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OVERVIEW

At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

1.1 Define the physical quantities
1.2 Define measurement and errors in measurement
1.3 Solve problems of unit conversion
1.4 Interpret readings of measurement tools

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1.1 PHYSICAL QUANTITIES

PHYSICAL QUANTITES
(Quantities that can be measured)

BASE QUANTITY
(Quantity that cannot be
derived from other
physical quantity)
DERIVED QUANTITY
(Quantities that are derived
from the combination of
several base quantities by
multiplication and division.

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1.1.1 BASE QUANTITIES
Physical quantity that can not be derived from other physical quantities.

Base Quantity SI Unit Symbol

Quantity Symbol

Length l Meter m

Mass m Kilogram kg

Time t Second s

Electric I Ampere A
Current
Temperature T Kelvin K

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1.1.1 DERIVED QUANTITIES
Quantities that are derived from the combination of several base quantities by
multiplication or division

Derived Definition SI Unit in terms of Alternative name for

Quantity base units SI unit
Area, A length x length m2 -
Volume, V length x length x length m3 -
Density, mass / volume kg m-3 -
Velocity, v length / time m s-1 -
Acceleration, a velocity / time m s-2 -
Force, F momentum / time kg m s-2 Newton, N
Pressure, P force / area kg m-1 s-2 Pascal, Pa @ N m-2
Work, W force x distance kg m2 s-2 Joule, J
Power, P work / time kg m2 s-3 Watt, W
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1.1.2 SCALAR & VECTOR QUANTITIES

Scalar quantities: Physical quantities with magnitude only.

Vector quantities: Physical quantities with direction and magnitude.
https://youtu.be/ihNZlp7iUHE

Some examples of scalar and vector quantities:

Scalar Quantity Vector Quantity
Speed Displacement
Distance Velocity
Volume Acceleration
Temperature Force
Time Momentum

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1.2 MEASUREMENT & ERROR IN MEASUREMENT
• Measurement
Measurement is a process or the result of determining the magnitude of a
physical quantity, such as length or mass, relative to a unit of measurement,
such as a meter or a kilogram

• Error in Measurement
Error is the difference between the actual value of a quantity and the
value obtained in measurement

There are 2 main types of error:

a) random error
b) systematic error

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1.2.1 RANDOM ERROR
1. Accurs due to mistakes made by observer when taking the measurement

2. A common random error is caused by incorrect positioning of eye

(parallax error)

3. Also occur when there is a sudden change of environmental factors like

temperature, lighting or air circulation

Ways to reduce random errors:

• Taking repeated measurements to obtain an average value
• Maintaining good experimental technique
(e.g. reading from a correct position)

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1.2.1 SYSTEMATIC ERROR
1. Errors in measurements due to the condition of the measuring instrument
or the state of the environment in which the measurement are taken.

2. The reading taken is always bigger than the actual value or it is always
smaller than the actual value.

3. Systematic errors can be caused by the zero error of the instrument and
the instrument is being incorrectly calibrated.

Ways to reduce systematic errors:

• Conducting the experiment with care
• Repeating the experiment by using different instruments

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1.2.2 CONSISTENCY, ACCURACY & SENSITIVITY
• Consistency
Measurements are said to be consistent when the values of the measurements
are close to each other

• Accuracy
Accuracy is the degree of how close a measurement is to the true and actual
value of the physical quantity

• Sensitivity
The sensitivity of an instrument is its ability to detect small changes in the
quantity that is being measured.

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1.2.2 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACCURACY
AND CONSISTENCY

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1.3 PREFI X ES
Prefixes are the preceding factor used to represent very small and very large
physical quantities in SI units

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Example 1:
Use the suitable prefixes to represent the numbers below:
a) 2 500 000 watt
b) 0.001 500 gram

Solution
a)

b)

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Exercise 1
a) Convert 5600000W into prefix form

b) What is the prefix form for 0.0000000098 m

Answers
a) 5.6 MW
b) 9.8 nm

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1.3.1 CONVERT METRIC UNITS

X
multiplication
factor

Prefix Base Unit

Form Form

÷
multiplication
factor

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Example 2:
Complete the following unit conversion:

a) 12 m = cm
b) 70 mm = m
c) 450 km = mm

Solution
-2
a) 12 m = 12 x 10 cm *convert prefix form to base unit form: x multification factor for centi

b) 70 mm = 70 ÷ 10-3 m *convert base unit form to prefix form: ÷ multification factor for milli
= 70 x 103 m

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c) 450 km = 450 x 10 m *convert prefix form to base unit form: x multification factor for kilo
3 -6
= 450 x 10 ÷ 10 mm *convert base unit form to prefix form: ÷ multification factor for milli
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= 450 x 10 mm
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Example 3:
Complete the following unit conversion:

a) 12 kmh-1 = ms-1
b) 25 cm2 = m2
c) 31.8 g/cm3 = kg/m3

Solution

a)

b)

c)

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Exercise 2
Convert:
a) 60 m2 to cm2

b) 50km/h2 to m/s2

c) 1000gcm-3 to kgm-3

Answers
4 2
a) 60 x 10 cm
-3 2
b) 3.86 x 10 m/s
5 -3
c) 1 x 10 kgm
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1.3.1 CUSTOMARY UNITS
The customary system of measurement, also called the U.S. Customary System, is
based on the English system of measurement.

