter what order you add the vectors

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Homework
Reread the lectures and Chapter 1 of Fishbane, make sure you understand them Do questions 52,60,84 from Chapter 1 of Fishbane More if you have difficulty Read Chapter 2 of Fishbane, Straight Line Motion

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