Class IX Subject – PHYSICS Chapter 1: UNIT & MEASUREMENTS

MAHARASHTRA BOARD (NEW SYLLABUS)

SYSTEM OF UNITS

 A system of units is a collection of units, in

which certain units are chosen as
fundamental and all other are derived from
them.
 Various systems of units namely

Notes | PHYSICS 1) CGS system of unit

Lesson 1  In this system, the unit of length is
centimetre, the unit of mass is gram
UNIT & MEASUREMENTS and the unit of time is second.
2) MKS system of unit
PHYSICAL QUANTITES  In this system, the unit of length is
metre, the unit of mass is kilogram and
 A physical quantity is a property of a material the unit of time is second.
which can be measured. 3) FPS system of units
 A physical quantity can be expressed as the  In this system, the unit of length is foot,
combination of a magnitude and a unit. the unit of mass is pound and the unit
 For example, the physical quantity mass can of time is second.
be measured as 27 kg 4) SI system of units
 where 27 is magnitude and kg is the unit.  This system contains seven
 There are two main types of Physical fundamental units and two
quantities supplementary fundamental units. The
1) Fundamental Quantities SI units are used in all physical
2) Derived Quantities measurements, for both the base
---------------------------------------------------------------------- quantities and the derived quantities
WHAT IS UNIT? obtained from them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FUNDAMENTAL QUANTITES AND UNITS
 The word unit as used in physics refers to the
standard measure of a quantity.
Fundamental Quantities
 The physical quantities which do not depend on
Example
any other physical quantities for their
 time —- second measurements are known as fundamental
Quantities.
 mass —- kilogram  There are seven fundamental Quantities
1) Length
 length —- meter 2) Mass
3) Time
 temperature —- Kelvin 4) Temperature
5) Electric current
 electric current —- ampere 6) Luminous Intensity
7) Amount of substance
----------------------------------------------------------------  Fundamental units:
The units used to measure fundamental
quantities are called fundamental units.
-----------------------------------------------------------

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 Class IX Subject – PHYSICS Chapter 1: UNIT & MEASUREMENTS
MAHARASHTRA BOARD (NEW SYLLABUS)

Fundamental quantity SI units Symbol  It is measured in radian (rad).

1) Length metre m 2) Solid Angle(dΩ )
2) Mass kilogram kg  This is the 3-dimensional analogue of dɵ
3) Time second s and is defined as the area of a portion of
4) Temperature kelvin K surface of a sphere to the square of radius
5) Electric current ampere A of the sphere.
6) Luminous Intensity candela cd
7) Amount of mole mol
substance
-----------------------------------------------------------
DERIVED QUANTITIES AND UNITS:

 Those quantities which are dependent on

fundamental quantities are termed as derived
quantities.
dA
 Example: Area, volume, speed, force, work, etc.
 dΩ = ---------
Distance
r2
Speed = ------------
 It is measured in steradians (sr)
Time
----------------------------------------------------------------
 Speed which is derived from combination of two
fundamental quantities distance and time CONVENTIONS FOR THE USE OF SI UNITS
 The units of derived quantities are called derived
units. 1) Unit of every physical quantity should be
-------------------------------------------------------------------- represented by its symbol.
SUPPLEMENTARY UNITS 2) Full name of a unit always starts with
smaller letter even if the name is after a
 There are 7 fundamental and 2 supplementary person,
physical quantities. Example : 1 newton, 1 joule, etc.
 supplementary physical quantities and their SI But symbol for unit named after a person
units are should be in capital letter.
1) Plane Angle (SI unit : radian) Example : N after scientist Newton, J after
2) Solid Angle (SI unit : steradians) scientist Joule,etc.
1) Plane Angle (dɵ ) 3) Symbols for units do not take plural form
for example : force of 20 N and not 20
 This is the ratio of the length of an arc of a
newtons or not 20 Ns.
circle to the radius of the circle as shown in Fig
4) Symbols for units do not contain any full
stops at the end of recommended letter,
Example : 25 kg and not 25 kg..
5) The units of physical quantities in
numerator and denominator should be
written as one ratio.
for example : the SI unit of acceleration is
m/s2 or m s-2 but not m/s/s.
6) Use of combination of units and symbols
ds for units is avoided when physical
 dɵ = ------- quantity is expressed by combination of
two.
r

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 Class IX Subject – PHYSICS Chapter 1: UNIT & MEASUREMENTS
MAHARASHTRA BOARD (NEW SYLLABUS)

