Lesson 1.

Units of
Measurement

General Physics 1
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
On July 23, 1983, Air
Canada Flight 143
ran out of fuel
midway through its
flight due to
company failures,
human error, and
confusion with units.
2
Launched in
December 1998,
NASA’s Mars Climate
Orbiter mission
failed due to a
navigation error
caused by the failure
to convert English
unit into the metric
unit.
3
Measurements are observed daily from speed
limits on highways to mass of grocery items.

4
 Measurements and units are
essential not only in science but
also in other several fields.
These extensive usage of
measurement requires a
reference standard.

5
Why is it important to have
a standard system of
measurement?

6
 Learning Competency
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the
following:

● Solve measurement problems involving

conversion of units (STEM_GP12EU-Ia-1).

7
 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the
following:

● Explain the importance of a standard system

of measurement.

● Discuss the SI units.

● Solve problems involving conversion of units.

8
 Measurement

● Early Babylonian and Egyptian records show

that length was first measured with the forearm
(cubit), hand (palm and span) and the finger
(digit). The cycles of the Sun, moon and other
celestial bodies were used for time measures.
● This can result to varying outcomes and may
even be the source of disputes.

9
Measurement

● It is a process of assigning a
quantity to describe a property of
an object by comparing it with a
standard.

● A standard should be universal and

does not change with time. 10
International System or SI

● It is the standard system of

measurement for the fundamental
quantities abbreviated from
Système International.
● It is established in 1960.
● It is also called as the “metric
system”. 11
 SI Base Units

SI base units with their corresponding symbols

Quantity Typical symbol Unit Symbol

time t second s

length l, x, r, etc. meter m

mass m kilogram kg

electric current I, i ampere A

12
 SI Base Units

SI base units with their corresponding symbols

Quantity Typical symbol Unit Symbol

thermodynamic
T kelvin K
temperature

amount of
n mole mol
substance

luminous
Iv candela cd
intensity
13
Remember ● Typical symbols of quantities

are usually written in italics and

may vary in different
references.

● Symbols for the units are

always written in an upright
(roman) font and are
mandatory.
14
 SI Units

Different definitions of base units used in the past

posed several limitations:

● Artefacts may be lost or damaged.

● Some definitions are highly abstract and

idealized.

15
Today, base units are
defined using the
defining constants.
16
What are the seven SI base
units?

17
 SI Base Units

The SI comprises a coherent system of units

of measurement starting with seven base
units, which are the TIME (s - symbol),
LENGTH (m-metre), MASS (kilogram- kg),
ELECTRIC CURRENT (A - Ampere),
TEMPERATURE (K, Kelvin), MOLE (mol,
amount of substance), and a CANDELA
(cd, luminous intensity). 18
 SI Base Units

Second (s)
the time required for 9 192 631 770 cycles of
microwave radiation in cesium-133 atoms.

Meter (m)
the distance traveled by light in a vacuum in
1/299 792 458 second

19
 SI Base Units

Kilogram
● Shown on the right is a
replica of the
International Prototype
Kilogram (IPK) used since
the 19th century.
● Kilogram was redefined
in May 2019.

20
SI Base Units

Kilogram (kg)
redefined by taking the fixed
numerical value of the Planck
constant h to be 6.626 070 15 ✕
10−34 .
21
 SI Base Units

Ampere (A)
defined by taking the fixed numerical
value of the elementary charge e to
be 1.602 176 634 ✕ 10−19 when
expressed in the unit C, equivalent to
the product of current (A) and time
(s). 22
SI Base Units

Kelvin (K)
defined by taking the fixed
numerical value Boltzmann
constant k to be 1.380 649 ✕
10−23 .
23
 SI Base Units

Mole (mol)
one mole contains exactly 6.022
140 76 ✕ 1023 elementary
entities, which is the fixed value
of the Avogadro constant.
24
 SI Base Units

Candela (cd)
defined by taking the fixed numerical
value of the luminous efficacy of
monochromatic radiation with
frequency of 540 ✕ 1012 Hz.

25
How do you express
very small or very large
quantities?

26
Prefixes Used with SI Units

● Prefixes are added to the base units

to make the value of the unit
smaller or larger.

