Unit 1 - Introduction

Have you ever looked up and wondered why the sky is blue ?
Those who do study Physics?
Units and Measurements
In Physics, we are constantly measuring PHYSICAL QUANTITIES
using MEASURING INSTRUMENTS. When we measure something
we need to pay attention to the following:
1) To choose the right instrument for the right job.
2) To write down the unit after our measurement.
Using a Measuring instrument:
Make sure that you have the right instrument to measure
your quantity.
Always read the instrument at eye level to avoid errors.
Pay attention to the unit on the scale of your instrument
Three important physical quantities are
Length, Mass and Time.
Every physical quantity has its own UNIT. For example the unit
of length is the METRE, symbol (m). Mass is measured in
kilograms (kg) while Time is measured in seconds (s).

Length Area and Volume

Length is the long dimension of any object. The length of a
thing is the distance between its ends. It is measured in
metres. For example the length of the classroom you are in
right now is approximately 2.5 metres.

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Length can be measured using several measuring instruments.

Which instrument we use depends on the accuracy with which
we want to measure the length.

Micrometer Screw
Gauge

Ruler

Tape

Also, to measure long objects we do not use the centimetre

(cm). We can either use the metre (m) or the kilometre (m).
1 Km = 1000m
1 m = 100 cm
1 cm = 10 mm
Area:
The area of an object tells us how big the surface of that
object is. We can find the area of an object by using formulae:
Area of a square or rectangle.
Area of a circle

Area = length x breadth

Units cm2 or m2
Area = r2
Units cm2 or m2

Volume:
The volume of an object tells us the capacity of that object.
1 litre = 1000 cm3
We can find the volume of a regular shaped object using a
formula. A regular shaped object is an object which is
symmetrical in its shape.
Volume of a cube = Length x Breadth x Height
Units of volume cm3 or m3
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For irregularly shaped objects we cannot use a formula to find

their volume but we can use one of the following methods.
Measuring Cylinder Method
1)

Fill a measuring cylinder to a

known volume of water (V1).

2)

Drop the object inside the

measuring cylinder without spilling

any of the water.
3)

Take the new reading (V2).

4)

Volume of object = V2 V1

Using a displacement Can

1) Place a measuring cylinder below a
displacement can.
2) Fill the displacement can with
water until it overflows.
3) When the water stops
overflowing, place a clean
measuring cylinder below the
displacement can and drop the object
inside the can.
Take the reading of the displaced water inside the cylinder.
To determine the volume of an object that floats, first attach a
metal sinker to the object. Next, submerge the metal sinker
and measure the over-flow. Then submerge the object and
measure the total overflow. The volume of the object equals
the difference between the measurements.

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The volume of a liquid is often measured

a measuring cylinder

using

A measuring cylinder
Volume shown = 16ml
1. Keep the measuring cylinder vertical
2. Place your eyes level with the surface of
the
liquid
3. Read to the lower surface of the meniscus
(A meniscus is the tiny curve on the water surface where the
water touches the edge of the container)
Mass
Mass refers to the amount of matter or material present in an
object. It is measured in kilograms.
Mass can be measured using several measuring instruments.
Which instrument we use again depends on the accuracy with
which we want to measure the mass.

1 Kg = 1000 g
Time
Time is part of a measuring system used to sequence events and to
measure the duration of the events. It is measured in seconds. For
example, a lesson lasts 45 minutes which is equal to 45 x 60 = 2700
seconds.
Time is measured using a stopwatch.
Electronic stopwatches can be very
accurate.

1 day
= 24 hours
1 hour
= 60 minutes
1 minute = 60 seconds

Density
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Density depends on the weight of the individual atoms and

molecules making up the object, and how much space there is
between them. Density also depends on whether the object is
solid, filled with airpockets, or something in between.
Very dense substances such as lead and gold have large
densities whereas gases, which are less dense, have smaller
densities . Objects will change size, and therefore density, in
response to a change in temperature or pressure.
Which is heavier - plastic or lead ?
If we were given two identical blocks of plastic and lead, we
would notice that the block made from lead is heavier than that
made from plastic.
This means that lead has a higher DENSITY than plastic. The
particles are more closely spaced (more packed ).
We can find the density of an object using the formula:

mass
Density = volume
We measure density in g/cm or kg/m .
3

(rho) is the symbol for density

M is the symbol for mass
V is the symbol for volume

Floating and sinking

If the density of an object is MORE than the density of water
(or whatever the liquid is) it will sink. If its density is less than
water it will float.
The density of some oil is 0.8 g/cm3. The density of water is
1g/cm3. This means that oil will float on water. Some plastic is
found to have a density of 0.9 g/cm3. This means some plastic
will sink in the oil but float on the water.
Problems
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1) An object of mass 100g has a volume of 20cm 3. Find its

density.
2) The diagram shows a block of steel which is 20m long, 0.1m
wide and 0.1m high. If the density of steel is 8000kg/m 3, find
the mass of the steel block?
20m