Example : The unit J/kg K is correct while surface of Earth, separated by a straight
joule/kg K is not correct. line at
7) A prefix symbol is used before the symbol distance b as shown in above fig.
of the unit.  Two observers at these two points observe
 Thus prefix symbol and units symbol a distant planet S simultaneously.
constitute a new symbol for the unit which  We measure the angle ∠ASB
can be raised to a positive or negative between the two directions along which
power of 10. the
 1ms = 1 millisecond = 10-3s
planet is viewed at these two points.
 1μs = 1 microsecond = 10-6s
 1ns = 1 nanosecond = 10-9s  This angle, represented by symbol ɵ is the
 Use of double prefixes is avoided when parallax angle.
single prefix is available  As the planet is far away, i.e., the distance
 10-6s =1􀁐s and not 1mms. of the planet from the Earth is very large in
 10-9s = 1ns and not 1mμs comparison to b, b/D << 1 and, therefore, ɵ
8) Space or hyphen must be introduced is very small.
while indicating multiplication of two  We can thus consider AB as the arc of
units. length b of the circle and D its radius.
Example : m/s should be written as m s-1  AB = b and AS = BS = D and ɵ = AB/ D,
or m-s-1 and Not as ms-1 (because ms will
be read as millisecond).  where ɵ is in radian
--------------------------------------------------------------------------  D=b/ ɵ
MEASUREMENT OF LENGTH ----------------------------------------------------------------------
MEASUREMENT OF THE SIZE OF A PLANET OR
 Metre is the unit of length. A STAR
 The distance travelled by light in vacuum
Is 1 second is called 1m.
------------------
299,792,458
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEASUREMENTS OF LARGE DISTANCE

PARALLAX METHOD

 Large distance, such as the distance of

a planet or a star from the Earth, cannot be
measured directly with a metre scale, so a
parallax method is used for it.
 Consider two positions A and B on the
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 If d is the diameter of a planet, the angle
subtended by it at any single point on the
Earthis called angular diameter of the
planet.
 Let αbe the angle between the two
directions when two diametrically opposite
points of the planet are viewed through a
telescope as shown in above Fig.
 As the distance D of the planet is large
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 Class IX
, we can calculate the diameter of the planet
as
d to be passed through an electromagnet so
 α = -------------
D extremely sensitive balance to balance the
 therefore d=αD
----------------------------------------------------------------------
MEASUREMENT OF DISTANCE TO STARS
 Sun is the star which is closest to the
Earth.
 The next closest star is at a distance of
4.29 light years.
 The parallax measured from
two most distance points on the Earth for stars
will be too small to be measured and for this
purpose we measure the parallax between
two farthest points (i.e. 2 AU apart, see box
below)along the orbit of the Earth around the
Sun
-----------------------------------------------------------
MEASUREMENT OF VERY SMALL
DISTANCES
 When we intend to measure the size of
the atoms and molecules, the conventional
apparatus like Vernier calliper or screw
guagewill not be useful.
 Therefore, we use electron microscope or
tunnelling electron microscope to measure the
size of atoms.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEASUREMENT OF MASS
 Since 1889, a kilogram was the mass of a
shiny piece of platinum-iridium alloy kept in a
special glass case at the International Bureau
of weights and measures.
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Subject – PHYSICS Chapter 1: UNIT & MEASUREMENTS
MAHARASHTRA BOARD (NEW SYLLABUS)
 This definition of mass has been modified
on 20th May 2019
 Thus the kilogram mass can be described in
terms of the amount of current which has
that it can pull down one side of an
other side which holds one standard kg
mass.
 mass of atoms and molecules is measured
in atomic mass unit
----------------------------------------------------------------
MEASUREMENT OF TIME
 The SI unit of time is the second (s).
 To get more standard and nonvarying
(constant) unit for measurement of time, a
cesium atomic clock is used.
 It is based on periodic vibrations produced
in cesium atom.
 In cesium atomic clock, a second is taken as
the time needed for 9,192,631,770
vibrations of the radiation (wave) emitted
during a transition between two hyperfine
states of Cs133 atom.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
DIMENSIONS AND DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
DIMENSIONS
 The dimensions of a physical quantity
are the powers to which the concerned
fundamental units must be raised in order
to obtain the unit of the given physical
quantity.
 When we represent any derived quantity
with appropriate powers of symbols of the
fundamental quantities, then such an
expression is called dimensional formula.
 This dimensional formula is expressed by
square bracket and no comma is written in
between any of the symbols.
 For convenience, the basic quantities
are represented by symbols as
‘L’ for length,
‘M’ for mass,
‘T’ for time,
‘K’ For temperature,
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 Class IX Subject – PHYSICS Chapter 1: UNIT & MEASUREMENTS
MAHARASHTRA BOARD (NEW SYLLABUS)

