Physical Quantities,Units and

measurements
Physical quantity:
Any thing that can be ………………………. and is represented by its ……………………….. along
with a …………….. is called physical quantity.
Example table:
Measuring
S. No. Physical quantity magnitude unit
device/equation
Trundle Wheel,
Pedometer, Measuring
tape, Metre rule,
1. Length (l,x,d,s,h) 80 Metre (m)
Vernier caliper,
Micrometer screw
guage)
Top pan balance, lever
2. Mass (m, M) 45 Kilogram (kg)
balance
3. Time (t,T) 30 Second (s) Stopwatch
4. Current (I) 2 Ampere (A,mA) Ammeter
Kelvin (K),
5. Temperature (θ,t,T) 20 Thermometer
centigrade (°C)
6. Acceleration (a) 60 m s-2 a =(v-u) / t
7. Resistance (r, R) 2 Ohm (Ω) R=V/I

Categories of physical quantities: Two categories

Scalar Vector
Def: Physical quantities which need Def: Physical quantities which need
………………………. for complete ………………….. as well as
representation are called scalars. ………………………… for complete specification
Example: length, distance, mass, time, are called vectors.
speed, volume, density, work, all types of
Example: displacement, velocity, acceleration,
energies, power, frequency, wavelength,
Force (weight), moment of force (torque),
half-life, electrical resistance. gravitational/electrical/magnetic field strength,
electrical current
Measurement of length:
S. No. Measuring device Figure Degree of accuracy/ range

It works by having a wheel

which has
1. trundle wheel
a circumference of exactly
1 metre.

A pedometer is a device,
usually portable that counts
each step a person during
2. Pedometer motion.
distance = number of steps
× step length

Greater then 100 cm (1.0

3. Measuring tape
m)

4. Metre rule 0.1 cm to 100 cm

5. Vernier caliper up to 0.01 cm or 0.1 mm
6. Micrometer Screw Guage up to 0.01 mm or 0.001 cm
Metre rule: Do not neglect the dead space and parallax error while measuring lengths by metre rule.

Such space with out

any graduation is
called dead space.

Parallax error:
Meaning: Error in …………………………….
Error which arises when plane of …………………………. is not parallel to the plane
of ………………………………………..

Example: A

Remedy: Parallax error eliminates when line of sight is perpendicular to the scale.

Example question 1:
A student measures the length of a rod XY by holding it next to a metre rule.

The student writes down the length as 94.8 cm. Which statement is correct?
A The value is correct.
B The value is incorrect because it should be 95.2 cm.
C The value is incorrect because it should be in millimetres.
D The value is incorrect because the student should subtract the reading for end Y from the reading for
end X.

Note: For circular objects, a string is wrapped around it and then its length can be measured to
determine its circumference and then diameter or radius.

Example question 2:
A piece of cotton is measured between two points on a ruler.

When the length of cotton is wound closely around a pen, it goes round six times.

Length of string:…………………cm Circumference of pen:……………………cm

Radius of pen:……………………cm Diameter of pen:………………………….cm

2. Micrometer Screw Guage:

Working rules for measurement:

1. Measure the sleeve scale division just before the thimble (circular) scale.
2. Measure the thimble division exactly coinciding with the datum line of sleeve scale.
3. Multiply result of step 2 with 0.01 mm.
4. Add results of step 1 and step 3.

Example 1:

Answer: …………………… mm
Example 2:

Answer: …………………… mm
Worksheet:

Figure Measurement
Zero error:
Zero error arises when zero of thimble scale is not coinciding with the datum line and thimble’s
boundary is not along the zero of sleeve scale division if micrometer is fully closed. It is either +ve or
–ve.

Answer: ………………… mm

Positive zero error:

1. Zero of ……………………….. scale may be visible.

2. Boundary of …………………… scale is to the right of zero graduation of sleeve scale.

Answer :…………………… Answer :……………………

Disadvantage: It will measure the …………………… reading than the actual one.
Measurement: 1. Check the difference of graduations of the zero of thimble division and the datum
line of sleeve scale.
2. Multiply the result of step 1 with 0.01 mm.

