MEASUREMENTS

Multiplying Factor Prefix Symbol

10-12 pico p
10-9 nano n
10-6 micro μ
10-3 milli m
10-2 centi c
10-1 deci d
103 kilo K
106 mega M
109 giga G
1012 tera T

Base units
Base Quantities
Name Symbol
Length metre m

Mass kilogram kg

Time second s

Amount of substance mole mol

Temperature Kelvin K

Current ampere A

Luminous intensity candela cd

Derived Quantities Equation Derived Units(baseunits)

Area (A) A = L2 m2
Volume (V) V = L3 m3
Density (ρ) ρ=m/V kg m-3
Velocity (v) v=D/t ms-1
Acceleration (a) a = Δv / t ms-1 / s = ms-2
Momentum (p) p=mxv (kg)(m s-1) = kg m s-1

Derived Unit
Derived
Equation Special Base units
Quantities Symbol
Name
Force (F) F = ma Newton N [(kg m s-1) / s = kg m s-2
(kg m s-2) / m2
Pressure (p) p = F / A Pascal Pa
= kg m-1 s-2
Energy (E)/work E = F x d joule J (kg m s-2)(m) = kg m2 s-2
Power (P) P = E / t watt W (kg m2 s-2) / s = kg m2 s-3
Frequency (f) f = 1 / t hertz Hz 1 / s = s-1
Charge (Q) Q = I x t coulomb C As
Potential (kg m2 s-2) / A s =
V = E / Q volt V
Difference (V) kg m2 s-3 A-1
(kg m2 s-3 A-1) / A =
Resistance (R) R = V / I ohm Ω
kg m2 s-3 A-2

HOMOGENITY OF AN EQUATION
In any correct equation where each term has the same base units, the equation is said to be homogeneous
or balanced.

Eg:

1) V= u+ at
ms-1 = ms-1 + ms-2 s

ms-1 = ms-1 + ms-1

All the 3 terms in the equation has the same base units. Therefore equation is correct
or said to be homogeneous.

2) V2 =u2 + 2as
(ms-1) 2 = (ms-1)2 + 2 ms-2 m
ms-2 = ms-2 + 2.ms-2

(2 is a pure number and has no units. Therefore ignore these coefficents)

The base units on each side of the equation are the same and so the equation is
homogeneous.