Csec Physics Chapter 1: Physical Quantities and Measuring

Physical Quantities We can use a vernier caliper to measure lengths

such as the diameter (internal/external) of any small
A physical quantity is the property of an object or cylindrical objects
phenomenon that can be measured with an
instrument For example, the diameter of a test tube

There are two types: There is a main scale and a vernier scale. When an
object is placed between outside jaws, the main scale
• Basic/Fundamental Quantities is read first. On the vernier scale, one of the
markings will line up with the main scale. This gives
• Derived Quantities
the fraction of the millimeter scale that must be
1.Basic/Fundamental Quantities: added to the main scale.

 Stands by itself
 Independent of other physical quantities,
defined by a physical standard.

Seven fundamental or base quantities from which all

other physical quantities can be derived are:

 Mass (m)
 kilogram (kg)
 Length (l)
 Metre (m)
 Time (t)
 Second (s)  Micrometer Screw Gauge
 Temperature (T)
 kelvin (K) The micrometer screw gauge is used to measure very
 Electric current (I) small lengths such as the diameter of a ball bearing
 Ampere (A) or the width of a piece of copper wire.
 Amount of substance (n)
 Mole (mol) It consists of a main scale on the shaft and a
fractional scale on a rotating barrel. The fractional
 Luminous intensity (lv)
scale has 50 divisions. One complete turn represents
 Candela (cd)
0.50mm.
Derived Quantities
Reading = main scale + rotating scale = 6.50 + 0.23
 A combination of fundamental quantities = 6.73 mm
 Units formed by means of multiplying or
dividing a combination of fundamental and/or
derived quantities.
 The corresponding unit is derived from the
relationship between the base units.

Force (F) = F=ma (kg m s-')

Work or Energy (E) = E= Fd (Nm)

Power(p) = P = W / T (J S-I)

Pressure (P) = P = F/A (N m-1)

Charge (Q) = Q=1/T (As)

Voltage (V) = V =E/Q (J C-1)  Measuring the volume of a liquid

Resistance (R) = R=V/l (VA-1) Look at it from a side view, the surface of a liquid
inside a vertical tube is not a straight line. A liquid
Frequency (F)= F= 1/F (s-1) surface curves at the edges where the liquid wets the
glass. The curved surface is called a meniscus
Measuring:
Correct readings are taken:
Measurements can be taken using:
 When the instrument is vertical or resting on a
 Ruler horizontal surface
 Vernier calipers:
 When the reading is taken at the bottom of the P = m / v = 40g / 16 cm 3

meniscus
 When your eye is level with the meniscus = 4.0 x 10 -2
kg / 1.6 x 10-5 m -3

= 2.5 x 10 3
kg m-3

The density of the glass is 2.5 g cm -3

or 2.5 x 10 3 kg
m -3

Finding the area of irregularly-shaped objects:

 To find the area of an irregular object, first

count the number of whole squares.
 For squares that are partly filled, match up
pairs which together make a full square. Using
smaller squares increases the accuracy of this
method

Density:

Density is defined as the mass of a unit volume of a

material substance. Worked Example 3:

Formula: Density = 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠/ 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 Calculate the mass of a gold coin of volume 2.1 cm3

ρ = 𝑚/v The density of gold is 19g cm -3

 mass is measured in kilograms (kg) , Rearranging the density of the formula

 volume is measured in cubic metres (m3 )
and density is measured in kilogram per m = p x v = 19 x 2.1 = 40g
cubic metre (kgm−3 ).
Measuring Area:
Worked Example 1:
Finding the area of a regular shape by formula
The mass of the block is 360 mg. Find the
Rectangle: area = length x breadth base x height
density in kgm−3
The area of a disc = pi x radius squared = pi2
Volume = l x b x h
The surface area of a sphere: 4 pi x r2
= 3cm x 5cm x 4cm
The area of a triangle = ½ b
= 0.03m x 0.05m x 0.04m
Measuring Volume
= 0.00006 m3
Finding the volume of regular shaped solids by
= 6 x 10−5 m3
formula
Mass = 360 mg = 360 x 10−3 g
Volume of a rectangular block = Length x breadth
= 0.36 g (Multiply by the factor 10−3) x height

= 0.36 ÷ 10-3 = 0.00036 kg Volume of a cylinder of radius r = Height x area of

end
= 3.6 x 10−4 kg
Volume of a sphere of radius r = v/ 4/3 pi r3
(Divide by the factor 103)
Worked Example 1:
Density = 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 / 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
Calculate the volume of a block of expanded
= 3.6 x 10−4 / 6 x 10−5 = 6 kgm−3 polystyrene of mass 400g if its density is 16 kgm -3

