MEASUREMENTS AND UNITS OF MEASURE

4.2 FUNDAMENTAL AND

Time Frame: 30 min DERIVED UNITS
Time Allotted: 1 min Actual Time: __________

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. differentiate between fundamental and derived quantities; and

2. enumerate the fundamental and derived quantities and their corresponding SI units.

Time Allotted: 4 min Actual Time: __________

Have you noticed that most of the things around us are quantified in a specific unit of measurement?
Try to observe the difference between the two sets of pictures (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

3-meter long steel tape 500-gram hotcake mix Timer in seconds unit
Image From: David, M. (2020). Steel tape Image From: David, M. (2020). Image From: David, M. (2020). Mobile phone timer
Measurements at home [Photograph].
[Photograph]. Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/2jA8gtL [Screenshot]. Retrieved from
https://flic.kr/p/2jA4Rjw
Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/2jA4Rew

Figure 1. Common units of measurements.

Learning Guide 4.2 page 1 of 6

 1200-watts flat iron Speedometer in km/h Pressure gauge in Pa unit
Image From: David, M. (2020). Flat iron wattage Image From: David, M. (2020). Image From: David, M. (2020).
Speedometer Pressure gauge [Photograph].
[Photograph]. Retrieved from
[Photograph]. Retrieved from
Retrieved from https://flic.kr/p/2jAa97t
https://flic.kr/p/2jA4RiK https://flic.kr/p/2jA8gu2

Figure 2. Common units of measurements.

Guide Questions:

1. How do you think are figures 1 and 2 similar in terms of measurement?

2. How do you think are the figures different in terms of the measurement shown?

Through this learning guide, you will be able to understand the two main types of measurement
quantities – the fundamental and derived quantities, along with its corresponding SI units.

Time Allotted: 10 min Actual Time: __________

Your day-to-day activities use various units of measurement. When you decide on the amount of
things that you will buy or avail, there are different measuring units used. In the store or supermarket,
grams and kilograms are the units used for mass. For the volume of liquid items, measurements are
expressed in milliliters or liters. Also, your household water consumption is expressed in cubic
meters. When having a road trip, you see road markers that show distances measured in kilometers
or speed limits expressed in kilometers per hour. Did you know that measurement quantities can be
categorized into two basic types?

In the previous lesson on The International System of Measurement (LG 4.1), the commonly used
method of measurement which is the metric system or SI was discussed. The SI includes fundamental
quantities and derived quantities which are described by base units and derived units, respectively. A
quantity is referred to as a part or portion of an object that can be measured.

Learning Guide 4.2 page 2 of 6

Science-inclined individuals use the SI or metric method of measurement throughout the world. SI
consists of units which form the base units and derived units of a coherent set. These two types of
quantities are commonly used measurements that you will be using when gathering quantitative data
in all laboratory experiments and scientific activities. Hence, it is vital for you to familiarize these
and how to differentiate these measurement quantities.

Two Basic Types of Quantity

1. Fundamental Quantities - these represent measurement where standard units of expression must
be indicated. These quantities are readily measured. These are also referred to as the base or basic
quantities. The unit of measurement for the fundamental quantities is called base units. There are
seven base units considered in the SI.

a) Mass (m) is a basic property of matter. It is the measure of the amount of matter contained
in it. The standard mass unit is kilogram, kg. One kilogram (kg) is the weight of 1 liter
(L) of water at 4 ° C and at one atmospheric pressure (atm). The mass of an object
remains the same even though the location of the object is altered with regard to
the earth's center. It is calculated using the triple balance of the beam or the equal balance
of the limb.

b) Length (l) is the distance between two distinct points. A metric ruler is used to obtain
the measurement. The width (w) is also the length, and the vertical distance is the height
(h). The meter (m) is the basic unit.

c) Time (t) is the regular interval between two consecutive points. Second(s), is the standard
unit of time. The second was described in terms of the motion of the earth, but instead it
was revised and contrasted with the vibrations of cesium atoms.

d) Temperature (T) is the measurement of an object's hotness or coldness. Technically it is

defined as a measure of a body's average kinetic energy. Kelvin (K) is the basic unit used
for this.

e) Electric current (I) is the measure of the flow of electrons or charges. For measurement
of current (expressed as Ampere, A) an ammeter is used.

f) Luminous intensity (E) represents the amount of illumination an object receives.

