Sec 3E Science (Physics) : Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement
Sec 3E Science (Physics) : Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement
Sec 3E Science (Physics) : Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement
Physical Quantities
A property that can be measured and is presented with magnitude and unit.
Look into your textbook contents page, what do you think are the quantities that is measured in each chapter? Examples mass, weight, speed, density, time, volume, area, length etc
Describe the mass of the apple qualitatively. The apple has a large mass. Describe the mass of the apple quantitatively. The apples mass is 50 g.
length
mass time temperature current *Luminous intensity *Amount of substance
metre
kilogram second kelvin ampere candela mole
m
kg s K A cd mol
* Not in syllabus
Derived Quantities
Example of derived quantity: area
Defining equation: area = length width In terms of units: In terms of units: Units of area = m m = m2 Units of volume = m m m = m3 Defining equation: volume = length width height Defining equation: density = mass volume In terms of units: Units of density = kg / m3 = kg m3
A more efficient way of expressing very big or very small number is to do so in scientific notation, using appropriate prefixes .
Prefixes
Prefix Nano Micro Milli Centi Deci Kilo Mega Abbreviation n m c d k M Factor 10-9 10-6 10-3 10-2 10-1 103 106
E.g. 2
5500 mg = g 5500 x 10-3 = 5.5 g 0.45 kg = ....g 0.45 x 103 = 450 g 0.004 GB = B 0.004 x 109 = 4 x 106 B 8900 nm = .. m 8900 x 10-9 = 8.9 x 10-6 m
250 g = kg 250 103 = 0.25 kg 0.000345 m = .m 0.000345 10-6 = 345 m 45 600 Hz = ..MHz 45 600 106 = 0.0456 MHz 0. 765 A = . mA 0.765 10-3 = 765 A
What are the order of magnitudes of sizes ranging from a typical atom to the Earth?
Measurement of Length
Instrument Measuring tape Metre rule Vernier calipers Range of measurement Precision 0 to 5 m 0 to 1 m 0 to 15 cm 0.1 cm 0.1 cm 0.01 cm 0.001 cm (or 0.01 mm)
E.g. Since the precision of a metre rule is 0.1 cm, all readings taken by a metre rule must be presented with 1 decimal place of a cm. Acceptable readings: 0.5 cm, 12.6 cm. 4.0 cm Not acceptable readings: 12.44 cm, 3 cm, 2.123 cm
Parallax error is the error made in reading due to the wrong positioning of the eye. It can occur when reading instruments like measuring cylinder or ammeter etc.
Vernier Calipers
Vernier Calipers
http://members.shaw.ca/ron.blond/Vern. APPLET/index.html
The internal jaws can be used to measure the internal diameter of test tubes or beakers. The outside jaws can be used to measure the thickness of a book or the diameter of a sphere. The depth rod can be used to measure the depth of a test tube or cavity.
Vernier Calipers
Hence a vernier calipers can measure small length accurate to 2 decimal places in cm. How to read write down main scale reading Add vernier scale reading Main scale 2.1? cm + 0.04 cm 2.14 cm
Vernier scale
Qn 1
2.15 cm
Qn 2
1.04 cm
Qn 3
3.19 cm
Qn 4 & 5
2.74 cm
4.04 cm
http://www.upscale.utoronto.ca/PVB/Harrison/Micrometer/Flash/MicSimulation.html
Hence a micrometer screwgauge can measure small length accurate to 2 decimal places in mm. How to read write down main scale (sleeve) reading Add thimble scale reading Sleeve scale Thimble scale 4.5? mm + 0.12 mm 4.62 mm
Precautions
Never tighten the thimble too much Clean the ends of the anvil and spindle before measurement Check for zero error
Qn 1
7.32 mm
Qn 2
7.63 mm
Qn 3
7.00 mm
Qn 4 & 5
2.73 mm
8.57 mm
Measurement of Time
Precision of a digital stopwatch is 0.01 s
minutes
Milli-seconds
seconds
When the length of the pendulum increases, the period increases. The period is not affected by the size of the bob and the angle of displacement. For good experimental technique, always keep the angle of displacement to less than 10o)
Period of Pendulum
Ticker-tape Timer
Time interval between two consecutive dots is 0.02 s. If there are 10 spaces on a pieces of tape, time taken is 10 0.02 s = 0.20 s Counting of the dots starts from zero. A 10dot tape is shown below.
Ticker Tape
A to B - Dots are close together therefore the object is moving slowly. E to F - Dots are further apart therefore the object is moving with a high speed.
In the ticker tape shown above, the dots are getting further apart. This means that the object is moving faster
A ticker-tape that makes 50 dots per second is used to determine the speed of a moving object. Determine the speed of the moving object.
Distance = 20 cm Time taken for 50 dots = 1 s 10 dots = 10/50 = 0.2 s Speed = distance / time = 20 / 0.2 = 100 cm/s
Scalar A physical quantity with magnitude only Vector A physical quantity with magnitude and direction
Vector
Vectors
Vector quantities are quantities that have both magnitude and direction
A Force
Vectors
Vectors can be represented graphically by arrows. The length of the arrow represents the magnitude of the vector. The direction of the arrow indicated the direction of the vector.