Units and

Physical Quantities
General Physics 1 | First Semester
Physics
• “A branch of science that deals with the structure of matter
and the interactions between the fundamental constituents of
the observable universe.”
Physics
• Makes use of scientific method that involves logical thinking, observing,
experimenting, and expressing relationship among variables
• Must learn how to solve problems involved in Physics using
• Measurements;
• Conversion of units;
• Scientific notation;
• Understanding errors and uncertainties; and
• Graphing
Measurement
• Compares unknown values to a standard
Measurement
Système International d’Unités (SI)
▪ International System of Units (1960)
▪ Originally known as Metric System
▪ Seven fundamental quantities
• Mass: kilogram (kg)
• Electric current: Ampere (A)
• Time: second (s)
• Temperature: Kelvin (K)
• Amount of substance: mole (mol)
• Length: meter (m)
• Luminous intensity: candela (cd)
Measurement
Derived Quantities
▪ Taken from combination of other quantities

Unit Consistency and Conversions

▪ An equation must always be dimensionally consistent
Metric Prefixes and Scientific Notation
Prefix Symbol Exponential Notation Decimal
yotta Y 1 × 1024 1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000
zetta Z 1 × 1021 1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000
exa E 1 × 1018 1 000 000 000 000 000 000
peta P 1 × 1015 1 000 000 000 000 000
tera T 1 × 1012 1 000 000 000 000
giga G 1 × 109 1 000 000 000
mega M 1 × 106 1 000 000
kilo k 1 × 103 1 000
hecto h 1 × 102 100
deka da 1 × 10 10
Metric Prefixes and Scientific Notation
Prefix Symbol Exponential Notation Decimal
deci d 1 × 10−1 0.1
centi c 1 × 10−2 0.01
milli m 1 × 10−3 0.001
micro 𝜇 1 × 10−6 0.000001
nano n 1 × 10−9 0.000000001
pico p 1 × 10−12 0.000000000001
femto f 1 × 10−15 0.000000000000001
atto a 1 × 10−18 0.000000000000000001
zepto z 1 × 10−21 0.000000000000000000001
yocto y 1 × 10−24 0.000000000000000000000001
Significant Figures
1. All non-zero numbers ARE significant
2. Zeros between two non-zero digits ARE significant.
3. Leading zeros are NOT significant.
Significant Figures
4. Trailing zeros to the right of the decimal ARE
significant.
5. Trailing zeros in a whole number with the decimal
shown ARE significant.
6. Trailing zeros in a whole number with no decimal
shown are NOT significant.
Significant Figures
7. For a number in scientific notation: N x 10x, all digits
comprising N ARE significant by the first 6 rules; "10" and
"x" are NOT significant.
Uncertainties and Errors
• Accuracy – obtaining a measurement close to the
theoretical value
• Precision – getting a similar result when measurement
of a certain object is repeated
Uncertainties and Errors

© ISIXSIGMA
Uncertainties and Errors
Example:
Theoretical Value: 1 kg

Set A Set B Set C Set D

998 g 998 g 1002 g 575 g

1902 g 1.34 kg 1.1 kg 568 g

375 g 890 g 998 g 0.58 kg

Errors
• Systematic
▪ accuracy is poor
▪ measurements are reproducible
• Random
▪ precision is poor
▪ more problematic because the source of error is difficult
to trace
▪ measurements are not reproducible and may produce
different set of measurements again