CHAPTER – 1

MEASUREMENTS AND FORCE

1. Define the unit of a physical quantity.

The standard used for the measurement of a physical quantity is called its unit.

2. Differentiate between fundamental quantity and derived quantity.

Physical quantities which are independent of other quantities are called fundamental quantities.
Quantities that are derived from fundamental quantities are called derived quantities.
3. What are the seven fundamental quantities and their units in the SI system?
FUNDAMENTAL QUANTITY UNIT

Length meter

Mass kilogram
Time second

Electric current ampere

Temperature kelvin
Amount of substance mole

Luminous intensity candela

4. Prefixes used for multiples and submultiples in SI unit system

prefix multiple Prefix Submultiple
1
deca 10 deci 10-1
2
hecto 10 centi 10-2
kilo 103 milli 10-3
mega 106 micro 10-6
giga 109 nano 10-9
12
tera 10 pico 10-12
peta 1015 femto 10-15

5. Explain different types of errors in measurements.

The difference between the true value and the measured value of a quantity is known as the error of measurement.
Errors in measurement can be classified into two categories. They are systematic errors and random errors.

1. Systematic Errors
Systematic errors in measurements can be due to instrumental errors, incorrect experimental techniques, and
personal errors.

1. Instrumental errors: These errors arise from the imperfect design or calibration of instruments, zero error of
instruments, etc.

2. Error due to incorrect experimental technique: These kinds of errors occur due to inaccurate experimental
procedures as well as external factors.

3. Personal errors: Such errors arise due to personal bias, lack of proper setting of the apparatus, or individual’s
carelessness in taking observations.

This type of error can be minimized by using better instruments, improving experimental techniques, and avoiding
personal bias.
2. Random Errors
Random errors come from unpredictable changes in experimental conditions. The magnitude and direction of these
errors vary randomly with each measurement. Random errors can be reduced by taking a greater number of
measurements. These errors can be removed by averaging.

6. Distinguish between absolute error, relative error, and percentage error.

Absolute error
The absolute error of a measurement is the difference between the individual measurement and the arithmetic mean of
that quantity.
Relative error
The ratio of the mean absolute error to the mean value of the physical quantity measured is called the relative error.
Relative error =

Percentage error
The relative error of a physical quantity expressed in percentage is called percentage error.

Percentage error =

BASIC INTRODUCTION TO VECTORS

7. State and explain the triangular law of vector addition.

The triangular law of vector addition states that if two vectors are represented by the two sides of a triangle taken
in order, then the resultant vector is represented both in magnitude and direction by the third side of the triangle
taken in the reverse order.

Let and are two non-parallel vectors. To find the vector sum using the triangle method, place the vectors
such that the tail of one vector coincides with the head of the other vector. Complete the triangle by drawing the third
side. The third side gives the resultant vector R.
8. State and explain the Parallelogram law of vector addition.
The parallelogram law of vector addition states that if two vectors are represented both in magnitude and direction by
the adjacent sides of a parallelogram drawn from a point, then the resultant vector is represented both in magnitude
and direction by the diagonal of the parallelogram passing through the same point.
9. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of two vectors acting at an angle between them.

Consider two vectors and . Let θ be the angle between the two
vectors. The resultant, of the two vectors, can be obtained by
the parallelogram method. The magnitude of the resultant vector R
is given by the expression

The direction of the resultant vector is specified by

the angle α with respect to the vector .
The angle α is given by the expression

10. Explain the term resolution of a vector. Give 2 real-life examples.

The process of splitting a given vector into two or more vectors along
different directions is called the resolution of a vector.
Consider a vector making an angle θ with the X-axis. Draw perpendiculars
from the head of the vector to X-axis and Y-axis to meet at the points P and Q
respectively. Then, if OP and OQ are taken as two vectors ,
respectively, by parallelogram law of vector addition, is the resultant
vector.

Thus and are vector components of . and are called x-component and
y-component respectively. Using simple trigonometric relations,

Examples of resolution of a vector

Walking of man: While walking, a person applies a force on the ground and the reaction force by the ground on the
man enables him to move forward. The force applied by the man is directed at an angle with the horizontal. The
reaction force by the ground is opposite in direction to the applied force. The reaction force R can be resolved along
horizontal and vertical components. The horizontal component pushes him forward.