Worked Example 2: The mass (400g) must be converted to kilograms to

match the density units:
A glass stopper has a volume of 16cm3 and a
mass of 40g. Calculate the density of glass in m = 400g = 0.40 kg
gcm-3 and kgm-3
The rearranged density formula gives:
P=m/v
V = m / p = 0.40 / 16 = 0.025 m3
P = m /v = 40g / 16cm = 2.5 g cm
3 -3

Errors
Converting the units:
 Measurements are accurate if the systematic  The instrument must be adjusted.
errors are small.
 Measurements are precise if the random errors Experimental Data and Analysis:
are small.
 Independent Variable:
Random Errors:
The variable that is being affected or investigated
Random errors are those which have equal chance of
causing the results to be greater or less than the  Dependant variables:
true value
The variables that may be affected by a change in
They may be caused by poor judgement or by the dependant variable
slightly fluctuating conditions during the experiment
 Control Variable:
which cannot be controlled.
A Variable that is kept constant
A typical example is parallax error: This occurs
when the marking viewed on a scale is not Example:
coincident in position with the point to which the
measurement should be made In an investigation of how the factors mass (m) and
length (I) affect the period (Tl of a simple pendulum)
Reducing Parallax Error
Expt 1
 Observations should be made with the line of
sight perpendicular to the scale (read Independent: length of string
instruments correctly)
 The pointer should be as close as possible to the Dependant: Period
scale when taking readings
Control: Mass of bob period
 If the scale is vertical, such as with a measuring
cylinder, eye level readings should be taken. Expt 2

Independent: Mass of bob

Dependant: Period

Controlled: length of string

 If a third variable is to be investigated, such

Precautions for Random Errors:
 The mean of several readings should be taken.
 The line of the graph should have minimum
deviation from its points.
as the angular displacement of the string,
the length of the string as well as the mass
of the bob will have to be controlled as the
angle is varied.

Systematic Errors:

Systematic errors are those which makes the result

always too small or too large by the same amount
due to an inaccuracy in the system Finding the Gradient (slope) of a straight-line
graph
Examples:
Select two points on the line, (x1 y1,) and (x1,y1),
 An instrument has an incorrect zero setting. which are far apart. Each point should be exactly on
Zero error of ammeters or voltmeters with a corner of one of the small squares of the graph
moving pointers (when no current flows, the sheet.
pointer may not be at the zero mark)
 Poorly calibrated scale Mark these points and use them to construct a large
right-angled triangle
Precautions:
• Determine the gradient, m (slope) from the
 Read instruments correctly equation
 Use more than one technique to measure the
M = y2- y1 / x2 – x1
same quantity
 Check instruments by submitting other ones for
the same measurement
 Check instruments by looking for zero error

Reading Systematic Errors:

 The value of the error must be discovered and

then added or subtracted from each reading.
Practise Questions
Quantities and Units and Symbols

Symbol Quantity Unit For Symbol

of The the For the
Quantity Quantity Unit
I Length Metre m
A Area Square m2
Metre
Length, V Volume Cubic m3
Mass, Metre
Time
M Mass Kilogram Kg
d or p Density Kilogram Kg m-3
per metre
cubed

T Time Second s
T Period Second s
f Frequency Hertz Hz

Symbol Quantity Unit of Symbol

For the The For the
Quantity Quantity Unit
F Force Newton N
Force W Weight Newton N
and
Pressure
M Moment Newton Nm
of A Metre
Force
p Pressure Pascal Pa

Symbol Quantity Unit of Symbol

For the The For the
Quantity Quantity Unit

s Distance, Metre M
Displacement

w Work Joule J
E Energy Joule J
Ep Potential Joule J
Energy
Mechanics p Power Joule per W
And second
Motion
v or u Speed, Metre per Metre
velocity second per
second
c Speed of Metre per Speed
waves second of
waves,
 a Acceleration Metre s-2

g Gravitational Newton
Field per
Strength kilogram
p Momentum Kilogram Kgms
metre s-1

Symbol Quantity Unit of Symbo

For the The l For
Quantit Quantit the
y y Unit
Eh Heat Joule J
Energy
Heat and T Temperatur Degress C, K
Temperatur e Celsius,
e Kelvin
C Heat Joule JK-1 Derived Quantity Defining Unit Derived
Capacity per Equation From Based SI
kelvin
c Specific Joule JKg-1
Heat Kg-1 K- K-1
Capacity 1 Force (F) Force = mas x Kg x ms-2
L Latent Heat Joule J acceleration
Work (W) Work = force x Kg ms -2 x m =
I Specific Joule JKG-1
displacement kgm2 s-2
Latent Heat per
Voltage or Voltage = energy Kgm2 s -2 / As
kilogram
potential transformation/
difference (V) charge

Unit – Equivalent In Metres

1 Kilometre (km) = 1000 m or 103m
1 Centimetre (cm) = 0.01m or 10-2m
1 Millimetre (mm) = 0.001 m or 10-3m
1 Nanometre (nm) = 0.000000001 or 10-9m