‘I’ for current, [ P ] = [ M1 L1 T-2 ] x [ L-2 ]

‘C’ for luminous intensity
‘mol’ for amount of mass. [ P ] = [ M1 L1 T-2 x L-2 ]

Example 1) [ P ] = [ M1 L-1 T-2 ]

Dimensions and Dimensional Formula of ----------------------------------------------------------------------
velocity Example 5)
Displacement [L] Dimensions and Dimensional Formula of Work
Velocity (v) = ------------------  -------
Time [T] Work ( W ) = Force x displacement

[ v ] = [ L1 T-1 ] [ W ] = [ M1 L1 T-2 ] x [ L ]

[ W ] = [ M1 L2 T-2 ]
 1 0 -1
[ L M T ] is dimensional formula for ----------------------------------------------------------------
velocity DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
 [ v ] = [ L1 T-1 ] is the dimensional equation
 Therefore , dimension of velocity is USES OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
1 dimension in length
-1 dimension in time 1) To check the correctness of physical
0 dimension in mass equations
 [ v ] = [ L1 T-1 ] = [ L1 M0 T-1 ]  if the dimensions of all the terms on both
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- the sides are the same then that equation
Example 2) is said to be dimensionally correct.
Dimensions and Dimensional Formula of  Example v = u + at
acceleration  Dimension of L.H.S = [v] = [LT-1]
Change in velocity [v] [ L T-1 ]  [u] =[LT-1]
Acceleration (a) = ----------------------  ------ --------  [at] = [LT-2] [T] = [LT-1]
Time [T] [T]  Dimension of R.H.S= [LT-1]+ [LT-1]
 [L.H.S] = [R.H.S]
[ a ] = [ L1 T-2 ]
 As the dimensions of L.H.S and R.H.S
 are the same, the given equation is
[ a ] = [ L1M0 T-2 ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------  dimensionally correct.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Example 3)
Dimensions and Dimensional Formula of force 2) To establish the relationship between
related physical quantities
Force (f) = mass X acceleration  The time period ( T ) of a simple pendulum
depends on length ( l ) and acceleration due
[ f ] = [ M ] X [ L1 T-2 ] to gravity ( g ).
 Establish a relationship among these
[ f ] = [ M 1 L1 T-2 ] physical quantities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example 4) T α la
Dimensions and Dimensional Formula of pressure Similarly, T α gb
On combining , we can write T α la gb
Force [ M1 L1 T-2 ]
Pressure ( P ) = ---------------  ----------------- T = k . l a . gb
Area [ L2 ]
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 Class IX Subject – PHYSICS Chapter 1: UNIT & MEASUREMENTS
MAHARASHTRA BOARD (NEW SYLLABUS)

[ T ] = [ L]a [ LT-2 ]b  Dimensional formula for work is [M1L2T-2]

 Substituting in the above equation, we can
[ M0 L0 T1 ] = L a+b x T-2b Write

On comparing the powers of L and T [M11L12T1-2] = x [M21L22T2-2]

both side,
a + b = 0 ----(i) [M11L12T1-2]
X = -------------------------
and -2b = 1 ------- (ii) [M21L22T2-2]

therefore, b = -1/2
putting the above value in equation (i), we M1 1 L1 2 T1 -2

get X= ------ ----- ---

M2 L2 T2
a = -b
 where suffix 1 indicates SI units and 2
a=+½ Indicates CGS units.
 In SI units, L, M, T are expressed in m,
putting the value of a = + ½ and b = -1/2 kg and s
into equation T = k . la . gb , we get  in CGS system L, M, T are represented in
cm, g and s respectively.
T = k . l1/2 . g-1/2
kg 1 m 2 s -2

k. l 1/2 X= ----- ---- ----

T= ------- g cm s
g-1/2

T= k l
------- 1000g 1 100cm 2 -2

g X= --------- ------- 1
g cm
the value of k is determined experimentally and is
found to be 2π X = 1000 x 10000
therefore X = 10000000
X = ( 10 ) 7
T = 2π l
------- Putting the value in eq (1) i.e. 1 J = x erg ,
g we get