Remedy: Measured zero error is ……………………… from the final reading to get the accurate one.

Negative zero error:

1. Zero of ……………………….. scale is not visible.

2. Boundary of …………………… scale is over the zero graduation of sleeve scale.

Answer :…………………… Answer :……………………

Answer :…………………… Answer :……………………

Disadvantage: It will measure the …………………… reading than the actual one.
Measurement: 1. Check the difference of graduations of the zero of thimble division and the datum
line of sleeve scale.
2. Multiply the result of step 1 with 0.01 mm.

Remedy: Measured zero error is ……………………… to the final reading to get the accurate one.

**************************************

Volume: (def.) Space occupied by matter is called volume.

Symbol: V
Units: m3 for solids and litre for fluids.
P.S. scalar
Measurement:
1. Solids:
(a) Regular solids: Solids whose dimensions can easily be measured are called regular solids.
Note: The volume of regular solids can be found by mathematical formula.

S.No. Regular solids Formula

1. Cuboid V=l×w×h
2. Cube V = l3
3. Cylinder V = πr2h
4. Sphere V =(4/3) πr3

(b) Irregular solids: Solids whose dimensions can not easily be measured are called irregular
solids.
Note: Their volume can be found by displacement method.
(b-1) Volume of irregular small objects:

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Step 4 Step 5

(b-2) Volume of irregular heavy solids: Displacement can method

Graduate
beaker initially
empty

Step 1 Step 2

2. Volume of liquids:
Since liquids have ………………………. volume and can be obtained by pouring them in
graduated cylinder, beaker, pipette, burette, flask etc.

……………. …………….. ..……………… ………………… ..……………..

Mass:
Def. Quantity of matter in a body is called mass. (It is a measure of the amount of substance in a body.)
OR
Symbol: m or M
S.I. Unit: Kilogram (kg)
P.S.: Scalar
Measuring device:
1. Top-pan balance or digital balance:

2. Lever balance /physical balance:

Principle of lever balance:

………………………………………………………………………

Time:
Symbol: t or T (t - …………………………… & T - ……………………………………………….)
S.I. Unit: second (s)
P.S. Scalar
Measuring device:
(a) Digital stopwatch:

Akhtar Mahmood
Akhtar Mahmood

Show the display when time is 106.6 s

(b) Analogue stopwatch:

(c) Digital/Analogue clock/watch:

(d) Time period of an oscillating body:

Oscillation/vibration:

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………
 Types of oscillation:

1) ……………………………………………………………………………………………......

2) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..

3) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..

4) ………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Planes of oscillation:

1) ………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

2) ………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………..………………………………………………

Measuring technique:

1. Measure time for number of oscillations, say 20 at least two times and get their average. The
averaged result is divided by 20 to get time period. i.e.

t1 = ……………. s , t2 = ……………. s , < t > = …………….. = ………….. s

T = < t > /20 = …………….. s

2. Always start/stop measuring the time from mean (equilibrium position because here the speed
of oscillationg body is maximum and reaction time is minimum.

Example Question 1:
Two digital stopwatches X and Y, which record in minutes and seconds, are used to time a race.
The readings of the two stopwatches, at the start and at the end of the race, are shown.

Which statement about the time of the race is correct?

A Both stopwatches record the same time interval.
B Stopwatch X recorded 10 s longer than stopwatch Y.
C Stopwatch Y recorded 10 s longer than stopwatch X.
D Stopwatch Y recorded 50 s longer than stopwatch X.

Example Question 2:
A boy is fishing in a river. When he starts fishing one morning, the boy’s wristwatch is as shown in
Fig. 1.1. When he finishes his morning’s fishing, the wristwatch is as shown in Fig. 1.2.

