CHAPTER 1 MEASUREMENT

SPM format for Physics

Questions on SPM examinations consists of:
Paper 1: 40 Objective Questions (40 m) – 1 hour 15 minutes
Paper 2: Structured and Essay Questions – 2 hour 30 minutes
Section A: 8 structured questions (60 m)
Section B: Choose 1 essay from 2 (20 m)
Section C: 1 compulsory essay question (20 m)
Practical Test
3 Questions for 3 elective subjects (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) - 2 hour 15 minutes
1 Question (15 m) – 45 minutes for each question (5 minutes preparation, 40 minutes answering)
1.1 Physical Quantities

1.1.1 Explain physical quantities.

1.1.2 Explain with examples base quantities and derived quantities.
1. Measurement is a method
1.1.3 Describe derivedtoquantities
determine in the value
terms of a physical
of base quantitiesquantity.
and theirPhysical quantities
corresponding S.I.are defined
units.
1.1.4 Explain
asphysical with examples,
characteristics that canscalar quantities and vector quantities.
be calculate.
1. Physical quantities consist of ___________________________________________________________
2. A physical quantity must be stated in ______________________________________________________

Mass = 35 kg

Base quantity
1 A physical quantity is ________________________________________________________________
2 Examples of scientific instruments:_____________________________________________________
3 A base quantity is a physical quantity which cannot be defined in terms of other physical quantities.
5 List of 5 basic physical quantities and their units.
Base quantity Symbol S.I. Unit Symbol for S.I. Unit
Length
Mass
Time
Current
Temperature
Luminous intensity
Amount of substance

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Derived quantities

1 A derived quantity is __________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________
2 Determine the derived unit for the following derived quantities.

In terms of base Name of

Derived
Formula quantities Derived unit derived
quantity
unit
Area area = length x width –
volume volume = length x width x height –
mass
density density = –
volume
displacement
velocity velocity = –
time
change in velocity
acceleration =
Acceleration time –

Newton
Force force = mass x acceleration
(N)

force (Nm-2) @
pressure pressure=
area Pa

work work = force x displacement

Joule (J)
work
power power = Watt (W)
time
1
kinetic energy K.E =  mass  velocity 2 Joule (J)
2

potential P.E = mass x gravitational

Joule (J)
energy acceleration x height

Note that the physical quantities such as width, thickness, height, distance, displacement, perimeter, radius and
diameter are equivalent to length.

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*Recall*
Standard Form (Scientific Notation)

1 Standard form = A x 10n , 1 < A < 10 and n = integer

2 Standard form is used to …………………………………………………………………...
3 Write the following quantities in standard form :
a. Radius of the earth = 6 370 000 m =………………………………………………….
b. Mass of an electron = 0.000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 911 kg =………...
c. Size of a particle = 0.000 03 m = ………………………………………………………
d. Diameter of an atom = 0.000 000 072 m = …………………………………………...
e. Wavelength of light = 0.000 000 55 m = ……………………………………………..
4. Write the quantities in standard prefixes:
a. Frequency of radio wave = 91 000 000 Hz = ………………………………………….
b. Diameter of the earth = 12 800 000 m = ………………………………………………
c. Distance between the moon and the earth = 383 000 000 m = ………………………
d. Mass of the earth = 6 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 kg = ………………………
Prefixes

Sub-multiple Prefix Symbol Sub-multiple Prefix Symbol

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Skill Practice – Conversion of units
1. Convert every measurement to base unit gram, g
a) 2.15 x 10-2 mg = d) 4.32 x 103 Gg =

b) 7.23 x 10-6 g = e) 39.1 x 105 ng =

c) 3.11 x 1014 kg = f) 258 x 10-12 Mg =

2. Express the following measurement in the units specified.

a) 240 mg =_____________kg d) 40.2 cm =_____________ nm

b) 3.8 mA = _____________ dA e) 301 x 1013 ms =___________ds

c) 2.91 s = _____________ ms f) 621 x 10-4 kg = __________ cg

3. Solve the following problems and express the answer in standard form
a) 0.02 m2 = ______________ mm2 c) 30cm3 = ________________m3

b) 8.72 km2 = ______________ m2

4. Convert
a) 110 m s-1 = _______________________ km h-1 b) 7 kg m-3 = ______________________g cm-3

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Scalar and Vector Quantities
1. Scalar quantities are __________________________________________________________________________
2. Vector quantities are __________________________________________________________________________

Scalar Quantities Vector Quantities

3.
Distance Displacement

Speed Velocity
•
•

• •

Problem Solving:
Annie the ant is traveling down the road to buy an umbrella for these rainy days. She walks from her nest, A to B, B to
C in 10 minutes’ time as shown in the picture below:

U Annie the ant

A

4m
3m
C
B
(a) What is the distance she traveled? (b) What is her displacement from A?
(c) What is her speed? (d) What is her velocity?
(e) What is her average speed?