1 joule = 107 erg

--------------------------------------------------------------
3) To find the conversion factor between
the units of the same physical quantity
in two different systems of units
 Let us use dimensional analysis to determine
the conversion factor between joule (SI unit
of work) and erg (CGS unit of work).
 Let 1 Joule = x erg ---------- eq ( 1 )
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
LIMITATIONS OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
1) The value of dimensionless constant can
be obtained with the help of experiments
only.
2) Dimensional analysis cannot be used to
derive relations involving trigonometric,
exponential, and logarithmic functions as
Page 6
 Class IX
these quantities are dimensionless.
3) This method is not useful if constant of
proportionality is not a dimensionless
quantity.
4) If the correct equation contains some more
terms of the same dimension, it is not
possible to know about their presence using
dimensional equation
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ACCURACY, PRECISION AND UNCERTAINTY IN
MEASUREMENT
ACCURACY
 Accuracy is how close a measurement
is to the actual value of that quantity
 Example
The packaging paper is 11.0 inches long.
You measure the length of the paper three
times and obtain the following measurements:
11.1 in., 11.2 in., and 10.9 in.
These measurements are quite accurate
because they are very close to the correct
value of 11.0 inches.
PRECISION
 Precision refers to the closeness of two or
more measurements to each other
 Example
A substance having a weight 10 kg.
if you weigh a given substance five times, and
get 3.2 kg each time, then your measurement
is very precise.
UNCERTAINTY
 Possible uncertainties in an observation
may arise due to following reasons:
1) Quality of instrument used.
2) Skill of the person doing the experiment.
3) The method used for measurement.
4) External or internal factors affecting the
result of the experiment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ERRORS IN MEASUREMENTS
 Faulty measurements of physical quantity
can lead to errors
1) SYSTEMATIC ERRORS
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Subject – PHYSICS Chapter 1: UNIT & MEASUREMENTS
MAHARASHTRA BOARD (NEW SYLLABUS)
 System errors are of three types
i) Instrumental error
ii) Error due to imperfection in experimental
technique
iii) Personal error
i) Instrumental error
 This type of error arises due to defective
calibration of an instrument.
 for example an incorrect zeroing of an
instrument will lead to such kind of error
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ii) Error due to imperfection in
experimental technique
 This is an error due to defective setting
of an instrument.
 For example the measured volume of a
liquid in a graduated tube will be
inaccurate if the tube is not held
vertical.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
iii) Personal error
 Such errors are introduced due to fault of
the observer. carelessness in taking
observations etc. could result in such
errors.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2) RANDOM ERRORS
 Random errors in experimental
measurements are caused by unknown and
unpredictable changes in the experiment.
 For example, the temperature may change
during the course of an experiment,
pressure of any gas used in the experiment
may change, or the voltage of the power
supply may change randomly, etc.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ESTIMATION OF ERROR
1) Absolute Error
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 Class IX Subject – PHYSICS Chapter 1: UNIT & MEASUREMENTS
MAHARASHTRA BOARD (NEW SYLLABUS)

 Absolute Error is the amount of error in your = 0.452 / 5

measurements. = 0.0904 m
 It is the difference between the measured
value and “true” value. Relative error = 0.0904 / 5.472
 For example = 0.017
Absolute Error = (observed value – true value ) % error = 1.7 %
Absolute Error = ( 32.155mm – 32.112mm ) ----------------------------------------------------------------
Absolute Error = 0.043 mm COMBINATION OF ERRORS
2) Mean absolute error 1) Errors in sum and in difference
 The arithmetic mean of all the absolute
errors is called mean absolute error in the  Suppose a result x is obtained by addition
measurement of the physical quantity. of two quantities a and b that is
x = a + b ------- ( 1)
( a1 + a2 +a3 +…….+an )  Let ∆a and ∆b are absolute errors in the
amean = -------------------------------- measurement of a and b and ∆x be the
n
corresponding absolute error in x.

x ± ∆x = (a ± ∆a ) + ( b ± ∆b )

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- x ± ∆x = (a + b ) ± (∆a ± ∆b )
3) Relative error
 The Relative Error is the Absolute Error divided x ± ∆x = x ± (∆a ± ∆b ) } putting the value of
by the actual measurement. eq (1 )
Absolute Error
Relative Error = --------------------------- ± ∆x = ± (∆a ± ∆b )
Measured Value
------------------------------------------------------------- ∆x = (∆a ± ∆b )
Example  When two quantities are added or
The radius of a sphere measured subtracted, the absolute error in the final
repeatedly yields values 5.63 m, 5.54 m, 5.44 result is the sum of the absolute errors in
m, 5.40 m and 5.35 m. Determine the most the individual quantities.
probable value of radius and the mean absolute, ----------------------------------------------------------------
relative and percentage errors. 2) Errors in product and in division

