Measurement

It is the process of comparing an unknown quantity with another quantity of its kind (called the
unit of measurement) to find out how many times the first includes the second.

Key elements of measurements process

Physical
Measuring Units of
Quantity tools measurement
Types of physical quantity
Fundamental Physical Quantities
They are physical quantities that cannot be defined in
terms of other physical quantities.
Derived Physical Quantities
They are physical quantities the can be defined in
terms of the fundamental physical quantities.

Length – Mass – Time Volume – Speed –Acceleration

Tools of measurement

Length Mass Time

1- Meter Tape. 1- Roman Scale. 1- Hourglass.
2- Vernier Caliper. 2- Analog Scale. 2- Stopwatch.
3- Ruler. 3- Beam Balance. 3- Clock.
4- Micrometer. 4- Digital Balance. 4- Digital Watch
Measuring Units

The French system The British System The Metric System

(C.G.S) (F.P.S) (M.K.S)

Length Centimeter Foot Meter

Mass Gram Pound Kilogram
Time Second Second Second
International System of units ( SI Units)

The Physical Quantity The international Units

Length(L) Meter(m)
Mass(M) Kilogram(kg)
Time(t) Second(s)
Electric current intensity(I) Ampere(A)
The absolute temperature(T) Kelvin(k)
Amount of material( n) Mole(mol.)
Luminous intensity(Iv) Candela(cd)
Angle measurement Radian
Solid angle measure Steradian
Standard (Length) meter
It is the distance between two engraved marks at the ends of a rod made of Platinum and Iridium alloy kept at
0oC, at the international bureau of weights and measures near Paris.
The Standard Time (Second)
The Second = 86400 of the average solar day
The Standard Mass (Kilogram)
It is the mass of a cylinder made of Platinum and Iridium alloy of specific dimension kept at 0oC,at the
international bureau of weights and measures near Paris
Give reason for:
Platinum and iridium alloy used in the standard unit? Because 1- It is rigid. 2 - Chemically inactive. 3 - Not
affected by surrounding temperature contrary to other materials such as glass.

Complete
1. Mass is measured in ………..unit in British system, while it is measured in ……………unit in S.I.
2. Length is measured in ………….unit in Gaussian system, while it is measured in ………….unit in British
system.
3. Temperature is measured in ………….unit in S.I, while the intensity of current is measured in
…………unit in S.I.
4-The mass of a cylinder made of platinum and Iridium alloy of specific dimensions kept at 0°C, at the
international Bureau of weights and measures near Paris. …………………………..…
5- It is the distance between two engraved marks at the ends of a rod made of Platinum and Iridium alloy kept
at 0oC, at the international bureau of weights and measures near Paris…………………………
6-The Second = 86400 of the average solar day…………………………
Choose the correct answer:
1- ……………… is a derived physical quantity
a- Length. b- mass. c- velocity.
2- In the international system unit, the ampere is the unit of…….
a- Electric current intensity. b- electric charge. c- luminous intensity.
3- The unit of solid angle measure is …………..
a- radian. b-steradian. c- kelvin
Questions
1- If the radius of a particle is5.1 nm , then the diameter of the particle equals…….
a)10.2x10^-3 micro m b) a)1.02x10^-7 mm c) a)10.2x10^-8 m d) all the previous
solution
a) 5.1 nm 10^-9 mico m
10^-6
Radius= 5.1 nm = 10^-9 x 10^6 x 5.1 = 5.1x10^-3 mico m
Diameter = 2x Radius = 10.2x10^-3 micro m
b) 5.1 nm 10^-9 mm
10^-3
Radius= 5.1 nm = 10^-9 x 10^3 x 5.1 = 5.1x10^-6 mm
Diameter = 2x Radius = 10.2x10^-6 mm = 1.02x10^-7 mm

2- How many bottles of volume 1000 cm3 are needed to fill a tank of capacity 1m3??
a) 1 b)10 c)100 d) 1000
solution
tank volume 1 m3
Number of bottles = bottles = = 1000
volume 1000x10−6 m3
3- X=250 ms , Y-= 1500 micro s , then the value of ( x+ y) = ………………………
a) 0.2515 s b) 4 s c) 250. 15 s d) 1750
solution
X= 250 ms x 10^-3 s , X= 250 x 10^-3 s , Y = 1500 micro s x10^-6 s , Y = 1500 x10^-6 s
( x+ y) =250 x 10^-3 +1500 x10^-6 = 0.2515 s

Vernier caliper

Example
The external diameter of the ball is……..
a) 29 mm b)29.1 mm c) 29.6 mm
solution
Fixed scale reading (X) = 29 mm
The Vernier scale reading (x)= 0.6 mm
The external diameter of the ball = X+ x =29 mm+ 0.6 mm =29.6mm

Dimensions Formula
Dimensional formula :
The formula that expresses the derived physical quantities in terms of the fundamental physical quantities (mass
‚length & time) each has a certain exponent .