Solution:

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Exercises 1.1
Paper 1 – Objective Questions
1. Which one of the following pairs of derived quantities is true?
A Work and mass
B Force and current
C Pressure and temperature
D Weight and potential difference

2. Which of the following physical quantities is a base quantity

A The weight of an astronaut on the Moon's surface is 10 N.
B The velocity of a cyclist rides a bicycle is 70 km h-1.
C The perimeter of a field is 380 m.
D The power-of a lamp is 60 W.

3. Which one of the base quantities is not involve in acceleration?

A length B Mass C Time

4. Which one of the following apparatus is not be used to measure the density of a metal cube?
A Ruler B Stopwatch C Triple beam balance

5. Which one of the following derived quantities contains length and time only?
A Velocity B Force C Momentum D Pressure

6. Which one of the following is true?

A The S.I. units of charge is A s
B The S.I. units of volume is cm 3
C The S.I. units of velocity is km h -1
D The S.I. units of acceleration is cm s- 2

7. A physical quantity is given by

M = ¾ ed2
where the unit of e is unit kilogram and the unit of d is metre. The units of M are
A kg2m B kgm2 C kg 2 m 2 D kg -2 m

8. The period of oscillation for an inertial balance is given by

T2 = km
where
T = The period of oscillation and the unit is s
m = Mass and the unit is kg
k = constant
The units of k are
A kgs2 B kg s C kg2 s D kg-1s2

9. Which of the following quantity is a scalar quantity.

A Weight B Force C Volume D Acceleration

10. Which of the following quantity is a vector quantity.

A Work B Velocity B Power D Distance

11. Which of the following classify as derived and vector quantities.

A Work B Pressure C Impulse D Displacement

12. The prefixes according to their value in ascending order are

A Giga,mega,kilo,centi
B Mikro,mili,centi,kilo
C Mega,giga,kilo,centi
D Centi,giga,mikro,mili

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13. Radio 5 RTM station operates at 105 .6 M Hz. The expression of the frequency in units of Hz is
A 1.056 x 108Hz
B 1.056 x 106Hz
C 1.056 x 104Hz
D 1.056x10-4Hz

14. 5 x 10 - 4 seconds is equivalent to

A 0.05 microseconds
B 0.5 microseconds
C 50 microseconds
D 500 microseconds

15. Which one of the following measurements is different from others?

A 2.3 x 102 m
B 2.3 x104 cm
C 2.3 x 106 mm
D 2.3 x 10-4 Mm

16. Which one of the following measurements is smallest?

A 1.5 x 102 kg
B 1.5 x 107 g
C 1.5 x 1012 µg

17. The velocity of a car is 108 km h-1. What is the velocity in units of ms-1?
A 20 B 30 C 1800 D 108000

18. The pressure exerted by a box on a surface is 500 N cm -2, What is the pressure in units of Pa? (1 Pa = 1 N m-2)
A 5 x 10-2 B 5 x 10-4 B 5 x 104 D 5 x 108

19. The acceleration of a trolley is 2000 cm s- 2. This acceleration in S.I. unit is

A 0.002 B 0.02 C 0.2 D 2

20. Which of the following is true?

A 0.00023 = 2.3 x 10-3
B 0.05= 5 x 10-1
C 3450 = 3.450 x 104
D 5678.9 = 5.6789 x 103

Paper 2 – Structured Questions

1. State the units of these quantities in terms of base units:
(a) Pressure

(b) Energy

(c) Resistance

[6 marks]
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 1.2 Scientific Investigation

1.2.1 Interpret graph to determine the relationship between two physical quantities.
1.2.2 Analyse graph to summarise an investigation.
1.2.3 Carry out a scientific investigation and write a complete report for the Simple Pendulum
Experiment.

Writing a Report
State the inference in the either one of the following sentence patterns:
(a) The manipulated variable is _________________________ the responding variable.
(b) The responding variable _____________________ the manipulated variable.
State the hypothesis using the following sentence pattern:
_________________________________ the manipulated variable,
_________________________________ the responding variable.
State the aim of experiment using the following sentence pattern:
___________________________________________________ the manipulated
variable and the responding variable."
State the manipulated variable, the responding variable and one fixed or constant
variable. Ensure that all the variables are measurable.
List out all the important apparatus and materials to be used in the experiment.
Draw and arrange the set-up of a functional arrangement of apparatus.

Plan the steps to conduct the experiment by stating

(a) The method of controlling the manipulated variable
(b) The method of measuring the responding variable
(c) How the procedure is repeated to obtain at least 5 sets of results For example,
• Start the experiment with the value of the manipulated variable = __ unit. (Insert a
practical value)
• (Insert the steps to measure the responding variable).
•Repeat the experiment ____________________________ of the manipulated variable.
Construct a table to insert the values of the
manipulated variable and the responding variable.
Note: Leave the column for the responding variable
blank when answering questions in
Section B of Paper 3

Plot (or sketch) a graph of the

responding variable (y-axis)
against the manipulated variable (x-axis).
Note: No need to show the shape of the
graph when answering questions in
Section B of Paper 3.

