PHYSICS NOTES

th
FOR CLASS: 9
Prepared by:
Muhammad Adil

CHAPTER :1
Physical Quantities
and Measurement
As we all know that science plays an important role in human's life. Due its large
scope it is divided into many branches .One of them is PHYSICS.
Physics Derived from A n c i e n t G r e e k word
‘physicos’ meaning “ knowledge of nature”. Thus Physics cab be defined as:

“ The branch of science which observes the nature re and presents it

mathematically.”
By Ernest Rutherford:
“All science is either physics or stamp collected “

Characteristic of Physics:
Like every thing ,physics also have some characteristics:
 Physics deals with the behavior and structure of matter and the energy
that drives the matter
 It is a branch of natural science
 It is one of the most fundamental scientific discipline, and its main goal s to
understand how the universe behaves.
 Physics can be considered as the mother of all sciences.
 The beauty of Physics lies in its law that govern thus whole universe ,from
an atom to a large scale galaxies

Classification of Physics :
The classification of physic s was not that much easy but as the physicist
explained the universe, they classified Physics into many branches. These
branches show the spectrum and scope of Physics around us and help scientist
to describe ideas in a well-organized way.
The main branches of Physics are as follow:

Mechanics: This branch of physics is mainly concerned with laws the motion
and gravitation.
Thermodynamics: It deals with heat and temperature and their relation to
energy and work.

Electricity: Electricity is the study of properties of charges in

rest and motion.

Magnetism: Magnetism is the study of magnetic properties

of material
Atomic Physics: Atomic physics deals with the composition
structure and properties of the atom.
Optics: Optics studies physical aspects of light and its
properties with the help of optical instruments.
Sound: Sound is the study of production, properties
and applications of sound waves.
Nuclear physics: Nuclear physics deals with the constituents,
structure, behavior and interactions of atomic nuclei.
Particle physics: Particle physics  deals with the properties, relationships, and
interactions of subatomic particles.
Astro physics: Astro physics studies the physical properties and behavior of
celestial bodies.
Plasma physics: Deals with the Properties of ionized atoms.
Geo physics: The study of internal structure of earth is known
as Geo physics.
Importance of Physics in Science Technology
and Society:
Society’s reliance on technology represents the importance of physics in daily
life. Many aspects of modern society would not have been possible without the
important scientific discoveries made in the past. These discoveries became the
foundation on which current technologies were developed. Discoveries such as
magnetism, electricity, conductors and others made modern conveniences, such
as television, computers, smart phones, medical instruments, other business
and home technologies possible. Moreover, modern means of transportation,
such as aircraft and telecommunications, have drawn people across the world
closer together all rely on concepts of physics.

Measuring Instrument:
Physics is much concerned with matter and energy and the interaction between
them which is explained with the help of describing the mathematical relations
between various physical quantities A physical quantity can be expressed as the
combination of a magnitude expressed by a number – usually a real number –
and a unit. Physical quantities are classified into two categories :

Fundamental quantities
Derived physical quantities
Fundamental physical Quantities:
Physical quantities which cannot be explained by other physical
quantities are called fundamental physical quantities.
There are seven fundamental physical quantities which are as follow with there
S.I units:
Derived physical quantities:
Physical quantities which are explained on the
basis of fundamental physical quantities are called derived physical
quantities.
Some example of Dee bed physical quantities are as follow:

All physical quantities are either calculated mathematically or measured

through an instrument. Scientist, Engineers, Doctors and others. For
instance, your doctor uses a thermometer to tell your body temperature, a
carpenter uses the inch tape to measure the length of woods required for
furniture. Measuring the physical quantity correctly with instrument is not
an easy task for scientist and engineers. Scientist are seriously concerned
with the accuracy of the instrument and its synchronization. Moreover, the
instrument they design mostly for their own sake of research which
readably goes on to commercial market. Many of the instruments we use
today are inventions of pioneers of science. Usually, the basic physical
quantities that we use in our daily life are measured with basic and simple
instruments.

