IGCSE-PHYSICS by M.

Saqib
 MEASUREMENT
Base & Derived Physical Quantities
Prefixes
Standard form (Scientific Notation)
Significant Figures
Rounding Off
Measuring Length (meter rule, measuring tape, micrometer)
Measuring Time
Measuring Volume
Base & Derived Physical Quantities

Physical Quantity: A physical quantity is some thing which can be

measured, eg mass, length, force etc
Base Physical Quantities: These are the fundamental measurable
quantities
Derived Physical Quantities: These quantities are derived/made
from other base and derived physical quantities

• Speed = distance(length)/time
• Speed is a derived physical
quantity made of
distance(length) and time which
are both base physical
quantities
Prefixes

1000,000m
1000x1000m = 1000Km
1000,000m = 1Mm
Standard/Exponential Form
 Significant Figures
RULES FOR SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
1. All non-zero numbers ARE significant. The number 33.2 has THREE
significant figures because all of the digits present are non-zero.
2. Zeros between two non-zero digits ARE significant. 2051 has FOUR
significant figures. The zero is between a 2 and a 5.
3. Leading zeros are NOT significant. They're nothing more than "place
holders." The number 0.54 has only TWO significant figures. 0.0032
also has TWO significant figures. All of the zeros are leading.
4. Trailing zeros to the right of the decimal ARE significant. There are
FOUR significant figures in 92.00.
5. Trailing zeros in a whole number with no decimal shown
are NOT significant. Writing just "540" indicates that the
zero is NOT significant, and there are only TWO significant
figures in this value.
6. For a number in scientific notation: N x 10x, all digits
comprising N ARE significant by the first 6 rules; "10" and
"x" are NOT significant. 5.02 x 104 has THREE significant
figures: "5.02." "10 and "4" are not significant.
 Rounding Off Data
• Data is rounded off to a particular number of
significant figures or decimal place
• Rounding off 7.68 to two significant figures will give
7.7
• Rounding off 3.763 to 3 significant figures will give
3.76
• Rounding off 465.7 to two significant figures will give
470
 Measuring Length
• Meter Rule
• Measuring Tape
• Vernier Calipers
• Micrometer Screw gauge
Instrument Minimum Maximum Measurement
Measurement (LC)
Meter Rule 0.1cm = 1mm Up to 1m

Measuring Tape 0.1cm = 1mm Up to several meters

Vernier Calipers 0.01cm = 0.1mm Up to several cm depending

on main scale
Micrometer 0.001cm =0.01mm 2.5 to 5cm
Using Meter Rule

To find the length of pencil

Length = Final – Initial = 12 – 1 = 11cm

NOW YOUR TURN:

FIND THE LENGTH OF THE BLOCK AND THE ROD XY
The Error in measurement:
• Parallax Error: It is caused by wrong position
of eye. The line of sight of eye should always
be perpendicular (at 90 degree) to the scale
 Vernier Calipers
Least count of Vernier calipers is Taking Measurement
0.1mm = 0.01cm

VIDEO LINK:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHUrTHYehvI
Vernier Calipers
Micrometer Screw Gauge

• Least count of micrometer is Taking Readings

0.01mm = 0.001cm
Micrometer Screw Gauge
 Measuring Volume
Volume Of a Regularly Shaped Solid • Volume of Sphere =r3
The dimensions are measured using
a regular length measuring device
and then the formula is used
Volume of a Cube = L x L x L
• Volume of Cylinder = r2 x h

Volume of a cuboid = L x W x H • Volume of Cone/Pyramid

= 1/3 x Base Area x Height
= r2 x h
 Measuring Volume
Volume of liquid Using Measuring Cylinder
• Always measure the lower meniscus
• Line of sight of eye should be perpendicular to scale (Parallax error)
• The narrower the cylinder, more accurate is the reading
 Measuring Volume
Volume of Irregularly shaped solid using Measuring Cylinder
• Put some water in a measuring cylinder
and note its volume (V1)
• Immerse the irregularly shaped object in
it and note the new volume (V2)
• Volume of object is obtained by
subtracting the two
V = V2 – V1
 Measuring Time
Time Measuring Instruments:
Time intervals are measured by stop watch. Stop watches are digital and
analogue. An analogue stop clock can measure 1/10th of a second. A digital
stopwatch can measure up to 1/100th of a second.
Measuring Small Time Intervals: (Measuring Period of Pendulum)
To measure small time interval like (Time) period of pendulum,
there is a huge probability of human reflex error. To avoid
it, instead of taking time for one oscillation, we measure
time for several oscillations and then we divide it by the
number of oscillations.
Time for 20 oscillation = 30s
Time for 1 oscillation = 30/20 = 1.5s