Example:

State the inference and the hypothesis. State also whether the hypothesis is accepted.

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Interpret graph to determine the relationship between two physical quantities

Type of graph Relationship/ Interpretation Type of graph Relationship/ Interpretation

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Analyse Graph to Summarise an Investigation

No Example Methods
1 Diagram 1 shows the result obtained from the a) What is the temperature when volume is 0 cm3?
experiment for Charles’ law.
__________________________________________
Method:
b) What is the volume when the temperature is -100°C?

__________________________________________
Method:
c) What is the relationship of the graph?

___________________________________________
Diagram 1 Method:

2 Diagram 2 shows a velocity – time graph of a car. a) What is the distance travel by the car?

__________________________________________

Method:

Diagram 2

3 Diagram 3 shows a graph of potential difference a) Find the current when the voltage is 1 V.
against current.
__________________________________________

Method:

b) The internal resistance, r of the dry cell can be

obtained using the equation r = -m. Find r.

Diagram 3
Method:
c) What is the relationship of the graph?

___________________________________________
Method:

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Exercises 1.2
Paper 3 – Section A: Question 1 (16 marks)
1. A student carries out an experiment to investigate the relationship between the length, l, of a simple pendulum and
the period of oscillation, T.
The apparatus set-up for this experiment is shown in Diagram 1.1.

Diagram 1.1

The student starts the experiment with a pendulum length of 30.0 cm.
The pendulum bob is displaced and then released so that it oscillates. The time taken, t, for 10 complete
oscillations is recorded.
The experiment is repeated with pendulum lengths of 40.0 cm, 50.0 cm, 60.0 cm and 70.0 cm.
The corresponding stopwatch readings for 10 complete oscillations are shown in Diagrams 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and
1.6.

Diagram 1.2 Diagram 1.3

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Diagram 1.4 Diagram 1.5

Diagram 1.6

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(a) For the experiment described above, identify:
(i) The manipulated variable

_______________________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
(ii) The responding variable

_______________________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
(iii) The constant variable

_______________________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(b) For this part of the question, write your answers in the spaces provided in the corresponding diagrams.
Your answers must be correct to two decimal places.
Based on Diagrams 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6 :
(i) Record the readings, t, of the stopwatch.

[2 marks]

(ii) For each value of t in (b)(i), calculate the period of oscillation, T, of the pendulum using the
following equation:

Record the value of T.

[1 mark]
(iii) Calculate T2 for each value of T in (b)(ii).
Record the value of T2.

[1 mark]
(c) Tabulate your results for all values of l, t, T and T2 in the space below.

[3 marks]
(d) On the graph paper provided, plot a graph of T2 against l.

[5 marks]
2
(e) Based on your graph in (d), state the relationship between T and l.

____________________________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

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Paper 3 – Section B: Question 2 (12 marks)
Diagram 1 shows a graph of T2 against l plotted based on the results of an experiment where T = period of
oscillation of a pendulum and l = length of the pendulum.

Diagram 1
(a) Based on the graph,
(i) State the relationship between T2 and l.

________________________________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
(ii) determine the value of l when T = 2 s.

[3 marks]
(b) The value of the gravitational acceleration, g is given by the formula:

where m is the gradient of graph T2 against l.

(i) Calculate the gradient, m of graph T2 against l.

[3 marks]
(ii) Calculate the value of the gravitational acceleration, g in cm s-2.

[2 marks]
(c) T and l are connected by the formula:

Calculate the value of T when the length of pendulum, l = 2 m.

[3 marks]

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Exercises 1.2
Paper 1 – Objective Questions
1. The acceleration, a of an object is inversely proportional to the mass, m of the object under constant force.
Which of the following graphs describes the relationship between a and m.

2. Diagram 1 shows a graph y against x.

Diagram 1
Based on the graph above, what is the gradient of the graph?
A 1.5 C -1.5 E 2.5 B -2.5

3. Diagram 2 shows a graph speed versus time.

Diagram 2

What is the unit of the gradient of the graph above?

A m B m2s C ms-2 D ms2

4. The resistance R and temperature T for an electric conductor is given as R = r + aT with r as the resistance at 0°C
and a as a constant. A graph of R against T is shown.

What is the resistance, R of the conductor at a temperature 60°C?

A 35 B 47 C 86 D 93

5. Diagram 3 shows the relationship between s and t.

Diagram 3
Which of the following is correct?
A 2v = t + 8 B 2v = -t + 8
C v = 2t + 8 D v = -2t + 8

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