Pulling a cart: Consider a man pulling a cart. The force is directed at an angle with the horizontal. Here the force can
be resolved into two components – vertical and horizontal components. The horizontal component is responsible for
the motion of the cart.

11. Distinguish between speed and velocity.

Speed is the distance travelled by a body in unit time. It is a scalar quantity. The rate of change of displacement of
a body is called velocity. It is a vector quantity.
12. What are the equations of motion for uniformly accelerated motion?
Consider the motion of a particle with initial velocity ‘u’ and uniform acceleration ‘a’. Let the
displacement and velocity of the particle after a time ‘t’ seconds be ‘s’ and ‘v’ respectively. The motion of
the particle along a straight-line path with uniform acceleration can be analyzed using the three equations of
motion.

13. State Newton’s first law of motion and explain inertia.

Newton’s first law of motion states that everybody continues in its state of rest or of uniform motion along a straight
line unless compelled by some external force to change that state.

Inertia is the resistance of a body to any change in its state of rest or uniform motion along a straight line.

A person standing in a stationary bus fall backward when the bus suddenly starts. This is because the lower part of
his body moves forward with the bus but the upper part of his body remains at rest due to the inertia of rest, which
results in the backward fall. A person trying to get down from a moving bus, falls forward. The lower part suddenly
comes to rest on touching the ground, but the upper part of his body remains in motion due to inertia of motion and the
person falls forward.

14. Define force from the first law of motion.

Force can be defined as any agency which can change the state of rest or uniform motion of a body.
15. State and explain Newton’s second law of motion.
Newton’s second law of motion states that the rate of change of momentum of a body is directly proportional to the
applied force and takes place in the direction of the force.

Consider a body of mass ‘m’ moving with a velocity ‘u’. If under the action of a force ‘F’, the velocity changes to ‘v’,
and its momentum also changes from mu to mv. According to Newton’s second law of motion,

since is the acceleration of the body,

where k is the constant of proportionality. Thus, force is proportional to the product of mass and acceleration. By
suitably defining the SI unit of force, we can take k =1. Thus,
16. With the help of two examples explain Newton’s third law of motion.

Newton’s third law of motion states that to every action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction.
When a man jumps off a boat to the shore, he exerts a force on the boat. The boat exerts an equal and opposite force
on the man which makes the jump possible. The boat moves backward due to the force exerted by the man.
A runner exerts a force on the ground and the reaction force of the ground on the runner pushes him forward.

17. State and derive the law of conservation of momentum.

Thus, the law of conservation of momentum states that if the net external force acting on a system is
zero, its linear momentum remains constant.
Consider two bodies of masses and moving along a straight line with velocities and
respectively. Let the bodies collide for a time t seconds. After a collision, the velocities become and
respectively for masses and along the same direction as shown in the figure.

Since there is no external force acting on the system of two colliding bodies, the bodies apply internal
forces on each other during the collision. Let the force acting on the mass (applied by ) be and the
force acting on the mass (applied by ) be . From Newton’s second law of motion,

Similarly,

Since and are action-reaction pairs produced during the collision, applying Newton’s third law of
motion, we have
18. Explain the recoil of a gun. Derive an expression for the recoil velocity of the gun.
The total momentum of the gun and bullet before firing is zero. After firing the bullet moves with a velocity-
producing momentum in the forward direction. To balance the momentum change, the gun moves backward with a
velocity, such that the total momentum is zero.

Let and are masses of the gun and bullet respectively. Suppose, a bullet is fired from the gun with a velocity
, and the gun recoils with a velocity

By the law of conservation of momentum, the total momenta after firing must be equal to the total momenta before
firing.

19. Explain the propulsion of a rocket using the law of conservation of momentum.
The initial total momentum of the rocket on its launching pad is zero. After the rocket is launched, the fuel is
continuously burned and hot gases are ejected out in the downward direction with high velocity. This creates a
momentum change in the downward direction. To balance it, the remaining mass of the rocket moves in an
upward direction.

20. What is impulse? Show that change impulse is equal to change in momentum.
A large force acting for a short interval of time is called an impulsive force. Impulse (I) is defined as the
product of force and time for which the force acts.

From Newton’s second law of motion, we have