LIGAO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Ligao City

Worksheet No. 1.1

MEASUREMENT OF PHYSICAL QUANTITIES

Name of Student: _____________________________ Grade & Section: ___________ Date: ___________ Score: ________

I. OBJECTIVES:
1. Enumerate the seven fundamental quantities and their basic units.
2. Differentiate between Metric system and English system of measurement; derived quantities and fundamental
quantities.
3. Convert from one unit or measure to another.
II. DISCUSSION OF THE TOPIC

Physical quantities make up the world of physical science. Since Physics is a part of the physical sciences, it
makes use of measurement. Physical quantities are the property of things that can be measured. When we compare an
unknown quantity to a standard quantity to see how many times as big it is, we are measuring. This process is called
measurement.

Physical Quantities are classified as fundamental or standard quantities which are obtained from direct
measurements and observations, and derived quantities which are obtained by combining two or more fundamental
quantities and are described by derived units. Table 1 below shows the seven fundamental quantities with their base units and
symbols and Table 2 shows some examples of derived quantities and their corresponding units.

Table 1: SEVEN FUNDAMENTAL QUANTITIES

Quantity Symbol Base Unit Symbol
Length l meter m
Mass m kilogram kg
Time t second s
Temperature T kelvin K
Electric Current I ampere A
Luminous Intensity IL candela cd
Amount of Substance mole mol

Table 2: Examples of DERIVED QUANTITIES

Symbo Common Units
Quantity
l MKS CGS FPS
Area A m2 cm2 ft2
Volume V m3 cm3 ft3
Speed v m/s cm/s ft/s
Acceleratio a m/s2 cm/s2 ft/s2
n
Density d Kg/m3 g/m3 slugs/ft3
Force F Kg m/s2 or Newton (N) g cm/s2 or dyne slugs ft/s2 or pound (lb)

Units are terms used to describe physical quantities. Two systems of measurement carry different standardized
units. These are the English System and the Metric System. The English System was first adapted in England then later
in the US. Also known as the FPS system from the standard units of Foot for length, Pound for weight, and Second for time.
The Metric System originated in France in 1791. It makes use of two sets of basic units: the MKS (Meter for length,
Kilogram for mass, and Second for time) and CGS (Centimeter for length, Gram for mass, and Second for time). The Metric
System also known as the International System of Units (from the French name Systeme International d’ Unites’) – is adapted
by most countries worldwide because of its versatility. Using the decimal basis of units as a certain power of 10 larger or
smaller than the other units, this system simplifies conversions and calculations.

Table A. Metric Prefixes

Prefix Symbol Factor Prefix Symbol Factor
yotta Y 1024 deci d 10-1
zetta Z 1021 centi c 10-2
exa E 1018 milli m 10-3
peta P 1015 micro μ 10-6
tera T 1012 nano n 10-9
giga G 109 pico p 10-12
mega M 106 femto f 10-15
kilo k 103 atto a 10-18
hecto h 102 zepto z 10-21
deka da 101 yocto y 10-24

Metric prefixes are commonly used prefixes that go before the base unit used for measurement. These prefixes are
based upon powers of ten, which is convenient because:
1. When attached to metric units they carry the same meaning for all base units. (For example, 5 Mg = 5 x 10 6 g = 5000000
g, in the same manner that 5 Mm = 5 x 10 6 m = 5000000 m; 2.4 mg = 2.4 x 10 -3 g = 0.0024 g and 2.4 mm = 2.4 x 10-3 m =
0.0024 m).
2. A measurement in the metric system that is represented by a rational number remains a rational number after metric unit
conversion. (For example, 250 mm = 25 cm = 0.25 m). In contrast irrational unit systems, such as the English system, do not
have the same property (For example, 250 inches = 20.8333... ft = 0.0039457... mile)
3. Metric units are decimal-based, they are easily converted by moving the decimal point.
 If a measurement is not understood, it is necessary to convert it from one system to another. Conversion of units
require conversion factors which are obtained by comparing the standard units in the different system of units. Below are
examples of Conversion Factors:

Length Time Mass

1 in = 2.54 cm 1 min = 60 s 1 kg = 1000 g
1 ft = 12 in 1 hr = 60 min 1 slug = 14.59 kg
1 yd = 3 ft 1 d = 24hr
1 m = 100 cm = 3.281 ft 1 yr = 12 mos = 365.25 d
1 km = 1000 m =3,281 ft 1 dec = 10 yrs
1 mi = 1.609 km 1 cen = 10 dec

Below are examples how measurements are converted from one unit of measure to another using the metric prefixes and the
conversion factors.

Examples:
1. 500 yards is equivalent to how many kilometer? 500 yd = _______ km

500 yd 3 ft 1 km = 500 x 3 x 1 km = 1500 km = 0.46 km

1yd 3 281 ft 1 x 3281 3281

2. How many slugs are there in 2.5 megagrams? 2.5 Mg = ________ slugs

2.5 x 106 g 1 kg 1 slug = 2.5 x 106 x 1 x 1 slug = 2.5 x 106 slugs = 171. 35 slugs
1000 g 14.59 kg 1000 x 14.59 14 590

3. Five centigram per cubic centimeter is equivalent to how many kilogram per cubic meter? 5 cg/cm3 = _____ kg/m3

5 x 10-2 g 1 kg (100 cm)3

cm3 1000 g (1m)3

= 5 x 10-2 g 1kg 1000000 cm3 = 5 x 10-2 x 1 kg x 1000000 = 50000 kg = 50 kg/m3

3
cm 1000 g 1m3 1000 x 1 m3 1000 m3

III. INSTRUCTION OF THE ACTIVITY

Task 1. Identify the physical quantity each of the given measurements represent and tell if it is in the METRIC SYSTEM
or ENGLISH SYSTEM; and FUNDAMENTAL or DERIVED QUANTITY:

Metric or Fundamental
Measurements Quantity
English Or Derived
1. 10 km
2. 1 g/cm3
3. 50 mi/h
4. 100 slugs
5. 2.5 A
6. 300 N
7. 20 ft/s2
8. 400 K
9. 500 ft3
10 10Mg
.

Task 2. Convert the following measurements: Write your solution on a separate sheet of paper.

1. 1.5 mi = __________ ft 6.) 18 m/s = _______ km/h

2. 8000 in = ________ km 7.) 64516 in2 = _______ m2
3. 2 cen = _________ mos. 8.) 3 g/cm3 = _______ kg/m3
4. 8.64 x 105 s = ________ d 9.) 7.2 Gs = _______ h
5. 5000 g = _________ slugs 10.) 10 μm = ________ cm

IV. GUIDE QUESTIONS

1. Measurement is simply a process of comparing two quantities. What are these quantities?
2. What type of quantities are obtained by combining two or more fundamental quantities?
3. What type of quantities can be measured directly?
4. How do you distinguish between a fundamental unit and a derived unit?
5. Calculations in metric system is easier than in English system. Why?

V. REFLECTION:

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REFERENCES:

Physics Bec-based Science and Technology IV by Gilbert L. Fabila etal. pp. 1-5
https://www.sciencesfp.com/unit-1-physical-quantities-and-scientific-activity.html
https://www.texasgateway.org/resource/13-language-physics-physical-quantities-and-units