27
 Prefixes Used with SI Units

Prefixes for powers of ten used with the SI units

Abbreviati Abbreviatio
Power Prefix Power Prefix
on n

10–24 yocto y 10–15 femto f

10–21 zepto z 10–12 pico p

10–18 atto a 10–9 nano n

28
 Prefixes Used with SI Units

Prefixes for powers of ten used with the SI units

Abbreviati Abbreviatio
Power Prefix Power Prefix
on n

10–6 micro μ 10–1 deci d

10–3 milli m 103 kilo k

10–2 centii c 106 mega M

29
 Prefixes Used with SI Units

Prefixes for powers of ten used with the SI units

Abbreviati Abbreviatio
Power Prefix Power Prefix
on n

109 giga G 1018 exa E

1012 tera T 1021 zetta Z

1015 peta P 1024 yotta Y

30
 Conversion Factors

● Length ● Mass
1 cm = 10 mm 1 kg = 1000 g
1 km = 1000 cm 1 slug = 14600 or 14.6 kg
1 km = 1000 m 1 km = 1000 m = 3.280.84 ft
1 mi = 5280 ft 1 metric ton = 1000 kg
1 ft = 12 in = 30.48 cm ● Time
1 in = 2.54 cm
1 min = 60 s
1 m = 1000 mm
1 h = 60 mins = 3600 s
1 day = 24 h = 1440 mins =
86400 s
1 year = 365 days 31
 Conversion Factors

● Area
● Volume
1m2 = 10000 cm2 = 10.76ft2
1 m3 = 1000000 cm3= 1000
1 in2 = 6.45 cm2
L
1ft2 = 144 in2 = 929 cm2
1 L = 1000 cm3 = 1,056 qt
1 gal = 4 qt 3.785 L
● Power ● Force
1 hp = 746 W = 550 ft. 1lbs 1N = 100000 dynes
1 MW = 1000 W 1 lb = 4.45 N
1GW = 1000000 W 1 kg mass = 2.2 lb

32
Tips

● Try to memorize the common

prefixes and their equivalent
values and abbreviations such as
femto- to centi-, and kilo- to giga-.
● These prefixes are commonly
encountered both in physics and
in everyday life situations.
33
 Other Systems of Measurement

● The British Imperial system or imperial units are

used limitedly in some countries.
● It was established from the Weights and
Measures Act of 1824 and was continuously
reformed.
● While the British continue to refine their
measurement, the Americans adopted the units
from the act of 1824 and called it the U.S.
customary units.
34
Other Systems of Measurement

35
 Other Systems of Measurement

Examples of imperial and U.S. customary units with their

metric equivalent

Unit Abbreviation Metric Equivalent

pound lb 4.448 N

slug slug 14.59 kg

ounce oz 28.350 grams

36
 Other Systems of Measurement

Examples of imperial and U.S. customary units with their

metric equivalent

Unit Abbreviation Metric Equivalent

1 609 m or 1.609
mile mi
km

foot ft 30.48 cm

inch in 2.54 cm

37
Remember

● Most of the quantities in

examples and problems require
the use of SI units.
● The Imperial and U.S.
customary units may be
occasionally mentioned but use
the SI units as much as you
can.
38
Why is it important to
convert units?

39
 Conversion of Units

● An equation or expression should

always be consistent with the units
to correctly solve it.

● Units can be treated as algebraic

quantities that can cancel each
other. 40
 Conversion of Units

Suppose you want to convert 5.0 inches to

centimeter given that 1 inch is equivalent
to 2.54 centimeters.

41
 Conversion of Units

It can be converted as follows:

42
 Conversion of Units

It can be converted as follows:

The unit “inch” is placed in the denominator so

that it cancels the unit from the original value.

43
 Conversion of Units

It can be converted as follows:

The remaining unit “centimeter” is the desired

result.

44
 Conversion of Units

Suppose you want to convert 55 meters to

kilometers.

● From the table of prefixes, 1 kilometer is equal

to 103 meters.

● The conversion is as follows:

45
 Conversion of Units

The values in the numerator and the denominator

of the conversion factor can be interchanged to get
the desired unit.

