Units and Measurement

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UNITS AND MEASUREMENT

NEED FOR MEASUREMENT


Physics is an exact science which gives an accurate
knowledge about the nature and the natural phenomena.
For proper study of any physical phenomena it is essential
to make measurement in the physical quantities involved.
Physical quantities
All those quantities which can be measured directly or indirectly and in terms of which the laws of physics
can be expressed are called physical quantities.

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

measurable physical quantity. .

3. It should not change with time. .

4. It should be easily reproducible. .

5. It should be imperishable or indestructible.

6. It should not be affected by the change in physical conditions such as pressure, temperature, etc.

7. It should be internationally acceptable.

8. It should be easily accessible.


System of units. A complete set of units which is used to measure all kinds of
fundamental and derived quantities is called a system of units

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 rational system of units.

SI is a metric system.

SI is an absolute system of units.

Sl is an internationally accepted system of units.


Rules for writing SI units in symbolic form :
Small letters are used for symbols of units.

Symbols are not followed by a full stop.

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

Symbols do not take plural form.


SOME COMMON PRACTICAL UNITS
Practical units for measuring small distances
Practical units used for measuring large distances :
1. Light year. It is the distance travelled by light in vacuum in one year.
2. Astronomical unit. It is defined as the mean distance of the earth from the
sun. It is used in astronomy to measure distances of planets.
3. Parsec (parallactic second). It is the largest practical unit of distance used in
astronomy. It is defined as the distance at which an arc of length 1
astronomical unit subtends an angle of 1 second of arc.
DIMENSIONS OF A PHYSICAL QUANTITY
Seven dimensions of the world.
Dimensions of a physical quantity.
“The dimensions of a physical quantity are the powers (or exponents) to which the
fundamental quantities must be raised to represent that quantity completely.”
Dimensional formula. “The expression which shows how and which of the fundamental
quantities represent the dimensions of a physical quantity is called the dimensional formula
of the given physical quantity.”
Dimensional equation. “The equation obtained by equating a physical quantity with its
dimensional formula is called the dimensional equation of the given physical quantity.”
APPLICATIONS OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
The method of studying a physical phenomenon on the basis of dimensions is
called dimensional analysis.
1. To check the correctness of a given physical relation.
2. To derive a relationship between different physical quantities.
3. To convert a physical quantity from one system of units to another.
CHECKING THE DIMENSIONAL CONSISTENCY OF EQUATIONS
Principle of homogeneity of dimensions. According to this principle, a physical equation will be
dimensionally correct if the dimensions of all the terms occurring on both sides of the equation are the same.

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.

If the digit to be dropped is 5, then the preceding digit is increased by 1 if it is odd.


Significant figures in the product or quotient of two numbers. In multiplication or division, the final
result should be reported to the same number of significant figures as that of the original number with
minimum number of significant figures.
Significant figures in the sum or difference of two numbers. In addition or subtraction, the final
result should be reported to the same number of decimal places as that of the original number with minimum
number of decimal places.

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