Physical quantities

Examples: time, length, speed, frequency, momentum, force, temperature

Physical quantities = consist of:

Base quantities Derived quantities

Physical quantity that cannot be derived from Physical quantity that can be derived from
another physical quantity another physical quantity
Length : metre, m Volume : length x length x length = m3
Mass : kilogram, kg Velocity : length / time = m/s
Time : second, s Density : mass / volume = kg/ m3
Temperature : kelvin, K Acceleration: velocity / time = m/s2
Electric Current : ampere, A Force : mass x acceleration = kg m / s2
Note: single unit Note: unit can be combined

Quantity Symbol Unit Symbol

Length l Metre m
Volume V Metre cube M3

Physical quantity: magnitude and unit

: magnitude = number

Example: length = 100 m (magnitude: 100, unit: m)

Time = 4 hours (magnitude: 4, unit: h)

Area = 10.2 m2 (magnitude: 10.2, unit: m2)

Physical quantities can be divided into two categories:

Scalar quantities Vector quantities

Physical quantities that have magnitude only Physical quantities that have magnitude and
direction
Distance temperature Displacement
Time speed Velocity
Area energy Force
Length density Acceleration
Momentum

Unit: metric unit and imperial unit

- Metric unit : universal unit (s, m, K)

- Imperial unit : gallons, miles, feet, yards