The Standard of Length:

The basic unit of length as identified by the International System of Units
(SI) is the meter. The meter is expressed more specifically in terms of
speed of light. One meter is defined as the distance that light travels in a
vacuum in 1299,792,458 of a second. The basic measurement of length
can be obtained with the help of a meter rod oran inch tape.
Meter Rule:
A meter rule is a device which is used to measure length of different
objects. A meter rule of length 1m is equal to 100 centimeters (cm). On
meter rule each cm is divided further in to 10 divisions which are called
millimeters (mm). So, a meter rule can measure up to1mm as smallest
reading. It is made up of a long rigid piece of wood or steel.
Vernier Caliper:
The Vernier Caliper is a precision instrument that can be used to measure
internal and external distance extremely accurate. It has both an imperial
and metric scale. A Vernier caliper has main jaws that are used for
measuring external diameter, as well as smaller jaws that are used for
measuring the internal diameter of objects. Some models also have a
depth gauge. The main scale is fixed in place, while the Vernier scale is the
name for the sliding scale that opens and closes the jaws.
Reading a Vernier Caliper
Step 1:Place the object between the jaws
of the Vernier caliper.
Step 2:Note the main scale reading by counting lines before the zero line
of Vernier scale.
Step 3:Count the next line of Vernier scale after zero coinciding main
scale.
Step 4:Add the two reading
 for total.
Micrometer Screw Gauge :
Screw gauge in extensively used in engineering field for obtaining precision
measurements. Micrometer screw gauge is used for measuring extremely
small dimensions.A screw gauge can even measure dimensions smaller
than those measured by a Vernier Caliper. Micrometer Screw gauge works
on the simple principle of converting small distances into larger ones by
measuring the rotation of the screw. This “screw" principle facilitate
reading of smaller distances on a scale after amplifying them .
Reading A Micrometer Screw Gauge:
 STEP 1: Read the sleeve measurement.
 STEP 2: Next, read the thimble measurement.
 STEP 3: Now read the vernier. The vernier will provide the ten-thousandths place of your decimal
measurement.
 STEP 4: Finally, add it up!

The Standard Of Mass

The kilogram is the SI unit of mass and is equal to the mass of the
international prototype of the kilogram, a platinum-iridium standard that is
kept at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures‫۔‬
Kilogram:
The kilogram is a cylinder of special metal about 39 millimeters wide by
39 millimeters tall that serves as the world's mass standard.
Physical Balance:
The Physical balance is an instrument used for measurement of mass. It is
mostly used in laboratory. It works on the principle of moments. It consists
of a light and rigid beam of brass, a metallic pillar, a wooden base, two
pans, a metallic pointer and an ivory scale. The plumb line indicates
whether the balance is horizontal. In ideal condition the plumb line is
aligned with the end of the knob fixed with the pillar. When the beam is
horizontal the pointer remains on zero mark on the ivory scale. The whole
box has leveling screws at the bottom to set it to horizontal. The device is
enclosed in a glass box to avoid wind effects. Physical balance is used to
measure the mass of the body Everything is composed of matter, and the
quantity of matter that makes up a body is referred to as its mass, whereas
the gravitational attraction that a body experiences is referred to as its
 weight.It consists of a light and rigid beam of brass, a metallic pillar, a
wooden base, two pans, a metallic pointer and an ivory scale. The plumb
line indicates whether the balance is horizontal. In ideal condition the
plumb line is aligned with the end of the knob fixed with the pillar.
When the beam is horizontal the pointer remains on zero mark on the
ivory scale. The whole box has leveling screws at the bottom to set it to
horizontal. The device is enclosed in a glass box to avoid wind
effects.A physical balance is an example of a lever. A lever is
a physical device used to translate the application point of a
force by a distance. A lever is a device consisting of a beam
or rigid rod pivoted at a fixed fulcrum.

Electronic Balance:
Thedigitalmass meter is an electronic instrument configured with integrated
circuits and it works on the principle of forces. The device is turned on and set to
zero than object is placed on the plate. The reading on the screen gives the
mass of object.

The Standard of Time:

Before 1960, the standard of time was defined in terms of the mean solar day
for the year 1900. The rotation of the Earth is now known to vary slightly with
time, this motion is not a good one to use for defining a time standard. In 1967,
the second was redefined to take advantage of the high precision attainable in a
device known as an atomic clock which uses the characteristic frequency of the
cesium-133 atom as the “reference clock”.
Second:
The second is now defined as 9 192 631 770 times the period of vibration of
radiation from the cesiumatom.

Stop Watch:
A stopwatch is used to measure the time interval between two events. There
are two types of stopwatch :
Mechanical stopwatch and Digital stopwatch.
Mechanical / Analogue Stopwatch:
A mechanical stop watch can measure a time interval up to 0.1 second It has a
knob that isused to wind the spring that power the watch. It can also be used as
a start stop and reset button. The watch starts when the knob is pressed once.
When pressed second time, the watch stops While the third press brings the
needle back to zero.

Digital Stopwatch:
A digital stop watch can measure a time interval up to 0.01 second. It starts to
indicate the time lapsed as the start/stop button is pressed. As soon as
start/stop button is pressed again, it stops and indicates the time interval
recorded by it between start and stop of an event. A reset button restores its
initial zero setting. Now a days almost the mobile phones have a stopwatch
function.