Candela (cd) is the unit of measure used for this.

g) Amount of substance (n) refers to the number of moles in a substance. Mole, or mol, is
the basic unit.

2. Derived Quantities – these are quantities that originate from or are results of the combination of
fundamental quantities after a set of operations. The unit of measurement for derived quantities
is called derived unit. Below is an example of how speed is derived from fundamental quantities:

Speed = Derived Unit: meter per second (m/s)

Learning Guide 4.2 page 3 of 6

 Table 1 summarizes the basic and derived quantities with their respective standard units of
measurements.

Table 1. The fundamental quantities and common derived quantities

Fundamental Quantities

Quantity Symbol Base Unit

Mass m kg (kilogram)

Length l m (meter)

Time t s (second)

Temperature T K (kelvin)

Electric current I A (ampere)

Luminous intensity E cd (candela)

Amount of substance n mol (mole)

Derived Quantities

Quantity Derivation Derived Unit

Area (A) LxW m2 (square meter)

Volume (V) LxWxH m3 (cubic meter)

Density (ρ) m/V kg/m3 (kilogram per meter cube)

Speed (v) d/t m/s (meter per second)

Acceleration (a) v/t m/s2 (meter per second squared)

Force (F) m(a) kg m/s2 (N, newton)

Pressure (P) F/A N/m2 (Pa, pascal)

Work (W) F(d) N m (J, joule)

Power (P) W/t N m/s (W, watt)

Learning Guide 4.2 page 4 of 6

 Activity
Time Allotted: 10 min
Actual Time: __________
Non-Graded Assessment: Quantities of Measurements at Home (Follow your teacher’s
instructions on what to do after completing this activity.)

Take an investigative tour around your house. Your task is to identify and make a list of
things or relevant items that contain or have measurements which may be expressed as
fundamental or derived quantities. You must take careful note and include in your list
their SI units of measure. Enumerate four (4) different measurements with at least two (2)
examples for each type of quantity. As a precautionary measure, avoid observing harmful
or hazardous objects. Ask for an adult supervision if necessary. Summarize your
observations using the table below.

What type of
SI Unit of Base Unit
Quantity?
Thing / Item Measurement or Derived
Fundamental or
Observed Unit?
Derived
Fundamental kg
5-kg Sack of Rice Base Unit
Quantity (kilogram)
Water m3 Derived
Consumption Derived Quantity
(cubic meter) Unit
Bill

1.

2.

3.

4.

Learning Guide 4.2 page 5 of 6

 Time Allotted: 5 min Actual Time: __________

In summary
• The metric system is the commonly used method of measurement. The modernized version of the
metric system is called International System of Measurements, officially abbreviated as SI.
• A part or portion of an object that can be measured is referred to as quantity.
• There are two basic types of quantity – the fundamental quantity and derived quantity.
• Fundamental or basic quantities are measurement where universal unit of expression must be
indicated. The unit of measurement for the fundamental quantities is called base units.
• Derived quantities come from the combination of fundamental quantities after a set of operations.
The unit of measurement for derived quantities is called derived units.
• Both the fundamental and derived units are used to express measurements. These measurement
quantities are essential in gathering and presenting quantitative data from different laboratory
experiments and scientific activities.

Malenab, R. G. (2008). Measurement. In R. G. Malenab, Basic Physics (Concepts with Experiments)

(pp. 6-7). Mandaluyong City: National Book Store.

Padua, A. L., & Crisostomo, R. L. (2006). Standard Units of Measure. In Practical and
Explorational Physics Modular Approach (pp. 12-13). Quezon City: Vibal Publishing
House, Inc.

Project EASE Chemistry. (n.d.). Module 1: Chemistry and you. Effective Alternative Secondary
Education. Department of Education.

Learning Guide 4.2 page 5 of 5

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