1ST
SEMESTE |General Physics1
Lesson 1: VECTORS, UNITS,
PHYSICAL QUANTITIES AND
COMMON ERRORS
 Measurement - size or magnitude
something.
 S.I. Unit - international System of Units
is the modern form of the metric system.
It is the only system of measurement with
an official status in nearly every country
in the world.
 SI Base Units - standard units of
measurement defined by the International
System of Units (SI) for the seven base
quantities of what is now known as the
International System of Quantities.
 Derived Unit - is a SI unit of
measurement comprised of a combination
of the seven base units.
 Conversion of units - is the conversion
between different units of measurement
for the same quantity, typically through
multiplicative conversion factors.
 Rounding-off means - reducing the digits
in a number while trying to keep its value
similar. However, the result is less
accurate, but easier to use.
 Random errors - arise from unknown and
unpredictable variations in condition.
 Systematic errors - are errors which tend
to shift all measurements in a systematic
way so their mean value is displaced.
What is physics?
Deals with the study of matter and its motion—including
concepts such as force, energy mass and charge. Concerned
with the nature and properties of non-living matter and energy
that are not dealt with by chemistry or biology, and the
fundamental laws of the material universe. As such, it is a huge
and diverse area of study.
FIELD OF PHYSICS
1. R
Classical Physics - Before the turn of the 19th
century, physics concentrated on the study of
mechanics, light, sound and wave motion, heat and
thermodynamics, and electromagnetism. Classical
physics are fields that were studied before 1900.
of (Optics, Acoustics, Electromagnetics, and
Classical mechanics.)
2. Modern Physics - Modern physics embraces the
atom and its component parts, relativity and the
interaction of high speeds, cosmology and space
exploration, and mesoscopic physics, those pieces
of the universe that fall in size between nanometers
and micrometers.
(Quantum mechanics, Special relativity and
General relativity.)
PHYSICAL QUANTITIES AND UNITS
Measurements of physical quantities are expressed in terms of
units, which are standardized values. For example, the length
of a race, which is a physical quantity, can be expressed in
units of meters (for sprinters) or kilometers (for distance
runners). Without standardized units, it would be extremely
difficult for scientists to express and compare measured values
in a meaningful way.
Two major systems of units used in the
world:
SI units (also known as the metric system) - Virtually every
other country in the world now uses SI units as the standard;
the metric system is also the standard system agreed upon by
scientists and mathematicians. The acronym “SI” is derived
from the French Système International.
English units (also known as the customary or imperial
system) - English units were historically used in nations once
ruled by the British Empire and are still widely used in the
United States.
Si base unit
Known as the International System of Quantities: they are
notably a basic set from which all other SI units can be derived.
The units and their physical quantities are the second for time,
the metre/meter for length, the kilogram for mass, the ampere
for electric current, the kelvin for thermodynamic
temperature, the mole for amount of substance, and the
candela for luminous intensity. The SI base units are a
fundamental part of modern metrology, and thus part of the
foundation of modern science and technology.
SI DERIVED UNIT
Defined in terms of the seven base quantities via a system of
quantity equations. The SI derived units for these derived
quantities are obtained from these equations and the seven SI
base units.
 Accuracy and precision
Accuracy - the degree of closeness between a measured value
and true value. Accuracy depends on using good techniques
and highly accurate tools.

Precision - the representation of measurement of a single

property in the same way of at least three trials giving a way of
judging how close to each other the repeated values. It depends
on accuracy of the instruments.

Conversion of units
It is the conversion between different units of measurement for
the same quantity, typically through multiplicative conversion
factors. Converting between units can be done through the use
of conversion factors or specific conversion formulas.

Random errors & systematic errors

Random errors arise from unknown and unpredictable
variations in condition.

Random error has non-consistent size of error and is

unpredictable.

Systematic errors are errors which tend to shift all

measurements in a systematic way so their mean value is
displaced. The measurement obtained is deviated consistently
either too high or too low from the actual value. Systematic
errors can be compensated if the errors are known.