For how many minutes was the boy fishing?

number of minutes = ................................................ [2]

 Measurement Techniques

1 A student has been asked to determine, as accurately The length QR and the width RS of the tank are known.
as possible, the volume of a piece of wire. The wire What other distance needs to be measured in order to
is about 80 cm long and about 0.2 cm in diameter. be able to calculate the volume of the water?
Which measuring instruments should the student use? A ST B SV C TU D TV
6.
The diagram shows part of a micrometer screw gauge.
length diameter

A metre rule micrometer

B metre rule vernier callipers
C micrometer vernier callipers
D vernier callipers micrometer
What is the reading shown?
A 5.31mm B 5.79mm C 5.81mm D 6.31mm
A floor is covered with square tiles. The diagram
2. shows a ruler on the tiles.
7. The diagram shows a micrometer screw gauge.

How long is one tile?

A 3 cm B 6 cm C 9 cm D 12 cm

3. What is the reading shown?

A 5.25 mm B 5.48 mm C 7.02 mm D 7.48mm

8. A micrometer screw gauge is used to measure the

diameter of a copper wire. The reading with the wire in
position is shown in diagram 1. The wire is removed
and the reading is shown in diagram 2.

In the figure above, the correct reading should be

taken from the position labelled What is the diameter of the wire?
AP BQ CR DS A 1.90mm B 2.45mm C 2.59mm D 2.73mm
4. The diagrams above show how the volume of a small 9. A stopwatch is used to time a race. The diagrams show
irregular-shaped stone is measured. the watch at the start and at the end of the race.

The volume of the irregular-shaped stone is

A 32 cm3 B 44 cm3 C 76 cm3 D 108 cm3.
5. A glass tank contains some water

How long did the race take?

A 45.7 s B 46.0 s C 46.5 s D 47.0 s
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
DENSITY {© AM-2005} MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]

Density:
Def. Mass per unit volume is called density.
Symbol: ρ
Formula: ρ=m
V
Units: kg /m3 (kg m-3)
P.S. Scalar
Dependance:
(i) Mass of body: ρ α m for constant volume.

ρ / kg m-3

m / kg

(ii) Volume of the body: ρα 1 for constant mass.

V

ρ / kg m-3 ρ / kg m-3

V / m3 1 / m-3
V
Measurement of density:
1. Measure Mass of the body (Already done in measurements’ topic)
2. Measure Volume of the body (Already done)
3. Divide the measured mass by its volume to calculate density.

Importance of density:
1. To check the purity of a substance:
Example: Mr. Akhtar has just bought a gold ornament from Mr. Javed who is a shady second-hand
dealer. Mr. Akhtar decides to test whether the ornament is made of gold. The results of his measurements
are shown below.
• Mass or ornament = 910 g
• Volume of ornament = 70 cm3
(a) Calculate the density of his measurement.

ρ = …………………………
(b) The ornament looks golden on the surface. Suggest what Mr. Akhtar might find if he cuts it in half.
• Density of gold = 19.3 g cm-3
• Density of lead = 11.6 g cm-3

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
DENSITY {© AM-2005} MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]
2. To check the Principle of floatation.
➢ If ρobject > ρliquid , the object will ___________________.
➢ If ρobject < ρliquid , the object will ___________________.
➢ If ρobject = ρliquid , the object will ______________________________________. {not in syllabus}

Example:A solid of density 900 kg m-3 floats, as shown, in oil. The oil floats on water (density 1000 kg m-3).

solid
oil
A

water
oil
The density of the oil, in kg m-3, could be
A 850 B 900 C 950 D 1050

3. It determines the compactness of material.

Solids have greater density than gases because molecules of solids are closely packed as compared to
gases having same volume.

CIE PAST PAPER QUESTIONS

1. The mass of a measuring cylinder and its contents are determined before and after putting a stone in it.
measuring cylinder

same volume stone

of water

balance

Measurements using the apparatus shown can be used to calculate the density of
A the liquid only B the stone only
C both the liquid and the stone D neither the liquid nor the stone

2. Some students measure the masses and the volumes of different sized samples of a type of wood.
Which graph shows their results?

