AP Physics B > Introduction to Physics (Basic Math)
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Introduction to Physics (Basic Math)
Physics is the study of the laws of nature. The phenomena
studied range from the subatomic scale to the cosmological
scale. The ultimate test of the validity of any law is
determined by experiment.
The international system (SI) of units is used throughout.
Length is measured in meters (m), mass in kilograms (kg), and
time in seconds (s).
The law of cosines allows the determination of the third
side of a triangle if the other two sides and the angle between
them are known.
The law of sines states that in a triangle the ratio of the
sine of an angle to the length of the opposite side is
constant.
A scalar is a quantity that is completely determined by its
magnitude; mass, time, distance, and speed, are scalars. A
vector is specified by a magnitude and a direction.
Displacement, velocity, acceleration, and force, are
vectors.