Introductoryphysics Physicalquantitiesandunits 100320151947 Phpapp01 PDF

Introductory Physics
Physical Quantities, Units

and Measurement
(Updated: 20141027)
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Sutharsan John Isles
Expected Prior Knowledge
It is assumed that you know the following

sufficiently well. If you feel that you do not
know them sufficiently, please visit those topics
in your books before continuing further:
Mathematical Symbols
The Real Number System
Fractions and Decimals
Significant Figures
Angles and Bearings
Indices
Terminology
A feature
a noticeable part of something

http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/feature
What do you notice about the two lines below?
Terminology
A characteristic
a typical feature of something

http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/characteristic
Compare the vehicles below. What is characteristic of both

vehicles?
A limousine
An ordinary car
Terminology
A property
something that gives an object its characteristics
Observe a piece of rubber band. What do you notice when

it is pulled and released? What could you say is
characteristic of objects made with the same type of
material? Ultimately, what can you say is a property of
rubber?
Note: Rubber is not the only elastic material. (Spandex used
in stretch jeans, is another example.)
Terminology
Physical
something that is real in the sense that it can be

seen, felt, etc. (i.e. not imaginary) and can thus be
described in terms of what you observe or perceive
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_property
Consider the following:

You can feel the effects of a force (throwing you off) as you
stand at the edge on a merry-go-round while it is spinning.
You can see that one line is longer than the other.
Terminology
A physical property
a measurable (or perceived) property of something

observable without having to change the
composition or identity of that thing
Examples of physical properties include the

following:
Length
Mass
Colour
Smell
Temperature
Solubility
Resistivity
Conductivity
8
Terminology
The following are subsets of physical

properties:
Mechanical properties
Electrical properties
Thermal properties
Optical properties
Terminology
A quantity
something that can be quantified (given a

number to)
A physical quantity
a physical property that can be expressed in

numbers
E.g. Length being quantified: 13 cm
10
Units
There are two common systems of units:
SI units (Systme International dUnits)
E.g. metre, kilogram, second
The British engineering system (a.k.a.

imperial system of units)
E.g. foot, pound, second
11
Why SI Units?
Two reasons:
Facilitates international trade and

communications
Facilitates exchange of scientific findings and
information
12
Physical Quantities
These may be divided into base quantities

and derived quantities.
Base quantities are expressed in base
units.
Derived quantities are expressed in
derived units.
There are seven base quantities and thus
seven base units.
13
SI Base Quantities & Units

Quantity
Symbol
Unit
Abbreviation
Length
metre
Mass
kilogram
kg
Time
seconds
Electric current
ampere
Thermodynamic temperature
kelvin
Amount of substance
mole
mol
Luminous intensity
Iv
candela
cd
http://www.bipm.org/en/si/si_brochure/chapter2/2-1/
14
Common SI Prefixes for Units

Prefix Symbol
Value
Decimal Equivalent
Scale (Short)
peta
1015
1 000 000 000 000 000
tera
1012
1 000 000 000 000
trillion
giga
109
1 000 000 000
billion
mega
106
1 000 000
million
kilo
103
1 000
deci
10-1
0.1
tenth
centi
10-2
0.01
hundredth
milli
10-3
0.001
thousandth
micro
10-6
0.000 001
millionth
nano
10-9
0.000 000 001
billionth
quadrillion
thousand
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_and_short_scales
15
Multiples & Submultiples

of SI Units The Metre
Multiples
Value Symbol
Submultiples
Name
Value Symbol
Name
103 m
km
kilometre
10-1 m
dm
decimetre
106 m
Mm
megametre
10-2 m
cm
centimetre
109 m
Gm
gigametre
10-3 m
mm
millimetre
1012 m
Tm
terametre
10-6 m
micrometre
1015 m
Pm
petametre
10-9 m
nm
nanometre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre
16
Conversion between multiples

and submultiples of a base unit
How do you convert from kilometres to metres?
E.g. Convert 3 km to metres

Solution
3 km =
3 kilo metre
=
3 1000 1 m
= 3000 m
17
Conversion between multiples &

submultiples of a base unit
How do you convert from metres to kilometres?
E.g. Convert 70 m to kilometres

Solution
Begin with 1 km = 1000 m
1
Recognise that 1 m =
km
1000
1
70 m
= 70
km
1000
= 0.07 km
18

