Chapter 1: Introduction and Mathematical Concepts

The branch of science that seeks to understand the fundamental principles governing the behavior of the universe.

Physics

The fundamental units of measurement in physics, including length, mass, time, and temperature difference.

Base units

meter (m)

The SI unit for length

Kilogram (kg)

The SI unit for mass

Second (s)

The SI unit for time

The process of converting a measurement from one unit to another, either by moving the decimal point to the right or left.

Converting units

The digits in a measured quantity that are considered to be significant and convey meaningful information.

Significant figures

A fraction that expresses the relationship between two equivalent units of measurement.

Conversion factor

Can be described by a single number and do not have a direction, such as temperature, speed, and mass.

Measurement

Scalar quantities

Have both magnitude and direction, such as velocity, force, and displacement.

Vector quantities

Arrows are used to represent

Vectors

$\sin \theta$ =

$\dfrac{opposite}{hypotenuse}$

$\cos \theta$ =

$\dfrac{adjacent}{hypotenuse}$

$\tan \theta$ =

$\dfrac{opposite}{adjacent}$

Pythagorean theorem

$h^{2}=h_{o}^{2}+h_{a}^{2}$

The process of combining two or more vectors to obtain a resultant vector, represented by the equation A + B = R.

Vector addition

Signs (positive or negative)

When adding and subtracting, you must look at the