Solution:  Suppose a result x is obtained by the prouct

 Most probable value of radius is its of two quantities a and b that is
arithmetic mean x = a x b ------- ( 1)
 Let ∆a and ∆b are absolute errors in the
5.63 + 5.54 + 5.44 + 5.40 + 5 .35 measurement of a and b and ∆x be the
= ------------------------------------------ m corresponding absolute error in x.
5
= 5.472 m x ± ∆x = (a ± ∆a ) x ( b ± ∆b )
 Mean absolute error
x ± ∆x = a b ± a ∆b ± b ∆a ± ∆a ∆b
( | 5.63-5.472 | +| 5.54-5.472 | +| 5.44-
5.472| + | 5.40-5.472 | + | 5 .35-5.472 | ) x ± ∆x = x ± a ∆b ± b ∆a ± ∆a ∆b
= ---------------------------------------------------- m } putting the value of eq (1 )
5
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 Class IX Subject – PHYSICS Chapter 1: UNIT & MEASUREMENTS
MAHARASHTRA BOARD (NEW SYLLABUS)

± ∆x = ±a ∆b ± b ∆a ± ∆a ∆b ……(2) times the relative error in the individual

quantity
Dividing equation ( 2 ) by ( 1 ) , we get ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Example
In an experiment to determine the volume of an
∆x a ∆b ± b ∆a ± ∆a ∆b object, mass and density are recorded as
---- = -------------------------- m = (5 ± 0.15) kg and ƿ= (5 ± 0.2) kg m-3
x ab respectively. Calculate percentage error
in the measurement of volume.
∆x ∆b ∆a ∆a ∆b Solution : We know,
---- = ------- ± ----- ± --------- Mass
x b a ab Density = ----------
Volume
 The quantities ∆a/a , ∆b/b and ∆x/x are Mass
called relative errors in the values of a, b and x Volume = ----------
respectively. Density
 The product of relative errors in a and b i.e. ∆a ∆m ∆ ƿ
x ∆b is very small hence is neglected. Percentage error in volume = ----- + ----- x 100
 This formula also applies to the division of two m ƿ
quantities
 Thus, when two quantities are multiplied 0.15 0.2
or divided, the maximum relative error in the Percentage error in volume = ----- + ----- x 100
result is the sum of relative errors in each 5 5
quantity.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Percentage error in volume = ( 0.03 + 0.04 )x100
ERRORS DUE TO THE POWER (INDEX) OF
MEASURED QUANTITY Percentage error in volume = (0.07 ) x 100
 Suppose Z = A2
∆z ∆a ∆a ∆a ∆b Percentage error in volume = 7 %
---- = ------- ± ----- --------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
z a a ab SIGNIFICANT FIGURES or SIGNIFICANT DIGIT

∆z ∆a  The number of digits in a measurement

---- = 2 ----- about which we are certain, plus one
z a additional digit, the first one about which
we are not certain is known as significant
 Hence, the relative error in A2 is two times the figures or significant digits.
error in A.
 In general,
 if Z = Ap Bq
-------------

Cr
∆z ∆a ∆b ∆c
---- = p ---- + q ---- + r ---
z a b c ----------------------------------------------------------------------
RULES FOR DETERMINING SIGNIFICANT
 Hence the rule : The relative error in a FIGURES
physical quantity raised to the power k is the k
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 Class IX Subject – PHYSICS Chapter 1: UNIT & MEASUREMENTS
MAHARASHTRA BOARD (NEW SYLLABUS)

1) All the non-zero digits are significant.

2) All the zeros between two non-zero digits are
significant, no matter where the decimal point
is, if at all.
3) If the number is less than 1, the zero(s) on the
right of decimal point but to the left of the
first non-zero digit are not significant.
For Example V VI VII VIII IX X
In 0.00 2308, the underlined zeroes are not ALL SUBJECT SCIENCE, MATHS, ENGLISH
significant]. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
4) The terminal or trailing zero(s) in a number XI XII MHT CET JEE NEET
without a decimal point are not significant. PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, MATHS, BIOLOGY
For Example --------------------------------------------------------
Thus 123 m = 12300 cm = 123000 mm has ADDRESS
three significant figures, the trailing zero(s) Sangekar Complex, at front of ESAF bank, bhaktidham
road, chandur bazar. Dist Amravati
being not significant.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5) The trailing zero(s) in a number with a decimal Prof. Umesh Arke
point are significant.
For Example
The numbers 3.500 or 0.06900 have four
significant figures each.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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