Physical Quantity and Measurement

Physical Quantities and
Measurement
Definition
SMA/K BPK PENABUR Bandung
Quantity Physical
Quantity
can be basic derived

has a unit
measured
2
Basic quantity
length (SI unit: metre or m)
mass (SI unit: kilogram or kg)
time (SI unit: second or s)
Basic quantity temperature (SI unit: kelvin or K)
electric current (SI unit: ampere or A)
luminous intensity (SI unit: candela or cd)
amount of substance (SI unit: mol)
3
Derived quantities
quantity which is derived from the basic quantities
Derived quantity
example: force, energy, pressure, power, potential

difference, speed
4
Prefixes
Name Symbol Scaling Common Example

Factor
tera T 1012 Large computer hardrives can be terabytes in size.
giga G 109 Computer memories are measured in gigabytes.
mega M 106 A power station may have an output of 600 MW
(megawatts).
kilo k 103 Mass is often measured in kilogram (i.e. 1000 gram).
deci d 10-1 Fluids are sometimes measured in deciliter (i.e. 0.1
liter).
5
Prefixes
Name Symbol Scaling Common Example

Factor
centi c 10-2 Distances are measured in centimeters (i.e. 100 th of
a meter).
milli m 10-3 Time is sometimes measured in milliseconds.
micro m 10-6 micrometers are often used to measure
wavelengths of electromagnetic waves.
nano n 10-9 nanometers are used to measure atomic spacing.
pico p 10-12 picometers used to measure atomic radii.
6
Measurement
ruler or metre rule or tape metre
Length vernier callipers
micrometer screw
gauge
7
triple beam balance
Mass
digital balance
8
analogue stopwatch
Time
digital stopwatch
9
Vernier callipers
10
Vernier callipers
▸ Least count or the smallest scale: 0.1 mm or 0.01 cm.

▸ Uncertainty for single measurement is half of its least count: 0.05 mm or
0.005 cm.
▸ Reading: 2.470 ± 0.005 cm.
11
Example
0.06 cm 1.06 cm 6.43 cm
12
Micrometer Screw Gauge
▸ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGBDFU6vseI
▸ Least count or the smallest scale: 0.01 mm.
▸ Uncertainty for single measurement is half of its least count: 0.005 mm.
▸ Reading 1: 2.120 ± 0.005 mm.
▸ Reading 2: 2.640 ± 0.005 mm.
▸ Reading 3: 5.590 ± 0.005 mm.
13
Triple beam balance
62.4 g
14
Analogue Stopwatch
main scale
vernier scale
15
Precision vs accuracy
▸ The precision of a measurement is how close a number of measurements of the same quantity agree
with each other.
▸ The accuracy of a measurement is how close the measurement is to the true value of the quantity
being measured.
16
Error in measurement
17
Error in
measurement
Reaction
time
18
Systematic errors
▸ usually come from the measuring instruments.

▸ may occur because there is something wrong with the instrument or its data handling
system.
▸ relate to the accuracy of a measurement.
19
Zero error
▸ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnZVCyVgWm4
▸ arises when the measuring instrument does not start from exactly zero
▸ can be positive or negative
▸ must be subtracted from the reading to get the correct result of measurement
20
Incorrect calibration
Definition: a comparison between a known measurement (the standard)

Calibration
and the measurement using your instrument.
Refers to the act of evaluating and adjusting the precision and accuracy
of measurement equipment.
Purpose: to eliminate or reduce bias in an instrument's readings over a

range for all continuous values.
Consequences: If it is not done properly, it will not give accurate

measurements.
21
Incorrect calibration
22
Random errors
▸ are errors made by the person carrying out the measuring, and are usually down to
timing incorrectly, or reading the instrument incorrectly.
▸ relate to the precision of a measurement.
▸ can be minimized by repeatedly taking the readings.
23
Parallax error
▸ happens when a person took the wrong angle to

see the value pointed by an instrument.
24
Reaction time
▸ Definition: how long it takes for a person to react to a

stimulus changes in the person’s surrounding.
▸ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SVCXHM4mPw
25
Reaction time
26
Scientific Number
▸ 0.000000000000000124
Scientific number
▸ 253000000000000000
▸ 0.000000000000000124 = 1.24 × 10-16
▸ 253000000000000000 = 2.53 × 1017
27
Scientific Number
▸
▸ 0.000000000000000124 1.24 × 10-16
▸ 253000000000000000 2.53 × 1017
28
Significant Figures
▸ Significant figures of a number are those digits that carry meaning contributing to its
precision.
▸ All numbers are significant figures except for 0.
▸ 0.000243 has 3 significant figures
▸ 2.0350 has 5 significant figures
29
Significant Figures (Rounding Numbers)
▸ Round 25.124 into four SF. The answer will be 25.12.

▸ Round 2.526 into three SF. The answer will be 2.53.
▸ 25.42648 will be rounded into five significant figures, the answer will be
25.427
▸ 25.42644 will be rounded into five significant figures, the answer will be
25.426
30
Significant Figures (Rounding Numbers)
▸ 25674 into 2 SF
▸ 34521 into 2 SF
▸ 560921 into 3 SF
31
Significant Figures (Calculation)
▸ For addition and subtraction: the result will follow the number which has the
least decimal places.
Example:
4.2365 + 3.225 = 7.4615 = 7.462
25.3 + 12.125 = 37.425 = 37.4
76.4 – 24.125 = 52.275 = 52.3
32
▸ For multiplication and division: the result will follow the number which has the
least significant figures.
Example:
12.25 x 2.75 = 33.6875 = 33.7
25.13 x 4.52 = 113.5876 = 114
176.34 ÷ 4.5 = 39.1867 = 39
33
▸ If there are more than one type of operations, the rule must only be used in the
final operation for the final result.
▸ Scientific notation must be used if the rounding changes the true value of the
number.
34
▸ If a number with significant figures is multiplied or divided by an exact number,

then the result will follow the number with the significant figures.
Example:
The thickness of a book is 0.68 cm. What is the thickness of 6 similar books
grouped as one?
0.68 (number with 2 SF) × 6 (exact number)
= 4.08 = 4.1 (number with 2 SF)
35
▸ Square and square root must follow the initial number of SF.
36

Physical Quantity and Measurement

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Physical Quantity and Measurement

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Physical Quantities and

can be basic derived

quantity which is derived from the basic quantities

example: force, energy, pressure, power, potential

Name Symbol Scaling Common Example

Name Symbol Scaling Common Example

ruler or metre rule or tape metre

Length vernier callipers

triple beam balance

▸ Least count or the smallest scale: 0.1 mm or 0.01 cm.

0.06 cm 1.06 cm 6.43 cm

▸ usually come from the measuring instruments.

Definition: a comparison between a known measurement (the standard)

Purpose: to eliminate or reduce bias in an instrument's readings over a

Consequences: If it is not done properly, it will not give accurate

▸ happens when a person took the wrong angle to

▸ Definition: how long it takes for a person to react to a

▸ Round 25.124 into four SF. The answer will be 25.12.

▸ If a number with significant figures is multiplied or divided by an exact number,

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