- A physical quantity is a quantity that can be measured.

Base Quantities
- Base quantities are the quantities that are conventionally accepted as functionally independent of one another.
- It is a quantity that cannot be defined in term of other physical quantity. The base quantities and its units are as

2. Derived Quantities
A derived quantity is a Physics quantity that is not a base quantity. It is the quantities which derived from the base quantities through multiplying and/or dividing them.

How To Find Derived Unit

Example 1

Find the derived unit of density.

Answer :

Unit Conversion Area and Volume

EXERCISE 1

Convert the unit of length, area and volume below to the units given. a) 7.2 m = ____________cm b) 0.32 m2 = ____________cm2 c) 0.0012 m3 = ____________cm3 d) 5.6 cm = ____________m e) 350 cm2 = ____________m2 f) 45000 cm3 = ____________m3

Answer
a) 7.2 m = 7.2 x 102 cm b) 0.32 m2 = 0.32 x 104 cm2 = 3.2 x 103 cm2 c) 0.0012 m3 = 0.0012 x 106 cm3 = 1.2 x 103 cm3 d) 5.6 cm = 5.6 x 10-2 m e) 350 cm2 = 350 x 10-4 m2 = 3.5 x 10-2 m2 f) 45000 cm3 = 45000 x 10-6 m3 = 4.5 x 10-2 m3

Example Complete the following unit conversion a) 12 kmh-1 = __________ ms-1

b) 12 ms-1 = __________ kmh-1

1.2.3 Prefixes
Prefixes are the preceding factor used to represent very small and very large physical quantities in SI units.

FACTOR

...or in full ...

or in words

SI SI PREFIX SYMBOL

1,0E+24 1,0E+21 1,0E+18 1,0E+15 1,0E+12 1,0E+9 1,0E+6 1,0E+3 1,0E+2 1,0E+1 1,0E-1 1,0E-2 1,0E-3 1,0E-6 1,0E-9 1,0E-12 1,0E-15 1,0E-18 1,0E-21 1,0E-24

1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 1 000 000 000 000 000 000 1 000 000 000 000 000 1 000 000 000 000 1 000 000 000 1 000 000 1 000 100 10 0,1 0,01 0,001 0,000 001 0,000 000 001 0,000 000 000 001 0,000 000 000 000 001 0,000 000 000 000 000 001 0,000 000 000 000 000 000 001 0,000 000 000 000 000 000 000 001

septillion sextillion quintillion quadrillion trillion billion million thousand hundred ten tenth hundredth thousandth millionth billionth trillionth quadrillionth quintillionth sextillionth septillionth

yottazettaexapetateragigamegakilohectodecadecicentimillimicronanopicofemtoattozeptoyocto-

Y Z E P T G M k h da d c m n p f a z y

Example 1 Change value given into standard form. 1. 2,600 = 2. 75,300,000 =

3. 0.00023 =

4. 0.00000004121 =

Example 2 The frequency of the radio wave is 350M Hz. What is the frequency of the radio wave in Hz? Answer

1.3 Scalar and Vector Quantities

speed

energy

distance

density

Example of scalar quantities

mass

temperature

volume

Displacement

Acceleration

Velocity

Example of Vector quantities

Magnetic
Field

Force

Momentum

Precision - Ability of an instrument in measuring a quantity in a consistent manner with only a small relative deviation between readings.

Accuracy - Approximation of the measurement to the actual value for a certain quantity of Physics. Sensitivity - Ability to detect small changes in the quantity that is being measured.

Table above shows that the micrometer screw gauge is more accurate than the other measuring instruments.

The difference between precision and accuracy.

The accuracy of a measurement can be increased by

- Taking a number of repeat readings to calculate the mean value of the reading. - Avoiding the end errors or zero errors.

- Taking into account the zero and parallax errors.

- Using more sensitive equipment such as a vernier caliper to replace a ruler

1.4.2 Micrometer Screw Gauge

1.Range and Accuracy The range of a micrometer is 0-25mm. The accuracy of a micrometer is up to 0.01mm. How to Use a Micrometer? 1.Turn the thimble until the object is gripped gently between the anvil and spindle. 2.Turn the ratchet knob until a "click" sound is heard. This is to prevent exerting too much pressure on the object measured. 3.Take the reading.

Example 1

Reading of main scale = 5.5mm Reading of thimble scale = 0.28mm Actual Reading = 5.5mm + 0.28mm = 5.78mm

Example 2

Sleeve scale :

Thimble scale : .
Total reading : ...

Example 3