GENERAL PHYSICS

1hysical Quantities, Measurement, and Units

P
 Physics
• Defined as the science of matter and
energy.
• Essential to everyone since it explains the
different things that we experienced or do
everyday.
 Learning Outcomes
• Solve measurement problems involving
conversion of units, expression of
measurements in scientific notation;
• Differentiate accuracy from precision;
• Differentiate random errors from systematic
errors;
• Estimate the uncertainty of a derived quantity
from estimated values and uncertainties of
directly measured quantities
Measurement

Why???
 Measurement
• In doing measurement, the foremost
objective is to measure accurately. But
uncertainty in measurement is always
there.
• To understand measurement, there must
be a number to quantify measurement and
a unit which serves as reference of the
measurement.
Scientific Notation
Scientific Notation
 Significant figures
• Is one way to write or show the precise
measurement.
• These are numbers that can be exact or
good estimate in measurement
Significant figures
Significant figures
Significant figures
 Physical Quantities
• Is measurable property of an object like its
length, mass, and time.
Fundamental Quantity
 Seven Fundamental Quantity in
Measurement
Measured Quantity Fundamental Units Abbreviation of unit

1. Length Meters m

2. Mass Kilograms kg

3. Time Seconds s

4. Electric current Amperes A

5. Temperature Kelvin K

6. Amount of matter mole M

7. Luminous intensity Candela cd

 Derived Quantity
• Combination of two or more fundamental
quantity to understand measurement.
Derived Quantity
Table of Conversion
How to manually convert a unit of
measurement
How to manually convert a unit of
measurement
How to manually convert a unit of
measurement
How to manually convert a unit of
measurement
How to manually convert a unit of
measurement
How to manually convert a unit of
measurement
How to manually convert a unit of
measurement
 Uncertainties and Deviations in
Measurement
• Uncertainty can also mean the absolute
error.
• Error does not mean the measurement
made is incorrect but how precise or
accurate we are performing the
measurement.
 Uncertainties and Deviations in
Measurement
VERNIER CALIPER

•an instrument introduced by Pierre Vernier,

mainly used to accurately measure linear
dimensions
 Uncertainties and Deviations in
Measurement
 Uncertainties and Deviations in
Measurement
 Uncertainties and Deviations in
Measurement
 Types of Error
• Personal Error – person itself doing the
measurement

• Systematic Error – measuring tool or

instruments

• Random Error – unpredictable or beyond

the control of the person
 Accuracy and Precision
• Accuracy – nearness or exactness of the
actual measurement done.

• Precision – closeness of agreement

among the different measurement result
when measuring the same quantity.
 Next topic
• Vectors and vector addition