How do you convert from millimetres to

metres?
E.g. Convert 45 mm to metres

Solution
1
metre
45 mm =
45
1000
1
45
=
1 m
1000
45
=
m
1000
= 0.045 m
19

How do you convert from millimetres to

centimetres?
E.g. Convert 13 mm to centimetres

Solution
1
metre
1000
1
1
=13
1 m
100
10
1
= 13 cm
10
= 1.3 cm
13 mm =
13
20

How do you convert from centimetres to

millimetres?
E.g. Convert 11.5 cm to millimetres

Solution
1
11.5 cm = 11.5
metre
100
10
=11.5
1 m
1000
1
=115
1 m
1000
= 115 mm
21
SI Derived Quantities & Units
Derived units are defined as products of powers

of the base units.
http://www.bipm.org/en/si/si_brochure/chapter1/1-4.html
There are derived units expressed only in terms

of base units.
E.g. square metres [m2], metres per second [m/s],

etc.
There are also derived units with special names,

usually names of scientists, and symbols for
their units.
E.g. Newtons [N], Pascal [Pa], etc.

22
SI Derived Quantities & Units

Name
Symbol
Derivation
Unit
area
mm
m2
volume
m2 m
m3
speed, velocity
ms
m/s
acceleration
m/s s
m/s2
density
kg m3
kg/m3
force
kg m/s2
kg m/s2 = N
pressure
N m2
N/m2 = Pa
E, W
Nm
Nm=J
power
Js
J/s = W
electrical charge
As
As=C
electric potential difference
WA
W/A = V
electrical resistance
VA
V/A =
(or M)
Nm
Nm
energy, work
moment of force (torque)
Note highlighted: Essence of derivation in each case is different.

23
Trivia
Do you know the full names of scientists

after whom the following units were named?
Newton
Pascal
Joule
Watt
Coulomb
Volt
Ohm
24

submultiples of derived units
How do you convert from squared centimetres

to squared metres?
E.g. Convert 8 cm2 to squared metres

Solution
2
8 cm
=
1 cm 8 cm
1
1
=
1
1 m 8
1 m
100
100
1
8
=
1 m 2
10000
= 0.0008 m 2
25
Standard Form
Also called the scientific notation, it is a

way of representing numbers that are too
large or too small.
It is generally denoted as A 10n, where
1 A < 10 and A R and n is an integer.
Depending on the requirement, A can be
in any number of significant figures.
26
Standard Form Examples
How do you express 0.0008 in standard form?

Solution
8
0.0008 =
10000
8
= 4
10
= 8 104
27
How do you express 80000 in standard form?

Solution
80000= 8 10000
= 8 104
28
One of the best estimates to a number called the

Avogadros Number is
602,214,141,070,409,084,099,072. If only the first 4
digits of this number were significant, how would you
express this number in standard form?
Solution
602214141070409084099072
602200000000000000000000
= 6.022 1023
http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/pub/an-exact-value-for-avogadros-number
29
Scalar and Vector Quantities
A scalar quantity has magnitude only and

is completely described by a certain
number with appropriate units.
E.g. The distance is 7 m.
Other examples of scalar quantities

include mass, time and temperature.
30
A vector quantity has both a magnitude

and a direction and can be represented by
a straight line in a particular direction.
E.g. The displacement is 5 m in the direction

045.
Other examples of vector quantities

include velocity, force and momentum.
31
Why is it useful to understand which quantity is a vector

and which quantity is a scalar?
Consider the following formula where v is the final velocity, u is

the initial velocity, a is the acceleration and t is the time for
which the vehicle accelerated:
v = u + at
Solve for a when v = 10 m/s, u = 0 m/s and t = 2 s.

Solve for a when u = 10 m/s, v = 0 m/s and t = 2 s.
What do you observe about the answers?
32
The formula for a vector quantity is designed

with the allowance for positive and negative
values and difference in meaning for each.
Acceleration is a vector quantity.
A negative acceleration is actually a deceleration.
Negative values indicate going in or doing the

opposite.
Can a scalar quantity have a negative value?
33
Temperature is a scalar quantity.

