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1b. Lecture Note on Measurements

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1b. Lecture Note on Measurements

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kingabramgwa
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Physics 101 Lecture Note

Topic - Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

 What is measurement? “Measurement is quantification or a means (rules) of


assigning a numerical value to represent the attribute of a quantity” e.g.
length (physical), e.g. temperature or wave function in quantum mechanics.
- how much there is or how many there are of something that can be
quantified.
 A quantity is a property ascribed to phenomena, bodies, or substances that
can be quantified. e.g. mass and electric charge.
 A physical quantity is a quantity that can be used in the mathematical
equations of science and technology.
 A unit is a definite magnitude of a physical quantity defined and adopted by
convention and/or law that is used as standard for measurement of a physical
quantity.
For example, length is a physical quantity. The metre is a unit of length that
represents a definite predetermined length. When we say 10 metres (or
10 m), we actually mean 10 times the definite predetermined length called
"metre".

Students to list quantities they are familiar with measuring.

 Why measure? Physics is a science of measurement. e.g. body


temperature/blood pressure by health personnel as indication of health, body
size by tailors for sowing clothes, speedometer in cars to avoid over-
speeding, fruits, groceries & meat at shopping malls, electricity consumption
etc for determining appropriate bills. Drugs/injection for adherence to
recommended dosage for patients etc.
 Difference between measuring and estimating. (Estimates are
approximate, not exact, fairly close to the actual but not quite accurate)
 Needs for standards and invariability or universally acceptable reference
e.g. meter length (hand span, feet, cubit, pace are not objective, depends on
who carries out the measurement, warm/cold is ambiguous in science)
 Show understanding that physical quantities consist of a numerical value and
a unit. i.e. Quantity = magnitude x unit. e.g. 5m, 10kg, 30s, 50oC etc.
 Measurements involve 3 things: attribute (being measured), instrument and
unit.
 Show that a physical quantity can be measured using different instruments
e.g. length with metre rule, micrometer, vernier calliper etc.
 Students to appreciate the same quantity could be measured in various units
e.g. length in metres, feet, miles etc.
 Basis for choice of appropriate instrument
- size e.g. time scale.
- precision of the measuring instrument etc.
 Emphasis on the use of the international system of units (S.I.) as the modern
metric system of measurement. (Mere mentioning of other non-SI system
e.g. CGS is adequate)
 SI prefixes and symbols (pico (p), nano (n), micro (µ), milli (m),
centi (c), deci (d), kilo (k), mega (M), giga (G), tera (T) to express decimal
submultiples and multiples)
 The division into two classes: base units and derived units.
 SI base quantities and units – The seven physical quantities of the SI
system by which all other physical quantities are defined:
(See table below for the following fundamental quantities, measuring
instruments, units, abbreviations)
length (meter)
mass (kilogram)
time (second)
electric current (ampere)
thermodynamic temperature (kelvin)
amount of substance (mole)
luminous intensity (candela)
 Derived units - obtained from products or quotients of base units e.g. area,
volume, velocity, density, acceleration, force, work, energy, power.
- Named units e.g. work (kg m2 s-2) and moment of force (kg m2 s-2)
 Uncertainties in measurement: errors and accuracies (simple treatment of
random, systematic and erratic errors) and how to reduce/eliminate such
errors.
- Need for repeat readings e.g. timing multiple oscillations. (Random)
- Start counting at 0 and not 1 for period of a simple pendulum.
- Avoiding zero errors on instruments (Systematic)
 Distinction between precision and accuracy.
- What is the smallest distance that can be measured for different length-
measuring instruments? That is the precision of the instrument.
- Accuracy of readings: How close is the value obtained from measurement
to the actual value.
 Mere mentioning of other non-SI units e.g. mile, inches, Fahrenheit etc.
 Use base units to check the homogeneity of physical equations.
 Listing of electrical quantities, measuring instruments and units.
 Handout: Summary of Key Quantities, Symbols and Units.
 Worksheets: Copies of classroom /take-home activity sheets.

SI BASE UNITS
Fundamental Quantity Unit Symbol Instrument
Length metre m metre rule
Mass kilogram kg beam balance
Time second s stop watch/clock
electric current ampere A ammeter
thermodynamic temperature Kelvin K thermometer
amount of substance mole mol chemical balance
luminous intensity candela cd photometer

SI PREFIXES
Factor Name Symbol Factor Name Symbol
1024 yotta Y 10-1 deci d
1021 zetta Z 10-2 centi c
1018 exa E 10-3 milli m
1015 peta P 10-6 micro µ
1012 tera T 10-9 nano n
109 giga G 10-12 pico p
106 mega M 10-15 femto f
103 kilo k 10-18 atto a
102 hecto h 10-21 zepto z
101 deka da 10-24 yocto y

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