J.T.

II Olivar, MAEd
Faculty of Arts and Letters
University of Santo Tomas
 Major Divisions of Physical Science
 Measurement

◦ Standard Units and Systems of Units

◦ Derived Units and Conversion Factors
◦ Significant Figures
◦ Scientific Notation
 Physics
 Chemistry
 Astronomy
 Meteorology
 Geology
 Oceanography
 Fundamental quantities of length, mass,
and time
 Standard Units (System of Units)

◦ “Le Systeme International d’ Unites”

◦ Accurate measurements
 Metric System
 British System
 Length is the measurement of space in any
direction
 Meter
 1889-1960 – platinum-iridium bar
 International Bureau of Weights and

Measures (Paris)
 Mass is the amount of matter an object
contains
 Kilogram
 Time is the continuous, forward flowing of
events
 Second
 Cesium-133 – Atomic Clock
 Kelvin
 Metric British
Fundamental mks or SI cgs
Quantity
Length Meter (m) Centimeter Foot (ft)
(cm)
Mass Kilogram (kg) Gram (g) Slug
Time Second (s) Second (s) Second (s)
 Derived Units are multiples or combinations
of units
◦ Ex: Speed (length/time) – m/s
 Conversion Factor relates one unit to
another
◦ Ex: 1 in. = 2.54 cm.
 Significant Figures or Significant Digits is a
method of expressing measured numbers
properly
◦ Ex: 6.8 cm/1.67 cm = 4.1cm
 Powers-of-10 (scientific) notation
◦ Ex: 102 = 10 X 10 = 100