Units and Measurement
Units and Measurement
Units and Measurement
For example, length, mass, temperature, speed, force, electric current, etc.
Types of Physical Quantities
Measurement
“The measurement of a physical quantity is the process of comparing this quantity with a standard amount of
the physical quantity of the same kind, called its unit.”
To express the measurement of a physical quantity, we need to know two
things.
(i) The unit in which the quantity is measured.
(ii) The numerical value or the magnitude of the quantity
Physical unit. “The standard amount of a physical quantity chosen to
measure the physical quantity of the same kind is called a physical unit.”
Fundamental units. – Units which can not be derived from other units.
Derived units. The units which can be derived or obtained from base units
CHARACTERISTICS OF A UNIT
1. It should be well-defined.
2. It should be of convenient size, i.e., neither too small nor too large in comparison with the
6. It should not be affected by the change in physical conditions such as pressure, temperature, etc.
cgs system
fps system
mks system
SI
SI: The international system of units.
ADVANTAGES OF SI
SI is a coherent system of units.
SI is a metric system.
The initial letter of a symbol is capital only when the unit is named after a
scientist.
The full name of a unit always begins with a small letter even if it has been
named after a scientist
A dimensionally correct equation need not be actually a correct equation, but dimensionally inconsistent equation
must be wrong. The equation of motion : 𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2 is dimensionally correct but numerically it is wrong.
To derive the relation among the physical quantity
Derive an expression for the centripetal force F acting on a particle of mass m moving with
velocity v in a circle of radius r.
Consider a simple pendulum, having a bob attached to a string, that oscillates under the action of the
force of gravity. Suppose that the period of oscillation of the simple pendulum depends on (i) mass m
of the bob (ii) length l of the pendulum and (iii) acceleration due to gravity g at the place. Derive the
expression for its time period using method of dimensions.
Assuming that the mass M of the largest stone that can be moved by a flowing river
depends upon ′𝒗′ the velocity, '𝝆' the density of water and on ‘g’, the acceleration
due to gravity. Show that M varies with the sixth power of the velocity of flow.
To convert a physical quantity from one system of units to another. It is based on
the fact that the magnitude of a physical quantity remains the same whatever may be the
system of units.
Q. Convert one joule into erg.
Convert 1 newton into dyne.
Q. The value G in CGS system is 6.67 x10−8 𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑚2 𝑔−2 calculate in SI
A calorie is a unit of heat energy and it equals about 4.2 J, where 1 𝐽 =
1𝑘𝑔𝑚2 𝑠 −2 . Suppose we employ a system of units in which the unit of mass
equals 𝛼 kg, the unit of length equals 𝛽 m, the unit of time is 𝛾 s. Show that a
calorie has a magnitude 4.2 𝛼 −1 𝛽−2 𝛾 2 in terms of the new units.
Convert 1 N/𝑚2 into dyne/𝑐𝑚2
Find the value of 60 J per min on a system that has 100 g, 100 cm and 1 min as
the base units.
Limitations of the method of dimensions :
The method does not give any information about the dimensionless constant
K.
2. It fails when a physical quantity depends on more than three physical
quantities.
3. It fails when a physical quantity is the sum or difference of two or more
quantities.
It fails to derive relationships which involye trigonometric, logarithmic or
exponential functions.
5. It does not give information that the quantity is whether scalar or vector
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES The significant figures are normally those digits in a measured
quantity which are known reliably or about which we have confidence in our measurement
plus one additional digit that is uncertain.
Rules for determining no of significant figure
1. All non-zero digits are significant.
2. All zeros between two non-zero digits are significant.
3. All zeros to the right of a non-zero digit but to the left of an understood decimal point are not significant.
4. All zeros to the right of a non-zero digit but to the left of a decimal point are significant.
5. All zeros to the right of a decimal point are significant.
6. All zeros to the right of a decimal point but to the left of a non-zero digit are not significant.
7. The number of significant figures does not depend on the system of units.
8. Exact number infinite significant digits
9. Powers of ten are not significant.
Rounding off a measurement
Rules for rounding off a measurement :
If the digit to be dropped is smaller than 5, then the preceding digit is left unchanged.
If the digit to be dropped is greater than 5, then the preceding digit is increased by 1.
If the digit to be dropped is 5 followed by non-zero digits, then the preceding digit is increased by 1.
If the digit to be dropped is 5, then the preceding digit is left unchanged if it is even.