Human Reaction Time….:

As analogue or digital or watch is operated by human manually i.e., they
have to be started or stopped by hand. This causes a random error in
measurement of time i.e. called human reaction time. For most people
human reaction time is about 0.3- 0.5 s. Therefore for more accurate
measurement of time intervals light gates can be used.

Prefixes:
A unit prefix is a specifier. It indicates multiples or fractions of the units.
The Physical quantities are described by the scientist in terms of magnitudes and
units. Units play a vital role in expressing a quantity either base or derived.
Prefixes are useful for expressing units of physical quantities that are either very
big or very small.
Units of various sizes are commonly formed by the use of such prefixes. The
prefixes of the metric system, such as kilo and milli , represent multiplication by
powers of ten. Historically, many prefixes have been used or proposed by
various sources, but only a narrow set has been recognized by standards
organizations.

Scientific Notation:
Scientific notation or the standard form is a simple method of writing very large
numbers or very small numbers. In this method numbers are written as powers
of ten. Thus calculation of very large or very small numbers becomes easy.
Numbers in Scientific Notation are made up of three parts: The coefficient, the
base and the exponent.
 The coefficient must be equal to or (Not zero) greater than one
 The base must be 10
 The exponent can be negative or positive
Scientific notation is a way of expressing numbers that are too large or too
small to be conveniently written in decimal form, since to do so would require
writing out an unusually long string of digits. It may be referred to as scientific
form or standard index form, or standard form in the United Kingdom.
EXAMPLE:

DENSITY AND VOLUME:

The three common phases or states of matter are solid, liquid and gas. A solid
maintains a fixed shape and a fixed size, even if same force is applied it not
readily change its volume. A liquid does not maintain a fixed shape it takes on
the shape of its container. But, like a solid it is not readily compressible, and its
volume can be changed significantly only by a large force. However, a gas has
neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume- it will expand to fill its container. Often
we find the large weight woods floating on the surface of water. However, an
iron needle sinks into the water. We say iron is “heavier” than wood. This cannot
really be true rather we should say like iron is “denser” than wood. Physicist are
concerned with a physical quantity, a property of matter which may help to
define the nature of matter in terms of its mass and space.

Measuring the Volume:

For finding the volume of any instrument we have to follow these roles.:
1.Take some water inside the measuring cylinder and cheak the reading of
that .
2.Then,put the instrument and check the reading.
3.Finally,the difference between both the readings will be the volume of that
instrument.
Measuring cylinder:
Measuring cylinder is a glass or plastic cylinder with a scale-graduated in cubic
centimeters or milliliters (ml)(fig1.24). It is used to find the volume of
liquids. When a liquid is poured, it rises to a certain height in the cylinder. The
level of liquid in the cylinder is noted and volume of the liquid is obtained..
Volume of Liquid: A volume of about a liter or so can be measuredusing a
measuring cylinder. When the liquid is poured into the cylinder the level on
scale gives the volume. Most measuring cylinders have scales marked in
3 milliliters (ml) or cubic centimeters (cm ). It should be noted that while
recording the value from cylinder the eyes should maintain the level with the
value. Angular observation may result a false reading of the volume.

Density:
The term density of a substance is defined as mass of substance (m) per unit
volume (V). It is denoted by Greek letter ρ (rho).
Density is the substance's mass per unit of volume. The symbol most often
used for density is ρ, although the Latin letter D can also be used.
Mathematically, density is defined as mass divided by volume: where ρ is the
density, m is the mass, and V is the volume.
Density is characteristic property of any pure substance. Objects made of a
particular pure substance such as pure Gold can have any size or mass but its
density will be same for each. In accordance with the above equation mass of
a substance can be expressed as.The S.I unit for density is kg/m 3.Sometimes
dens of substances is given in gm/ cm 3
Measuring the Density:
It is to be noted that there are two ways of finding the density of a substance
either mathematically or experimentally by taking density of water at 4 C as a
reference which is sometimes known as relative density or 'Specific gravity'.
Density= Mass of substance/Volume of substance
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES:
The numbers of reliably known digits in a value are called significant figures.
Engineers and scientist around the world work with numbers either
representing a large or small magnitude of a physical quantity. The engineers are
however interested in the accuracy of a value as they mostly work on estimation
but scientist especially physicist are more concerned in the accuracy of these
numbers. For instance, an engineer records the speed of wind and explains it on
an average. On the other hand, for the physicist, the speed of earth on its
course, the speed of light in vacuum the mass or charge on an electron is just
not a matter of numbers but accurate numbers.
Rules for determining significant figures:
Following are the rules to determine significant figures:
THE END