(i) Frequency of oscillation –

frequency is the quantity and

LESSON 1 oscillation is the phenomenon
(ii) Length of a wooden block – Length
is the quantity and the wooden
Understanding Physics block is an object
(iii) Density of water – density is the
The study of the laws that determine quantity and the water is the
the structure of the universe with substance
reference to the matter and energy of
which it consists. There are two types of the physical
The study was divided into separated quantities,
fields; heat , the properties of matter, • Base quantities
light, sound ,wave, electricity, • Derived quantities
magnetism, mechanics, nuclear
physics etc.
In physics , there is the need to make Base Quantities
careful observations, precise and The physical quantities which are used
accurate measurements. as the basis for the measurement and
Understanding natural phenomena can’t be derived from other physical
and observing everyday objects such quantities.
as a table, a mirror etc and discuss There are five base quantities as
how they are related to physics shown in the following table:
concepts has always been a central
aim of physics.
The roots of all science are firmly
based in experiment. Of course , Base Symb Unit Unit Measur
mastering scientific skills applying quantity ol name Abbreviati ed
on by
scientific knowledge must be the
important thing to learn physics. Length

Mass
Physical Quantities
Physics is based on measurement. We Time
discover physics by learning how to
measure the quantities that are Temperatu
involved in physics and we call its as re
physical quantities. Current

The meaning of Physical Quantities

Physical quantities are quantities that
can be measured.
Examples of physical quantities are
length, mass, time, weight, pressure,
current and force.
A physical quantity is a property
ascribed to phenomena, objects, or
subtaces that be quantified.
Example are:
Derived Quantities
The physical quantities which were
derived from base quantities by
multiplication operation or devision
operation or both
There are three examples for derived
quantities as shown in the following
table.

1
Derive Symb In term of Derived Unit
d ol the base unit Abbreviati
quanti quantities on
ty
Area

Velocit
y
Density

Example 1
State the following derived quantities
in terms of the base quantities. Scalar and Vector quantities
(a)Acceleration A scalar is any quantity with size
(Hint: Acceleration = change of
(magnitude) but without specified
velocity )
direction.
time
(b) Momentum Examples of scalar quantities include
(Hint : Mometum = mass x mass, time, length, temperature,
velocity ) energy, work, speed and pressure.

Solution A vector is any quantity with size

(magnitude) and specified direction.
Examples of vector quantities are
displacement, weight, force, velocity,
Example 2 acceleration and momentum.

State the base units for the following

derived quantities:
(a) Force
(Hint : Force = mass x acceleration
)

(b) Impulse
(Hint : Impulse = change of
momentum) TUTORIAL
1
(c) Work 1 Which one of the following is not
(Hint : Work = force x a base quantity?
displacement)
A Length B Weight
C Current D
Solution Time

2 Which one of the following is not

a base
unit?

A Celsius B Ampere
C Kilogram D Second

2
3 All derived quantities can be base quantity
derived from base
quantities by A The weight of an astronaut on
the Moon’s surface is 10 N.
A addition operation or B The velocity of a cyclist rides
subtraction a bycle is
operation 70 km j-1
B addition operation or C The perimeter of a field is 380
subtraction m
operation or both D The power of a lamp is 60 W.
C multiplication operation or
devision operation 9 Which one of the base quantities is
D multiplication operation or not involve in acceleration?
devision operation or both
A Length
4 The S.I. base unit for mass is B Mass
C Time
A gram B miligram
C kilogram D mikrogram 10 Which one of the following
apparatus is not
5 Which one of the base quantities is be used to measure the density
not involve in force? of a metal cube?

A Length B Time A Ruler

C Temperature D Mass B Stop watch
C Triple beam balance
6 Which of the derived quantities is
the combination of a base 11 Which one of the following derived
quantities only? quantities contains length and
time only?
A Force
B Volume A Velocity B
C Acceleration Momemtum
B Force D Pressure

12 Which one of the following is true?

Physical Type of S.I. Unit
quantity physical
quantity
7 Which one of the following pairs of A Momemtu Derived Kg m s-
derived quantities is true? m quantity 2

o
B Temperat Base C
A Work and mass ure quantitiy
B Force and current C Work Derived kg m 2
C Pressure and temperature quantity s -2
D Weight and potential D Area Basie m2
difference quantitiy
13 The kinetic energy of a moving
8 Which of the following physical object is given by
quantities is a E=½mv2

3
 where m = mass and v = velocity. k = constant
The number of the base
quanrtities involve in the kinetic The units of k are
energy ,E is or are

A kg s2 B kg- 1 s 2
A 1
C kg s D kg- 2
B 2
s-1
C 3 E kg2 s
14 Which of the following pairs of 18 Which of the followinq quantity is a
physical quantities and S.I. units is scalar quantity.
true?
A Weight B Volume
Physical S.I. unit C Force D
quantitiy Acceleration
A Area foot 19 Which of the followinq quantity is a
squared vector quantity.
B Weight Kilogram
C Power Joules per A Work B Power
minute C Velocity D Distance
D Density Kilograms per
metre cubed 20 Which one of the following pairs of
vector quantities is true?
15 Which one of the following is true?
A Impulse and area
A The S.I. units of charge is A s B Power and pressure
B The S.I. units of volume is cm 3 C Weight and velocity
C The S.I. units of velocity is km
-1
j 21 (a) The current flows through a
D The S.I. units of acceleration is metal
cms- 2 conductor is is defined by the
16 A physical quantitiy is given by equation
M=¾ed2
where the unit of e is unit current = charge
kilogram and the unit of d is time
metre. The units of M are
Based on the equation, which
A kg 2 m B kg - 2 m of the quantities above are
C kg m 2 D kg m - 2
E kg 2 m 2
(i) base quantities
17 The period of oscillation for an ...........................................
inertial balance is given by ............
T2= km (ii) derived quantities
where
T = The period of oscillation ...........................................
and the unit is s , ............
m = Mass and the unit is kg

4
 (b) What are the S.I.units of (i) the base quantities
charge?
…………………………………
................................................. ………..
.............. (ii) the derived quantities.

…………………………………
………..
(iii) the vector quantities

…………………………………
………...
(b) The S.I. units of F,m ,M and R

22 The power of a student to run up a

stair is given by the equation
Power = force X
displacement (c) The S.I. units of G
ti
me

(a) State the base quantities

contain
in the equation above.

.................................................
...................
(b) State the power in term of
base quantities.

.................................................
...................
20 The Newton’s law of universal
gravitation state, the gravitational
attraction force, F is directly
proportional to the product of the
mass ,m and M of two bodies and
inversely proportional to the
square of distance ,R between
them.

The law is given by the equation

F=GmM
R2

Based on the equation,

(a) give one example of