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Units and Measurement.
Units and Measurement.
standardized way to quantify and compare physical quantities. Here are the key concepts related
to units and measurement:
1. SI Units: The International System of Units (SI) is the modern form of the metric system, widely
used in science and industry. It provides a consistent set of base units and derived units for
measuring physical quantities.
Base Units: These are the fundamental units for seven basic physical quantities:
Length: meter (m)
Mass: kilogram (kg)
Time: second (s)
Electric current: ampere (A)
Temperature: kelvin (K)
Amount of substance: mole (mol)
Luminous intensity: candela (cd)
Derived Units: These are units derived from combinations of base units, such as:
Area: square meter (m²)
Volume: cubic meter (m³)
Speed: meters per second (m/s)
Density: kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³)
2. Prefixes: SI units can be modified using prefixes to represent quantities that are larger or smaller
than the base unit. Common prefixes include kilo- (k), mega- (M), milli- (m), micro- (μ), and
nano- (n).
4. Accuracy and Precision: Accuracy refers to how close a measured value is to the true value,
while precision refers to the degree of repeatability or reproducibility of measurements. High
precision indicates consistent results, while high accuracy indicates results close to the true
value.
5. Significant Figures: Significant figures are digits in a numerical value that carry meaningful
information about the precision of a measurement. Rules for determining significant figures help
convey the uncertainty associated with a measured quantity.
6. Dimensional Analysis: Dimensional analysis is a method used to check the correctness of
equations and perform unit conversions by ensuring that units are consistent throughout
calculations.