0.1m

0.1m

3) A block of aluminum occupies a volume of 15.0 mL and

weighs 40.5 g. What is its density?
4) Mercury metal is poured into a graduated cylinder that holds
exactly 22.5 mL. The mercury used to fill the cylinder weighs
306.0 g. From this information, calculate the density of
mercury.
5) What is the weight of the ethyl alcohol that exactly fills a
200.0 mL container? The density of ethyl alcohol is 0.789
g/mL.
6) A rectangular block of copper metal weighs 1896 g. The
dimensions of the block are 8.4 cm by 5.5 an by 4.6 cm. From
this data, what is the density of copper?
7) A flask that weighs 345.8 g is filled with 225 mL of carbon
tetrachloride. The weight of the flask and carbon tetrachloride
is found to be 703.55 g. From this information, calculate the
density of carbon tetrachloride.
8) Calculate the density of sulfuric acid if 35.4 mL of the acid
weighs 65.14 g.
9) Find the mass of 250.0 mL of benzene. The density of
benzene is 0.8765 g/mL.
10) A block of lead has dimensions of 4.50 cm by 5.20 cm by
6.00 cm. The block weighs 1587 g. Front this inforination,
calculate the density of lead.

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11) 28.5 g of iron shot is added to a graduated cylinder

containing 45.50 mL of water. The water level rises to the 49.
10 mL mark, From this information, calculate the density of
iron.
12) What volume of silver metal will weigh exactly 2500.0 g. The
density of silver is 10.5 g/CM3.
Hydrometers.

13) A glass stopper has a mass of 55g and a volume of 11g .

a) What is the density of glass?
b) Explain how you might find the volume of the glass in the
stopper
14) A bar of steel measures 5cm x 5cm x 1m. If steel has a
density of 8g/cm3 what would be the mass of the bar?
15) Two liquids are poured into a beaker. Liquid A is seen to
float on top of liquid B. A golf ball is carefully dropped into
the beaker and comes to rest between the two liquids. A 10p
coin sinks to the bottom of the beaker.
a) Explain why liquid B is below liquid A
b) which has a higher density
i) the golf ball or the 10p?
Ii) The golf ball or liquid A?
Which would take up more space, 1kg of golf balls or 1kg of
10p coins? Explain.
1. The mass of an object is measured in kilogrammes (kg).
a. Name the object nearest to you which has a mass of about:
i. 1kg: ________________
ii. 1g: _________________
b. Estimate the mass of
i. an apple: ________g or _______ kg;
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ii. a pin: ________g or _______kg;

iii. a car: _______ kg;
iv. a fourteen year old student: ________ kg
2. Here is a list of balances and the greatest mass which each
can measure:
beam balance: 10kg in steps of 10g
lever balance: 400g in steps of 1g
electronic balance: 250g in steps of 0.01g
a. Which balance would you use to find the mass of
i. an orange: _____________;
ii. the flour used to make a large cake: _____________;
iii. a small nail: ___________.
4. Length is measured in metres (m).
a. Estimate
i. the height of your desk: __________m
ii. the height of your room: __________ m
iii. the diameter of a pin: ________mm = _________m
b. Try to measure directly the thickness of a page of your book
using a mm scale:
______mm or ______m
i. How uncertain is your measurement?
_______________________________
ii. Why?
__________________________________________________
_________
c. Now use a better method of measuring the thickness of a
page in your book:
i. Number of pages: _______________;
ii. Thickness of _________ pages: ____________mm
iii. Thickness of one page: __________mm or ____________m
5. Measure the volume of a matchbox as accurately as a mm
scale allows:
a. Length = __________mm or ___________m
b. Width = ___________mm or __________m
c. Height = __________mm or ___________m

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d. Volume of matchbox =
____________________________________
6. A piece of plasticene of mass 50 g is placed in a measuring
cylinder
containing some water. The reading of the water level increases
from
60 cm3 to 80 cm3 . Calculate the density of plasticene.
_____________________________________________
8. An object has a density of 800 kg / m3 and a volume of 20
m3 . Calculate the mass of the object.
9. An object has a density of 1000 kg / m3 and a mass of 60
kg . Calculate the volume that the object occupies.

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