a) Customary units of length

Length and distances in the customary system are measured in inches, feet, yards and miles
Customary Unit Customary Equivalent
1 inch ---
1 foot 12 inches
1 yard 3 feet
1 mile 1760 yards

Symbol:
inch = in, feet = ft, yard = yd, mile = mi

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1.3.1 CUSTOMARY UNITS

b) Customary units of weight

The U.S. customary weight measurement units are ounces, pounds and tons

Customary Unit Customary Equivalent

1 ounce 16 drams
1 pound 16 ounces
1 ton 2000 pounds

Symbol:
ounce = oz, pound = lb, ton = T

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1.3.1 CUSTOMARY UNITS

c) Customary units of volume

The U.S customary capacity or volume measurement units are ounces,cups, pints,
quarts and gallons

Customary Unit Customary Equivalent

1 fluid ounce 2 tablespoons
1 cup 8 fluid ounces
1 pint 2 cups
1 quart 2 pins
1 gallon 4 quarts

Symbol:
cup= c, pint = pt, quart = qt, gallon = gal

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Example 4:
Change the following quantities to the units shown:
a) 4yd= _________ft
b) 32 oz= __________lb
c) 20 qt= __________gal

Solution
a) 4 yd = _ 4 x 3___ ft *Refer customary units of length table: 1 yd = 3 ft
= ___12 ft___ ft

b) 32 oz = _ 32 ÷ 16_ lb *Refer customary units of weight table: 1 lb = 16 oz

= ___12 ___ lb

c) 20 qt = ___20 ÷ 4 gal *Refer customary units of volume table: 1 gal = 4 qt

=___5 gal__ gal

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Exercise 3
Convert:
a) 108 in = _________ft

b) 3 T = __________ oz

c) 28 c = __________qt

Answers
a) 9 ft
b) 96000 oz
c) 7 qt
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1.4 MEASUREMENTS
a) Measuring instruments are very important in order to measure physical quantities.
b) Zero error is a non-zero reading shown by an instrument while it is not measuring
any object. To get a true reading, we need to subtract the zero error from the
obtained reading.

True reading = obtained reading – zero error

 

Zero Error
• A zero error arises when the measuring instrument does not start from the
exact zero
• The zero error can be positive or negative

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1.4.1 VERNIER CALLIPERS

a) Vernier caliper is more accurate than a ruler, since it has the smaller scale
of 0.1 mm
b) Measure lengths of less than 10 cm
c) Can be used to measure outer dimensions of objects (using the external jaws),
inside dimensions (using the internal jaws) and depths (using the depth
measuring blade)
d) The accuracy is up to 0.1 mm (0.01 cm)
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1.4.1 VERNIER CALLIPERS

How to use a Vernier Callipers?

Step 1: Read the main scale directly opposite the zero mark
on the vernier scale. In this case, the reading on the
main scale is 22mm

Step 2: The 6th vernier scale marking coincide with a marking

on the main scale. This gives a reading of 0.6mm

Step 3: The reading is taken by adding the main scale reading

to the vernier scale reading.

Obtained reading = main scale reading + vernier scale reading

= 22 mm + 0.6 mm
= 22.6 mm

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Example 5:
Find the obtained reading and true reading of following vernier callipers:
(Given zero error: -0.1mm)

a) Obtained reading = main scale reading + vernier scale reading

= 11 mm + 0.7 mm
= 11.7 mm

b) True reading = obtained reading – zero error

= 11.7 mm – (-0.1mm)
= 11.8 mm
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Exercise 4
Find the true readings of the vernier calipers below:
(Given zero error: +0.3mm)

Answers
4.5 mm

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1.4.1 MICROMETER SCREW GAUGE

a) A micrometer screw gauge is more accurate than a ruler and vernier calliper
because it has the smallest scale of 0.01 mm
b) The range of a micrometer is 0-50 mm
c) The accuracy of a micrometer is up to 0.01 mm

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1.4.1 MICROMETER SCREW GAUGE

How to use a Micrometer Screw

Gauge?
Step 1: Read the main scale at the edge of the thimble.
In this case, it is 7.5 mm (7.0mm + 0.5mm)
Vernier
scale Step 2: Take the thimble reading opposite the datum line of
main scale the main scale. In this case, it is 24 divisions, which
gives a value of 0.24mm (24 x 0.01mm)

Step 3: The reading is taken by adding the main scale reading

to the vernier scale reading.

Obtained reading = main scale reading + vernier scale reading

= 7.5 mm + 0.24 mm
= 7.74 mm

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Example 6:
Determine the obtained reading and true reading of the micrometer screw gauge
below:
(Given zero error: +0.01mm)

a) Obtained reading = main scale reading + vernier scale reading

= 2.0 mm + 0.32 mm
= 2.32 mm

b) True reading = obtained reading – zero error

= 2.32 mm – (+0.01mm)
= 2.31mm
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Exercise 5
Find the true readings of the vernier calipers below:
(Given zero error: -0.02mm)

Answers
4.80 mm

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