Fundamental Physics and Measurements

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Questions and Answers

What is the equivalent tire pressure in atmospheres if the recommended pressure is 28 psi, considering that 1 atm = 14.7 psi?

1.5 atm

1.2 atm

1.0 atm (correct)

0.9 atm

Which of the following correctly defines a vector?

A quantity that is always positive.

A quantity measured in seconds.

A quantity with magnitude only.

A quantity with magnitude and direction. (correct)

In a rectangular coordinate system, how would the position of a point be correctly represented?

With polar coordinates.

Using distance and angle.

By velocity and direction.

By (x, y) coordinates. (correct)

What is the primary difference between mass and weight?

Mass is related to inertia, while weight relates to gravity. Signup and view all the answers

What does the negative vector represent in relation to the reference position?

A vector that points in the opposite direction of the reference position. Signup and view all the answers

Why is physics referred to as 'the fundamental science'?

It provides a foundation for understanding other natural sciences. Signup and view all the answers

What is an essential application of physics in medicine?

Understanding the interaction between physical agents and the human body. Signup and view all the answers

What principle demonstrates the importance of standard units in physics?

Measurements can vary widely without standardization. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main cause of the Mars Climate Orbiter disaster?

Miscommunication of unit standards between engineering teams. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about physical quantities is true?

A physical quantity must be expressed numerically and in standard units. Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does using standard units provide in the field of physics?

They facilitate easy and accurate communication of measurements. Signup and view all the answers

Which measurement unit was incorrectly interpreted in the Mars Climate Orbiter incident?

Pounds of force. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to state the unit in measurements?

It helps validate the measurement against established standards. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the International System of Units (SI)?

To standardize measurements across countries. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a derived unit from standard units?

Newton (N) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following prefixes indicates a quantity that is 10^-6 of the base unit?

Micro- Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for using scientific notation?

To make large numbers easier to read. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of order of magnitude in scientific measurements?

It indicates the scale of the measurement. Signup and view all the answers

Which unit system is primarily used in the USA?

Imperial system Signup and view all the answers

At what diameter does each alveolus measure approximately?

200 μm Signup and view all the answers

What unit is used to express speed in metric measurements?

Meters per second (m/s) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental physical quantity defined in the SI system?

Pressure Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction and Fundamental Physics

The lecture is about fundamental physics, specifically given by Dr. Irene Polycarpou at the European University Cyprus School of Medicine.
Scenarios are used to illustrate the concepts.
The lecture explores the common theme of static electricity.
Physics is the fundamental science, underlying chemistry, biology, and other similar branches of natural science.

Example Questions in Physics

The field of physics aims to answer fundamental questions about the universe.
Questions include determining the sizes, masses, and distances of objects.
Measurements are taken and expressed using standard units in these investigations.

Importance of Standard Units

Accurate measurements are crucial.
Standard units ensure that measurements can be understood and replicated by others consistently.
Using standard units avoids miscommunication and errors.
The NASA Mars Climate Orbiter incident serves as a real-world example highlighting the importance of standardized units in crucial applications, such as space missions.

Fundamentals of Physics

Scientists observe phenomena and formulate fundamental questions.
They use measurements and standard units to answer these questions in physics.

Physical Quantities

A physical quantity is anything that can be measured.
Units are essential to define the scale of measurements.
Measurements are compared against established standards of permanence and reproducibility.

Standard Units

The International System of Units (SI) is the set of standard units used in science.
SI defines the fundamental quantities (e.g., mass, length, time, temperature).
Different units for the same quantity have to be carefully converted using conversion factors.
Conversion from one unit to another is crucial in scientific and technical calculations.

Derived and Secondary Units

Derived units or secondary units are units that are derived from the fundamental units.
These units include units for velocity, acceleration, force, work/energy, power, frequency, and pressure.

Prefixes

Prefixes are used for large and small quantities that can be written in scientific notation.
Prefixes allow concise expressing of very large or very small values.

Rules for Scientific Notation

Scientific notation expresses numbers in the form of 'a × 10^b'.
'a' is a number between 1 (inclusive) and 10 (exclusive).
'b' is an integer (whole number) exponent.
Using scientific notation for larger or smaller numbers improves clarity and reduces the potential for mistakes.

Conversion of Units

Different units for the same quantity can be mathematically converted, applying appropriate conversion factors.
Many everyday measurements can be converted into more appropriate standard units like meters, kilograms, seconds etc. for easier calculations.

Order of Magnitude

Order of magnitude refers to the scale of sizes and distances of various objects/structures in the universe.
The range covered spans both enormous scales like the universe down to scales of atoms, quarks and other microscopic objects.

Distances and Sizes

Many small structures in the human body have sizes within the millimeter and micrometer ranges (e.g., alveoli in the lungs).
Structures that are too small to be seen by the naked eye typically need specialized equipment such as microscopes (optical, electron microscopes).

Coordinate Systems

Rectangular or Cartesian coordinates need points of origin (0, 0) to define positions of objects in space.
This system uses x and y values.
Polar coordinates utilize a radial distance (r) and an angle (θ)
Conversions between these systems are essential for applications.

Mass and Inertia

Mass is a measure of how much matter an object contains.
Mass has inertia, which is an object's property to remain at rest or in motion unless acted upon by an external force.

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Description

Explore the essential concepts of fundamental physics in this quiz based on Dr. Irene Polycarpou's lecture at the European University Cyprus School of Medicine. Focus on static electricity, accurate measurements, and the importance of standard units in scientific investigation. Test your understanding of key physics scenarios and applications.