Form 4 Physics

Chapter 1

Introduction to Physics
• Physics is a branch of science that studies the physical
phenomena in the universe.

• Such as the formation of rainbow, the occurrence of

lighting and etc.

• Physical quantity is a quantity that can be measured.

• Number expressed in the scientific notation

• A x 10n where n is integer

1<<A<10
• Example: (a) 34000 = 3.4 x 104
(b) 0.721 = 7.21 x 10-1
• Example: (a) Express 2.15 km in cm.

(b) Express 3.2 ns in Ms.

 Base Quantity
• is a quantity which cannot be defined in terms of other
physical quantities.
 Derived Quantity
• is a quantity that is derived by multiplication or division, or both, of base
quantities.
• Scalar quantity is a quantity which has only magnitude
or size.

• Vector quantity is a quantity which has both magnitude

and direction.
 Error
• is the difference between the actual magnitude of a
physical quantity and the value obtained in the
measurement.
• 2 types: (a) random error
• Example: parallax error.
• (b) systematic error
• Example: zero error.
 Consistency
• is the ability of an instrument to give consistent readings
when the same physical quantity is measured more than
once.

Accuracy
• is the degree of how close a measurement is from the
actual value.
 Sensitivity
• is its ability to detect a small change in the quantity that
is being measured.
• Measuring instruments that have the smallest scale
division are the most sensitive.