MEASUREMENTS

UNITS/ PHYSICAL QUANTITIES

WHAT IS PHYSICS?
• The study nature, the understanding of its
phenomena and how it behaves.

KINEMATICS
Study of motion
MEASUREMENTS

• a collection of quantitative or numerical

data that describes a property of an
object or event. 
• it is made by comparing a quantity with
a standard unit.
MEASUREMENTS

• Since this comparison cannot be

perfect, measurements inherently
include error, which is how much a
measured value deviates from the true
value. 
MEASUREMENTS

• The study of measurement is called

metrology.
• The modern International System of
Units (SI) bases all types of physical
measurements on seven base units.
MEASUREMENTS

• The study of measurement is called

metrology.
• The modern International System of
Units (SI) bases all types of physical
measurements on seven base units.
 METHODS OF MEASUREMENT

• The length of a piece of string can be measured by

comparing the string against a meter stick.
• The volume of a drop of water may be measured using
a graduated cylinder.
• The mass of a sample may be measured using a scale or
balance.
• The temperature of a fire may be measured using a
thermocouple.
 COMPARING MEASUREMENTS

• Measuring the volume of a cup of water with an

Erlenmeyer flask will give you a better measurement
than trying to gauge its volume by putting it into a
bucket, even if both measurements are reported using
the same unit (e.g., milliliters). 
• Accuracy matters, so there are criteria that scientists
use to compare measurements: type, magnitude, unit,
and uncertainty.
 COMPARING MEASUREMENTS

• Magnitude is the actual numerical value of a measurement

(e.g., 45 or 0.237).
• Unit is the ratio of the number against the standard for the
quantity (e.g., gram, candela, micrometer).
• Uncertainty reflects the systematic and random errors in the
measurement.
• Uncertainty is a description of confidence in the accuracy and
precision of a measurement that is typically expressed as an
error.
MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS

• International System of Units (SI): SI

comes from the French name Système
International d'Unités. It is the most
commonly used metric system.
 MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS

• Metric System: SI is a specific metric system, which is a

decimal system of measurement. Examples of two
common forms of the metric system are the MKS
system (meter, kilogram, second as base units) and CGS
system (centimeter, gram, and second as base units).
There are many units in SI and other forms of the
metric system that are built upon combinations of base
units. These are called derived units.
 MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS

• English System: The British or Imperial system of

measurements was common before SI units were
adopted internationally. Although Britain has largely
adopted the SI system, the United States and some
Caribbean countries still use the English system for non-
scientific purposes. This system is based on the foot-
pound-second units, for units of length, mass, and time.
PHYSICAL QUANTITIES
• Have numerical values (number) and unit of measurements
(e.g. two kilograms, one meter)

FUNDAMENTAL DERIVED
QUANTITIES QUANTITIES
FUNDAMENTAL QUANTITIES
QUANTITY UNIT SYMBOL
MASS Kilogram kg
LENGTH Meter m
TIME Second s
ELECTRIC CURRENT Ampere A
TEMPERATURE Kelvin K
LUMINOUS INTENSITY Candela cd
AMOUNT OF SUBSTANCE Mole mol
DERIVED QUANTITIES

• Products or ratios or the base units.

Example:
• Speed is the change in distance per unit change
in time. While the unit of speed is the unit of
distance (same as length) divided by the unit of
time (m/s).
ACCURACY

•Accuracy is defined as how close a

measured value to a true or
accepted value is.
•The measured error is the amount of
inaccuracy.
PRECISION

•Precision is a measure of how close

a series of measurements are to one
another.
ACCURACY & PRECISION
FORMS OF ERRORS

RANDOM SYSTEMATIC
ERRORS ERRORS
RANDOM ERRORS
• Variations in the measured data brought by the
limitations of the measuring device.
• Use statistical analysis
• Averaging the large numbers of observation can
reduce errors.
SYSTEMATIC ERRORS
• Reproducible inaccurate data that are constantly
in the same direction.
• Inaccurate calibration of a measuring
instrument.
• Applying a correction factor can reduce error.
CAUSES OF ERROR
INADEQUATE DEFINITION
• Systematic/ random
Example:
Measuring the length of a rope, it will be affected by
the force applied by the students.
UNABLE TO INCLUDE A FACTOR
• Systematic
Example:
When measuring free fall, air resistance was not
considered.
• Discuss all aspects that could probably affect the
result before doing an experiment.
FACTORS DUE TO THE ENVIRONMENT

• Systematic/ random
Example:
Vibrations, temperature, noise, or other
conditions that may affect the measuring
instrument.
LIMITED SCALE OF THE INSTRUMENT

• Random
Example:
A meter stick cannot measure exactly in the
smallest scale division.
UNABLE TO CALIBRATE OR CHECK ZERO
SCALE OF THE INSTRUMENT

•Systematic
Reminder:
Always check the calibration of the
instrument before taking
measurements.
PARALLAX
• Systematic/ random
Reminder:
Whenever an experimenter’s eye is not
aligned with a pointer in a scale, the
reading may differ, either too high or low
PERSONAL ERRORS
•Occur from carelessness, poor
method, or bias measurement of
the experimenter.