46
 Conversion of Units

The unit “kilometer” is placed in the denominator

to cancel the original unit.

47
 Conversion of Units

The desired unit “meters” remains.

48
How are units
converted?

49
 Let’s Practice!

A common housefly is 5.0 mm long. How long

is it in meters?

50
 Let’s Practice!

A common housefly is 5.0 mm long. How long

is it in meters?

The housefly is 5.0✕10-3 m or 0.005 m long.

51
 Let’s Practice!

A three-story building is 10 feet tall. How

high is it in meters?

52
 Let’s Practice!

A three-story building is 10 feet tall. How

high is it in meters?

The building is 3.048 m high.

53
 Let’s Practice!

A car is traveling in the North Luzon

Expressway (NLEX) at a speed of 35 km/h. Is
the driver exceeding the speed limit of 17
m/s?

54
 Let’s Practice!

A car is traveling in the North Luzon

Expressway (NLEX) at a speed of 35 km/h. Is
the driver exceeding the speed limit of 17
m/s?

The driver did not exceed the speed limit of 17

m/s since it is only traveling at 9.72 m/s.
55
Tips

● Always write the values with the

correct units when solving
problems.
● Carry the units throughout the
calculations.
● Any inconsistency in the units
might mean an error in the
process and requires double
checking in the calculations. 56
 Check Your
Understanding
A.Identify the correct word/s being described in
each item. Choose your answer on the WORD
POOL.

UNIT
DERIVED MEASUREME
AMPERE CANDELA SECOND CONVERSIO
QUANTITES NT
N

BRITISH INTERNATIO
KILOGRAM MOLE IMPERIAL NAL SYSTEM KELVIN METER
SYSTEM UNIT

57
 Check Your
Understanding
A.Identify the correct word/s being described in
each item.

58
 Check Your
Understanding
A.Identify the correct word/s being described in
each item.

direction

59
 Check Your
Understanding
A.Identify the correct word/s being described in
each item.

60
 Check Your
Understanding
B. Convert the following units to their
corresponding SI units.

1. The Philippines is 3 070 km away from Japan. What

is that in m.?
2. An Asian elephant has a mass of 370 slug. Convert
it into kg.
3. The Eiffel Tower is 1064 ft tall. What is that in m.?

61
 Check Your
Understanding
C. Convert the following units

1. 2.8 km = ______ m 6. 320 mm =______

cm
2. 675 in = ______cm 7. 34 h = ________
min
3. 105 kg = _______ g 8. 5 d = ______ h
4. 60 km/s = _____ m/s 9. 60 MW = _______
W
5. 18 ft = ____ in 10. 20 m/s =_______
62
 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Measurement is a process of assigning a

quantity to describe a property of an object
by comparing it with a standard.

● A standard system of measurement is

important in providing a fundamental, stable,
and universal reference for units of
measurement. 63
 Let’s Sum It Up!

● The seven SI base units are second, meter,

kilogram, ampere, kelvin, mole, and candela.

● Derived quantities are based on the seven

fundamental quantities and are expressed
from the product of two or more base units.

64
 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Conversion of units is essential to make the

units within an equation consistent. A given
quantity is multiplied by a conversion factor,
arranged accordingly to cancel the unwanted
unit and to get the desired one.

65
Challenge Yourself

The height of a horse is

sometimes given in units of
“hands”. Is it a good standard
for length? Why? Why not?

66
Bibliography

Faughn, Jerry S. and Raymond A. Serway. Serway’s College Physics (7th ed). Singapore:
Brooks/Cole, 2006.

International Committee for Weights and Measures. SI Brochure (9th ed). France: Bureau
International des Poids et Mesures, 2019.
https://www.bipm.org/en/publications/si-brochure/

Knight, Randall Dewey. Physics for Scientists and Engineers: a Strategic Approach with
Modern Physics. Pearson, 2017.

Serway, Raymond A. and John W. Jewett, Jr. Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern
Physics (9th ed). USA: Brooks/Cole, 2014.

Young, Hugh D., Roger A. Freedman, and A. Lewis Ford. Sears and Zemansky's University
Physics with Modern Physics (13th ed). USA: Pearson Education, 2012.

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