While temperatures may have negative values,
they do not represent a change in direction.
A temperature reading at any point in time is a
static figure.
34
Precision and Accuracy
The term precision refers to how consistently an

instrument measures something.
Accuracy, on the other hand, refers to how
close the measured value is to the actual value.
Thus, an instrument can be precise, but
inaccurate.
E.g.
A clock that is consistently one minute late at any
point in time.
35
Notes on Accuracy
How accurate the reading is, is dependent

on the type of instrument being used. This
is referred to the degree of accuracy.
It is important to keep in mind the
sensitivity and stability of the instrument
when measuring, especially in the case of
thermometers. These can affect accuracy
as well.
36
The Ruler
Look at the ruler shown.

What would you say is the degree of
accuracy of this instrument?
37
The Modern Vernier Callipers
Can you name the

parts of this
instrument?
Image source: http://www.mitutoyo.co.jp/eng/useful/catalog/pdf/202.pdf

38

Inside jaws
Screw clamp
Depth probe
Vernier scale
Main scale
Outside jaws
39
Invented by Pierre
Vernier.
The word vernier is
now used to refer to
certain movable parts of
measuring instruments.
Measures to an accuracy
of 0.01 cm or 0.1 mm
40
The Micrometer Screw Gauge
Do you think you can

name the parts of this
instrument?

41

Anvil
Spindle
Sleeve (with main scale)
Lock
Thimble
Rotating
scale
Ratchet
Frame
42
The first micrometric

screw was invented by
William Gascoigne and
the modern day MSG is a
result of a series of
adaptations by other
inventors.
Measures to an accuracy
of 0.001 cm or 0.01 mm
43
Comparing Accuracies
Note:
While the word
accuracy has been
used, it should be noted
that no measurement
can be said to 100%
accurate and there
would always be a
certain level of
uncertainty.
Device
Ruler
Vernier Calipers
Micrometer
Screw Gauge
Accuracy
1 mm
0.1 mm
0.01 mm
44
Acknowledgement
Created by: Sutharsan John Isles
References
http://www.wikipedia.org
http://www.bipm.org/en/home/
Giancoli, D.C. (2005). Physics: Principles with applications. Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Duncan, T. (2000). Advanced physics. London, UK: Hodder Murray.
Chang, R. (1994). Chemistry. Hightstown, NJ: McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Hughes, E. (1888). Hughes electrical and electronic technology (10th
ed.). Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited
Poh, L.Y. (2007). Effective guide to O Level Physics (2nd ed.).
Singapore: Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd.
Billstein, R., Libeskind, S. & Lott, J.W. (2001). A problem solving
approach to mathematics for elementary school teachers. (7th ed.).
Reading, MA: Addison Wesley Longman
45

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Introductory Physics

Physical Quantities, Units

Statement of Copyright and Fair

Expected Prior Knowledge

It is assumed that you know the following

Sutharsan John Isles

a noticeable part of something

What do you notice about the two lines below?

Sutharsan John Isles

a typical feature of something

Compare the vehicles below. What is characteristic of both

something that gives an object its characteristics

Observe a piece of rubber band. What do you notice when

something that is real in the sense that it can be

Consider the following:

a measurable (or perceived) property of something

Examples of physical properties include the

Sutharsan John Isles

The following are subsets of physical

Sutharsan John Isles

something that can be quantified (given a

a physical property that can be expressed in

E.g. Length being quantified: 13 cm

Sutharsan John Isles

There are two common systems of units:

SI units (Systme International dUnits)

E.g. metre, kilogram, second

The British engineering system (a.k.a.

E.g. foot, pound, second

Sutharsan John Isles

Facilitates international trade and

Sutharsan John Isles

These may be divided into base quantities

SI Base Quantities & Units

Common SI Prefixes for Units

1 000 000 000 000 000

1 000 000 000 000

1 000 000 000

0.000 000 001

Multiples & Submultiples

Conversion between multiples

How do you convert from kilometres to metres?

E.g. Convert 3 km to metres

Sutharsan John Isles

Conversion between multiples &

How do you convert from metres to kilometres?

E.g. Convert 70 m to kilometres

Conversion between multiples &

How do you convert from millimetres to

E.g. Convert 45 mm to metres

Conversion between multiples &

How do you convert from millimetres to

E.g. Convert 13 mm to centimetres

Sutharsan John Isles

Conversion between multiples &

How do you convert from centimetres to

E.g. Convert 11.5 cm to millimetres

SI Derived Quantities & Units

Derived units are defined as products of powers

There are derived units expressed only in terms

E.g. square metres [m2], metres per second [m/s],

There are also derived units with special names,