Other references: Paper1 (Q.1 / June 1996), (Q.4 / Dec. 1996), (Q. 4 /June 1999), (Q. 5 / Dec. 2002),
(Q.5/Nov. 2003), (Q.5/June 2004), (Q.7 / Nov. 2004), (Q.7/Nov. 2005)
{Check them from topic 1 of past papers book or past papers booklet compiled by Mr. Akhtar Mahmood}
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
DENSITY {© AM-2005} MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]

1. An astronaut on the Moon is measuring the density of an irregularly shaped rock. He finds that the
volume of the rock is 80 cm3 (8.0 x 10-5 m3) and its mass is 0.44 kg. What is the density of the rock?

2. A cube of volume 0.080 m3 is made of material of density 200 kg m-3. calculate,

(i) the mass of the cube,
(ii) the length of its one side.

3. A block of concrete 0.4 m long, 0.3 m wide and 0.1 m high has a density of 2500 kg m-3. Calculate its
mass and then its weight on the surface of Earth.

4. A 500 cm3 glass flask is filled with oxygen and weighed. The mass is found to be 50.72 g. By means
of a vacuum pump, the gas is then removed and the glass flask reweighed. The new mass is found to
be 50 g. Calculate the density of oxygen in
(i) g cm-3 (ii) kg m-3

5. The mass of an empty measuring cylinder is 60 g. When 30 cm3 of Olive oil is poured into it, the total
mass is 87.6 g. Calculate the density of olive oil in g cm-3.

6. The diagram shows an oil tank.

It contains 1.2 m3 of oil of density 800 kg m-3. Calculate,

(a) the mass of the oil, (b) the weight of the oil.

7. A measuring cylinder contains 100 cm3 of water. An irregularly shaped object of mass 70g is lowered
into the cylinder. Given that the density of the object is 7 g cm-3 and that it is completely immersed,
calculate the new reading on the measuring cylinder.

8. A paper box has a 10 cm square base and contains water to a height of 10 cm. A piece of rock of
mass 600 g is lowered into the water and the level rises to 12 cm.
(a) What is the volume of water displaced by the rock?
(b) What is the volume of the rock?
(c) Calculate the density of the rock.

9. A piece of metal pipe is 3.0 m long, and its internal and external diameters are 20.0 mm and 24.0 mm
respectively. Calculate,
(a) the volume of the metal in this piece of the pipe.
(b) The mass of the pipe, given that the density of the metal is 8900 kg m-3.

10. A graduated vessel containing 60 cm3 of liquid weighs 0.80 N. When a stone is immersed in the
liquid the total weight of the vessel and its contents is 1.2 N and the liquid vessel rises to the 80 cm 3
mark. Using these results, calculate the density of the stone. (Take the weight of 1kg to be 10N)
*************************************
ANSWERS
1. 3
5.5 x 10 kg 4. (i) 1.44 x 10 g cm-3
-3 7. 110 cm3 9. (b) 3.68 kg
2. (i) 16 kg (ii) 1.44 kg m -3 8. (a) 200 cm3 10. 2.0gcm-3
(ii) 4.3 x 10-1 m 5. 0.92 g cm-3 (b) 200 cm3
3. 30 kg, 300 N 6. (a) 960 kg (c) 3.0 g cm-3
(b) 9.60 x 103 N 9. (a) 4.14 x 10-4 cm3
 CIE Past papers Questions (MCQs) Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
[email protected]

1. A student collects stones and finds their density. What is the density of the metal?
Which apparatus is needed to measure the mass A 0.67 g / cm3 B 1.5 g / cm3
3
and the volume of the stones? C 2.0 g / cm D 6.0 g / cm3
Mass volume {Q.6/June 2008}
A newton meter measuring cylinder
and water The mass of a measuring cylinder is measured
6. before and after pouring a liquid into it.
B newton meter ruler and calipers
C top-pan balance measuring cylinder
and water

D top-pan balance ruler and calipers

{Q.7/June 2011/11 & 12 variant}

2. A box has an internal volume of 1000 cm3. When

a solid object is placed in the closed box, the
volume of air in the box is 520 cm3.
The density of the object is 8.00 g / cm3.

