Physical Quantity

Units And Measurments

Numerical
Value
- Quantities which can be
measured by an Units ACCURACY PRECCISION
instrument and used to Accuracy is degree of
and

45 kg
describe Laws of physics closeness of measured
Precision is the range
are physical quantities value to the true value; of variation of true
- Physical quantity =
Dimensional Analysis Measurements - shows that how closely value during several
Numerical value (N) × Unit (U) the results with the observation
Unit
Dimension formula is the standard value.
expression for the unit of a
physical quantity in terms of PRINCIPLE OF HOMOGENITY
TYPES the fundamental quantities Principle of homogeneity VERNIER CALLIPERS
states that the ORDER OF MAGNITUDE ERRORS Pitch =
Fundamental quantities do Dimensional formula is dimension of each term
expressed in terms of on both sides of The uncertainty in Least Count (L.C) = displacement of screw
not depend upon other
power of M, L and T. dimensional equation It is defined as the power 1 MSD – 1 VSD; MSD = no. of rotations
quantities:
should be same. of 10 which is closest to measurement is called
(1) Length (2) Mass (3) Time errors main scale division; L.C. =
its magnitude
(4) Temperature VSD = Vernier
(5) Amount of Substance
Primary or fundamental Secondary or derived
N = n × 10x; x = order - Error = true value – scale division Pitch
Dimensional Formula dimensional Formula
(6) Electric current of magnitude. measured Value total no. of divisions
There are seven (i) Other than Fundame- coefficient exponent
(7) Luminous Intensity
fundamental ntal formula all other
dimensional formulas: are derived
- Derived quantities are (1) Mass = [M], (2) Length dimensional Formula TYPES OF ERROR Vernier scale
Main scale

= [L], (3) Time = [T], (ii) example: (1) [speed] = 6.022 x 1023
formed by combining more
than one fundamental (4) Temperature = [K] or [MoL1T-1], Absolute Error, =
[Q], (5) Electric Current
physical quantities = [I], (6) Luminous
(2) [Acceleration] true value –
- Area, Volume, velocity = [MoL1T2] base
intensity = [cd], measured value Total reading = Main
and acceleration are (7) amount of matter scale Reading Zero error = N × L.C
some Derived quantities = [mol] +(Vernier Coincidence
All non – zero
digits are × least Count) N = no. of circular
‘A’ is
significant
Mean absolute errors scale division that
Equivalent
Conversion of Units From RULE OF ROUNDING OFF
r
in area Area r2
4.125 - 4 sf; coincides with the
are system to another
r
r
1
a b
123 - 3 sf reference line
M  L   T  ∆α1 + ∆α 2 + ............. + ∆αn
r

N2 = N1  1   1   1  - Rules of Rounding off the ∆αmean = Zero error = N × L.C;

Two supplementary S.I units are:-  M2   L 2   T2  uncertain digits n N = no. of coinciding L.C = Least Count
Leading zeroes i.e
N1 = numerical part of (up to 3 Significant Figures) division;
(1) Radian(plane angle) , are never
, Q= , arc one system significant placed L.C = Least count of an
N2 = numerical part of Relative error instrunment.
radius to the left of the
(2) Steradian (solid angle),
Ω= arc
another system number
0.0403 - 3 sf; If digit > 5 ∆αmean
(radius)2
KNOW YOUR LCROS 0.04030 - 4 sf then, preceding digit +1
αmean Positive zero error Positive Zero Error
(SIGNIFICANT FIGURES)
0 1 Main Scale
UNITS 10.9 - 3 sf;
The number of digits in the 400.001 - 4 sf If digit <5 then, preceding Vernier scale 10
(1) Unit is defined as the measured values about the 0 5 10
All zero lie in digit remain same Percentage error, 0
reference standard used correctness are known as between the non 5
for measurements. significant figures. – zero digits are Negative zero error
(2) Measurements consists of significant If insignificant digit = 5; is difference the
a numerical value along with 0 1 Main Scale 0
Trailing zero digits (a) Preceding digit measured value and the
a relevant unit.
(3) Example: meter, newton, are significant only Order of magnitud remain same when true value as a 0 5 10
Vernier scale
Positive Zero Error
when they appear
joule, seconds etc. e is not considered
rounded off digit is even.; percentage of true value
after decimal 4.00 - 3 sf; 38.3 × 104 - 3 sf; Negaitive Zero Error
0.043010 - 5 sf 38.30 × 10-9 - 4 sf
(b) Preceding digit +1 when Percentage error
MKS CGS FPS (Ft, rounded off digit is odd ∆αmean
(m, kg, s) (m, gm, s) pound, s) SOME OTHER UNITS × 100 0

(1) mass:- 1 quintal = 100 kg, Constants and pure αmean 0

S.I Units 1 ton = 1000 kg numbers have infinite 95
- The system of units (2) length:- 1 light year = significant figures;
accepted internationally 9.46 × 1015 m
90
1 au = 1.496 × 1011 m
- S.I units of time is ‘sec’ (3) Temperature: Oo C =
is the example of S.I system 273 K 1o F = 255.928 K Negative Zero Error