Mass Length. time

M L T
Notes :
- Dimensional formula can’t be added or subtracted, but they can be multiplied or divided .
- Numerical constants such as ( 2, π ) , and trigonometric functions such as ( cos , sin ,tan ) has no
measuring units and no dimensions
Choose the correct answer:-
1- Dimensions of force are …………………… (F=ma)
(M.L2 .T-1 , M.L.T-2 , M2 .L2 .T-2 )
solution
[F]=M.(L/T^-2) = M LT^-2
2- Dimensions of work are …………………. (W = Fd)
(M.L.T-1 , M.L.T-2 , M.L2 .T-2 )
solution
[W]= M.L.T-2. L= M.L2 .T-2
3- The dimensional formula of a physical quantity is M0L0T-1, the measuring unit of this quantity
is……………. (kg.m/s , s-1 , kg.m.s )
4- the dimensions of A is L2 .T , and the dimensions of B are L .T2 then the dimensions of the
quantity A-3B are
(M^3.L^3, L.T , M^2.L^2, undefined)
5- X = YZ Dimensional formula of X = M.L.T^-2 , Y= M^0.L.T^-2 Find Dimensional formula
of Z
solution
X M.L.T^−2
Z= = =M
Y M^0.L.T^−2
 𝐺𝑚𝑚 𝐹 𝑟2 𝑀𝐿 𝑇 −2 𝐿2
F= , G= = = m^-1 L^3 T^-2 = kg ^-1 m^3 s^-2
𝑟2 𝑀𝑚 𝑀𝑀

Answer :b

Errors In measurement
Reasons of measurement error:-
1- Choosing improper tool
2- A defect in the measuring tool
3- Wrong procedure
4- Environmental conditions, such as:- (Temperature, Humidity, air currents)
Types of measurement
Direct Measurement Indirect Measurement
One measuring tool is used. More than one measuring tool are used.
No mathematical relation is applied. A mathematical relation is applied to find the quantity.
One measurement error may occur. More than one measurement error may occur.
Like measure the density by using hydrometer. Like measure the density by measure the mass and volume.
Calculation of error in direct measurement

Absolute Error ( Δ X ) Relative Error (r)

It is the difference between the real ( actual) value ( Xo) It is the ratio between the absolute error ( Δ X ) to the
and the measured value (X) real value ( Xo).
Δ X = | Xo - X | r = Δ X / Xo

Add, Subtract Times, divide

(Δx = Δx1 + Δx2) (r = r1 +r2)
Give reason-
The measuring process can't be accurate .
Because there are several reasons for measurement error As: - choosing improper tools. – A defect in the
measuring tool. – wrong procedure. - Environmental conditions.
The direct measurement is more accurate than the indirect one.
Because in direct measurement there is only one measurement error‚ while in indirect one there are more than one
error “Cumulative error”.
The relative error is better indication for measurement accuracy than absolute error
Because it is found by the ratio between the absolute error (Δx) to the real value (Xo)
Questions
( 1 ) If X (5 ± 0.1) cm , and Y= (10 ± 0.2) cm Find
a) X+ Y
X0+ Y0 = 5+10=15 cm , Δx + Δy = 0.1+ 0.2== 0.3 cm
X+ Y = (15 ± 0.3) cm
b) 2 X+ Y
2X0+ Y0 =2*5+10 = 20 , 2Δx + Δy = 0.1*2+ 0.2 =0.4
2 X+ Y= (20 ± 0.4) cm
c) X Y
Δx 0.1 Δy 0.2
r1= = = 0.02 , r2 = = = 0.02. , rt = r1 + r2 = 0.02 + 0.02 = 0.04
x0 5 y0 10

Δxy = r . xo. yo = 0.04x 5 x 10 = 2 cm

xy =(50 ± 2) cm2

(2) Find the relative error in estimating the volume of a cube of side length 5 cm if the relative
error in measuring length in 0.01 . Also ‚ find the absolute error in this case .
r1= r2 = r3 = 0.01
rt= r1+ r2 +r3 = 0.01+0.01+0.01=0.03
V0= X0 Y0 Z0 = 5x5x5= 125 cm3
Δv
r= Δv = v0 r = 125 x0.03 = 3.75 cm3
v0