What is the density of the liquid?

A 0.79 g / cm3 B 1.3 g / cm3
C 1.4 g / cm 3
D 2.2 g / cm3
{Q.6/Nov 2008}

What is the mass of the object? A student does an experiment to estimate the
A 60.0g B 3840g C 4160g D 8000g 7. density of an irregularly-shaped stone.
{Q.8/Nov.2010/11 & Q. 11 of 12 variant} Which items of equipment are needed?
A a balance and a measuring cylinder containing
3. A measuring cylinder contains 118 cm3 of water. water
When a small object is fully immersed in the B a balance and a ruler
water, the reading goes up to 132 cm3. The object C a ruler and a measuring cylinder containing
has a mass of 42 g. water
What is the density of the object? D only a measuring cylinder containing water
{Q.6/June 2007}
8. A cube of side 2.0 cm is placed on a balance.

{Q.7/June 2009}

A room measures 4.0 m × 3.0 m × 2.0 m. The

4. density of the air in the room is 1.3 kg / m3.
What is the mass of air in the room?
A 0.054kg B 18kg C 24kg D 31kg
{Q.7/Nov 2009}

A lump of metal has a mass of 210 g. It is lowered What is the density of the cube?
5.
into a measuring cylinder containing water. The A 0.90 g / cm3 B 1.2 g / cm3
3
level of the water rises from 35 cm3 to 140 cm3. C 1.8 g / cm D 3.6 g / cm3

The diagram shows a rectangular block of density

2 g / cm3.

What is the mass of the block?

A2g B6g C 14 g D 24 g
 DENSITY Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
Q.1 (a) An unopened bottle of olive oil has MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]
a mass of 0.97 kg. The empty bottle
has a mass of 0.51 kg.
Calculate the mass of the olive oil.

mass of olive oil = .................................. kg

(b) The olive oil is poured into three 250 cm3 measuring cylinders. The first two cylinders are filled to the 250 cm3
mark.The third is shown in Fig. 1.2.

Fig. 1.2
(i) What is the volume of the olive oil in the third measuring cylinder?
volume = ..................................cm3
(ii) Calculate the volume of the olive oil in the unopened bottle.

volume = ..................................cm3
(iii) Calculate the density of the olive oil. Express your answer to 2 significant figures.

density = ..................................
Q.2 In an experiment to find the density of some oil, a student takes the following readings.

Fig. 2.1 fig. 1.2

mass of empty measuring jug = 610 g mass of jug containing 500cm3 of oil = 1020 g

(a) (i) Calculate the mass of oil in the jug.

mass of oil =........................ g

(ii) Calculate the density of the oil.

density of oil =......................................

(iii) How could the volume of the oil be more accurately measured than with the measuring jug?

..................................................................................................................................................................................
(b) Water is more dense than oil.
On Fig. 3, mark approximately where the surface of the same mass of water would be if it replaced the oil.

fig. 3
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
DENSITY MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]

Q.3 A packaging company purchases corrugated cardboard boxes in which to pack its goods.
The boxes are not made up when they are delivered, but are flat, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

Fig. 3.1

(a) A bundle of these boxes measures 0.60m x 0.50 m x 0.20 m and has a mass of 7.2 kg.
(i) Calculate the volume of the bundle of boxes.

volume = .....................................
(ii) Calculate the density of the corrugated cardboard.

density = .....................................
(b) Corrugated cardboard is made up of 3 sheets of thick paper stuck together. Fig. 3.2 shows an enlarged
view of the edge of a sheet of corrugated cardboard.

Fig. 3.2
(i) Here is an incomplete sentence about the paper.
The density of the paper is................................... that of the corrugated cardboard.
Which of the words below correctly complete the sentence? Tick one box.

greater than the same as less than

(ii) Explain your answer to (b) (i).

........................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................

Q.4 The mass of air in a classroom is 500 kg. The density of air is 1.2 kg/m3.
(a) (i) Define the term density.
.....................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................
(ii) Calculate the volume of air in the classroom.

volume = ......................................