PHYSICS 9TH PREPARED BY: MUHAMMAD NAEEM

Unit 1: physical quantities and measurements

1.2:Answer the following questions.
i. Define physics.
Ans: physics is defined as the study of matter, energy and their mutual interaction.
ii. Differentiate between base and derived quantities.
Ans: Base quantities: Those physical quantities in terms of which other physical quantities can
be measured are called base quantities. The base quantities are length, mass, time etc.
Derived quantities: Those quantities which can be derived from base quantities are known as
derived quantities. Derived quantities are area, volume, speed etc.
iii. Name the seven base quantities and their SI units.
Ans:

Name of base quantity SI Unit

Length Metre
Mass Kilogram
Time Second
Electric current Ampere
Temperature Kelvin
Amount of substance Mole
Intensity of light Candela

iv. What is meant by scientific notation?

Ans: Scientific notation: In scientific notation we express the given number as some power of
ten multiplied by a number which lies between 1 and 10.
For example:
1. 3600 s = 3.6 × 10 3 s
2. 0.008 m = 8 × 10 -3 m
v. State the least count of Vernier callipers in mm and cm.
Ans: The least count of Vernier callipers in mm is 0.1 and in cm is 0.01.
vi. State the least count of a screw gauge in mm and cm.
Ans: The least count of screw gauge in mm is 0.01 and in cm is 0.001.

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PHYSICS 9TH PREPARED BY: MUHAMMAD NAEEM

vii. What is meant by zero error of an instrument like Vernier callipers or screw gauge?
Ans: In case of Vernier callipers, if the zero of the Vernier scale do not coincides with the zero of
the main scale then there is a zero error in the given instrument. The number of Vernier
division which exactly coincides with any of the main scale division multiplied with Vernier
constant is the zero error.
viii. What are significant figures?
Ans: significant figures: In any measurement, the accurately known digits and the first doubtful
digit in an expression are called significant figures.
1.3 Conceptual questions.
i. Separate the base quantities and derived quantities from the following list. Length, area,
density, time, pressure, mass, speed and temperature.
Ans:

Base quantities Derived

quantities
Length Area
Time Density
Mass Pressure
Temperature Speed

ii. Give names and symbols of the prefixes which represents the following values.
a. 10 -6 b. 10 -3 c. 10 3 d. 106
Ans:

Given multiple Prefix name Symbol

10 -6 Micro µ
10 -3 Milli m
10 3 Kilo K
106 Mega M

iii. The zero of Vernier scale lies to the right of the main scale zero of a Vernier callipers (when
the jaws are closed). Explain whether you will add or subtract the zero error from the
observed readings of instrument.
Ans: As the zero of Vernier scale lies to the right of the main scale zero of a Vernier callipers so
the zero error is positive and for correction it will subtract from the observed readings of
instrument.

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PHYSICS 9TH PREPARED BY: MUHAMMAD NAEEM

iv. The volume of a domestic water storage tank is 3.24m3. Express this volume in units of
litre (3240 litres).
Ans: Volume of a domestic water tank=V= 3.24m3
We know that
1 m3 = 1000 Litres
V = 3.24 × 1000 litres
V = 3240 litres.
v. Explain why digital stopwatch is preferred over analog or mechanical stopwatch.
Ans: Digital stopwatch is preferred over analog or mechanical stopwatch because the least
count of digital stopwatch is less than analog or mechanical stopwatch and it gives more
accurate results as compared to analog or mechanical stopwatch.
vi. What is the importance of the final zeroes in the number without any decimal point?
Ans: If a whole number i.e. a number without a decimal point ends in one or more zeroes then
these zeroes are not necessarily significant. The number of zeroes to be retained as significant
depends on the measurement being represented by the expression.