Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

Learning outcomes
Understand that physical quantities have numerical magnitude and a unit Recall base quantities and use prefixes Show an understanding of orders of magnitude Understand scalar and vector quantities Determine resultant vector by graphical method Measure length with measuring instruments Measure short interval of time using stopwatches

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1.1 Physical Quantities

Quantitative versus qualitative

Most observation in physics are quantitative Descriptive observations (or qualitative) are usually imprecise Quantitative Observations What can be measured with the instruments on an aeroplane?

Qualitative Observations How do you measure artistic beauty?

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1.1 Physical Quantities

A physical quantity is one that can be measured and consists of a magnitude and unit. Measuring length

70

km/h SI units are common today

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4.5 m

Vehicles Not Exceeding 1500 kg In Unladen Weight

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1.1 Physical Quantities

Are classified into two types:

Base quantities Derived quantities

Base quantity is like the brick the basic building block of a house

Derived quantity is like the house that was build up from a collection of bricks (basic quantity)

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1.2 SI Units
SI Units International System of Units
Base Quantities
length mass time electric current temperature amount of substance luminous intensity

Name of Unit
metre kilogram second ampere kelvin mole candela

Symbol of Unit
m kg s A K mol cd

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1.2 SI Units
This Platinum Iridium cylinder is the standard kilogram.

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1.2 SI Units

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1.2 SI Units
Example of derived quantity: area Defining equation: area = length width In terms of units: In terms of units: Units of area = m m = m2 Units of volume = m m m = m2 Defining equation: volume = length width height Defining equation: density = mass volume

In terms of units:

Units of density = kg / m3 = kg m3

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1.2 SI Units
Work out the derived quantities for:
distance time

Defining equation: speed =

In terms of units:

velocity Defining equation: acceleration = tim e

Units of speed =

In terms of units:

Units of acceleration =

Defining equation: force = mass acceleration In terms of units: Units of force =

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1.2 SI Units
Work out the derived quantities for: Force Defining equation: Pressure = Area In terms of units: Units of pressure = Defining equation: Work = Force Displacement In terms of units: Units of work =
Work done Defining equation: Power = Time

In terms of units:

Units of power =

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Derived Quantity

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

Relation with Base and Derived Quantities Special Name

1.2 SI Units
Unit

area volume density speed acceleration force pressure work power

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length width length width height mass volume distance time change in velocity time mass acceleration force area force distance work time newton (N) pascal (Pa) joule (J) watt (W)

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1.3 Prefixes
Prefixes simplify the writing of very large or very small quantities
Prefix
nano micro milli centi deci

Abbreviation
n m c d

Power
109 106 103 102 101

kilo
mega giga
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M G

103
106 109

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1.3 Prefixes
Alternative writing method Using standard form N 10n where 1 N < 10 and n is an integer

This galaxy is about 2.5 106 light years from the Earth.
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The diameter of this atom is about 1 1010 m.

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1. A physical quantity is a quantity that can be measured and consists of a numerical magnitude and a unit. 2. The physical quantities can be classified into base quantities and derived quantities. 3. There are seven base quantities: length, mass, time, current, temperature, amount of substance and luminous intensity. 4. The SI units for length, mass and time are metre, kilogram and second respectively. 5. Prefixes are used to denote very big or very small numbers.
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1.4 Scalars and Vectors

Scalar quantities are quantities that have magnitude only. Two examples are shown below:
Measuring Mass Measuring Temperature

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1.4 Scalars and Vectors

Scalar quantities are added or subtracted by using simple arithmetic. Example: 4 kg plus 6 kg gives the answer 10 kg 6 kg 4 kg

=
10 kg

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1.4 Scalars and Vectors

Vector quantities are quantities that have both magnitude and direction

A Force Magnitude = 100 N

Direction = Left

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1.4 Scalars and Vectors

Examples of scalars and vectors
Scalars distance speed Vectors displacement velocity

mass
time pressure energy volume density
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weight
acceleration force momentum

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1.5 Measurement of Length and Time

Accurate Measurement No measurement is perfectly accurate Some error is inevitable even with high precision instruments Two main types of errors
Random errors Systematic errors

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1.5 Measurement of Length and Time

Length Measuring tape is used to measure relatively long lengths For shorter length, a metre rule or a shorter rule will be more accurate

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1.5 Measurement of Length and Time

Correct way to read the scale on a ruler

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1.5 Measurement of Length and Time

Vernier Calipers Allows measurements up to 0.01 cm Consists of a 9 mm long scale divided into 10 divisions

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1.5 Measurement of Length and Time

Vernier Calipers The object being measured is between 2.4 cm and 2.5 cm long. The second decimal number is the marking on the vernier scale which coincides with a marking on the main scale.

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1.5 Measurement of Length and Time

Here the eighth marking on the vernier scale coincides with the marking at C on the main scale Therefore the distance AB is 0.08 cm, i.e. the length of the object is 2.48 cm

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1.5 Measurement of Length and Time

The reading shown is 3.15 cm. The instrument also has inside jaws for measuring internal diameters of tubes and containers. The rod at the end is used to measure depth of containers.

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1.5 Measurement of Length and Time

Micrometer Screw Gauge To measure diameter of fine wires, thickness of paper and small lengths, a micrometer screw gauge is used The micrometer has two scales:
Main scale on the sleeve Circular scale on the thimble

There are 50 divisions on the thimble One complete turn of the thimble moves the spindle by 0.50 mm

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1.5 Measurement of Length and Time

Micrometer Screw Gauge
Two scales: main scale and circular scale One complete turn moves the spindle by 0.50 mm. Each division on the circular scale = 0.01 mm

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1.5 Measurement of Length and Time

Time Measured in years, months, days, hours, minutes and seconds SI unit for time is the second (s). Clocks use a process which depends on a regularly repeating motion termed oscillations.

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1.5 Measurement of Length and Time

Caesium atomic clock 1999 - NIST-F1 begins operation with an uncertainty of 1.7 1015, or accuracy to about one second in 20 million years

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1.5 Measurement of Length and Time

Time The oscillation of a simple pendulum is an example of a regularly repeating motion. The time for 1 complete oscillation is referred to as the period of the oscillation.

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1.5 Measurement of Length and Time

Pendulum Clock Measures long intervals of time Hours, minutes and seconds

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1.5 Measurement of Length and Time

Watch also used to measure long intervals of time most depend on the vibration of quartz crystals to keep accurate time energy from a battery keeps quartz crystals vibrating

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1.5 Measurement of Length and Time

Stopwatch Measure short intervals of time Two types: digital stopwatch, analogue stopwatch Digital stopwatch more accurate as it can measure time in intervals of 0.01 seconds. Analogue stopwatch measures time in intervals of 0.1 seconds.

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1. The metre rule and half-metre rule are used to measure lengths accurately to 0.1 cm. 2. Vernier calipers are used to measure lengths to a precision of 0.01 cm. 3. Micrometer are used to measure length to a precision of 0.01 mm. 4. Parallax error is due to: (a) incorrect positioning of the eye (b) object not being at the same level as the marking on the scale

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5. Zero error is due to instruments that do not read exactly zero when there is nothing being measured. 6. The time for one complete swing of a pendulum is called its period of oscillation. 7. As the length of the pendulum increases, the period of oscillation increases as well.

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