CLASS-IX [PHYSICAL SCIENCE]

CHAPTER – 1 [SYSTEMS OF MEASUREMENTS AND MEASURING DEVICES]

Q. Define The following terms:------

1. Measurement :---Measurement is the comparison of an unknown quantity with a known standard quantity
(constant quantity) or unit of same nature.
2. Physical quantity :--- A physical quantity is one which is related to a material body or to an event and can be
measured in terms of a standard quantity of its kind and accepted by all. Mathematically,physical quantity =
(magnitude)× (unit).
3. Unit :--Unit is the universally accepted definite amount of a physical quantity taken as standard for the
measurement of the same physical quantity of any amount .
4. Ampere :--- Symbol : A. It is the constant current which, flowing in two straight parallel infinite conductors of
negligible cross-section placed one metre apart in vacuum,produces 2× 10-7Nm-1 force between the conductors
.The force is attractive or repulsive accordingly as the currents in the conductors are in same or opposite
direction.
1
5. Candela :-- Symbol : Cd. It is the radiant intensity of 683 watt per steradian (unit of solid angle) in a given
direction sent by a source that emits monochromatic radiations of frequency 540× 1012Hz.
6. Mole :-- Mole is a counting unit for chemists and it is the number 6.023× 1023.A mole stands for Avogadro`s
number of items . Eg. 1 mole of atom = 6.023 x 1023 atom, 1 mole H molecules = 6.023 x 1023 H molecules.
7. FundamentalUnit :-- Fundamental units are the units of length,mass and time,each of which is independent of
the other and using one or more of these,units of other physical quantities can be obtained.
8. Derived unit :---The unitobtained either by using one fundamental unit more than once or by using two or three
fundamental units at a time is known as a derived unit.
9. Dimension :-- Dimension is the power or index of the symbol of each of the fundamental physical quantities
present in a derived physical quantity.
10. Weight :--Weight of a body = mass of the body× acceleration due to gravity or W=mg,where W is the weight
,m is the mass of the body and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
11. Atomic mass unit (amu) – It is a unit used to express the absolute atomic or molecular masses of various
elements in gram
or kilogram.
12. Solar day – The time that elapses between two consecutive apparent transits of the Sun across the meridian at
a place is known as Solar day.
13. Mean Solar day – The average of solar days for one year is called mean solar day.
14. Dimensional expression – Dimensional expression is a product or quotient of the symbols of fundamental
physical quantities involved in a appropriate powers.
15. Dimension – Dimension is the power or index of the symbol of each of the fundamental physical quantities
present in a derived physical quantity.
16. Least count – The magnitude of the smallest measurement which can be measured by an instrument accurately
is called its least count.
17. Range – The range of an instrument is defined as the difference between the largest and the smallest reading of
the instrument.
18. Absolute error – The magnitude of the difference between the true value and the measured value of a physical
quantity is called the absolute error of the measurement.
19. Proportional or relative error – The ratio of the absolute error and the measured value of a quantity is called
the relative or proportional error.
𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓
Relative error = 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆
𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓
Percentage error = 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆 x 100%
Multiple choicesQuestion (MCQ)
1. Which one of the following units is not a fundamental SI unit?
A) Ampere B) Candela C) Newton D) Kelvin
2. Which of the following systems has seven base units?
A) CGS system B) MKS system C) FPS system D) SI system
3. The physical quantity refractive index has
A) No unit B) Derived unit C) Fundamental unit D) SI unit
4. Which of the following is the smallest unit?
A) millimeter B) AngstromC) Fermi D) Meter
5. Which of the following is not a unit of time?
A) hour B) Nanosecond C) Microsecond d) Light year
6. The size of an atom is of the order of
A) 10-2m B) 10-10m C) 10-15m D) 10-20m
7. Density of a substance
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 Mass
a) 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠
b)𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 c) Mass×volume d) Area
8. If the units of mass, length and time are doubled, how does the unit of coefficient of linear expansion change?
1
a)becomes 8 times b) becomes 4 times c) becomes 2
times d)remains same
9. KWH is the unit of
a)Time b)power c)Energy d) Stress
10. The fundamental unit which is common in FPS and MKS system is
a)foot b)sec c)kilogram d) pound
11.Two quantities A and B have different dimensions. Which mathematical operation given below is physically
meaningful?
a)A/B b)A+B c)A-B d) None of these
12. If density of a substance is p and density of water at 4oC ispo,then specific gravity of the substance shall be
a) p+po b) p- po c)Po/p d) p/po
13.one end of a ruler is damaged. A student places a metal rod at the 1cm mark as shown (fig.1.14).How long is the rod?
a) 44mm b)42mm c)34mm d)30mm
14. What is the mass of 1 ccof water at 4oC?
a)10g b)10kg c)1g d)1 kg
15.If the arms of a common balance are light and long, the balance will be
a)stable b)unstable c)faulty d) sensitive
16. The density of wood in CGS system is 0.5g cm -3. The corresponding value in SI system is
a)0.5kg m-3 b) 5 kg m-3 c) 50 kg m-3 d)500kg m-3
17. which of the following is not a derived quantity ?
a) The volume of air contained in a room
b)The weight of air contained in a room
c)The height of a room
d) The floor area of a room
18. The masses of a measuring cylinder before and after pouring some liquid are shown (fig.1.15). What is the density
of the liquid?
a)2.5g/cc b)2 g/cc c)1.5 g/cc d)1.0 g/cc
19. In a weight box,the ratio of weight is
a)1 : 1 : 1 : 1 b)1: 2: 3: 4 c)1: 2: 3: 5 d)1: 2 : 2 : 5
20. Which among the following gives the most accurate measurement of time?
a)chronometer b) Atomic clock c) Stop watch d) Sun dial
21. Newton is a
a) fundamental unit b) derived unit c) number. d) SI unit
22. 10-6m stands for
a)nanometer b)micron c)femtometre d) picometre.
23. Light year indicates
a)time b)distance c)a phenomenon of light energy. d) work
24.The unit used to measure wavelength of visible light is usually
a)10-15m b)10-7m c)10-9m d)10-12 m.
25. X-ray unit is
a) 10-3m b)10-13m c)10-6m d) 10-4m
26. Atomic mass unit is used to express
(a) Absolute molecular mass (b) relative mass compared to the mass of hydrogen
(c) comparison between masses of carbon and oxygen (d) number of moles
27. dimension of plane angle is
(a) radian (b)Zero (c) steradian (d) L-1
28. Total number of fundamental physical quantities included in SI system are
(a) two (b) three (c) seven (d) five
29. the unit used to measure distance between two planets is
(a) kilometer (b) gigametre (c) 1015m (d) light year.
30. Candela is
(a) source of artificial light (b) unit of solid angle
(c) unit of luminous intensity (d) unit of length
31. a physical quantity having magnitude but no dimension is
(a) a point (b) mechanical advantage (c) mole (d) ampere
32. dimension of frequency is
(a) LT -1 (b) T-1 (c) ML-3 (d) M
33. A thermometer calibrated between
(a) 0oc (b) 500oc (c) 100oc (d) 10 C
34. the largest unit of time is
(a) light year (b) century (c) decade (d) solar day
35. which of the following is a common unit of physical quantity in MKS and SI system?
(a) ampere (b) Kelvin (c) mole (d) joule/sec
36. Which of the following is the largest unit for measurement of length?
(a) light year (b) parsec (c) kilometer (d) metre
37. Dimensional formula of weight is
(a) MLT-2 (b) ML-1T-2 (c) M-1LT-2 (d) MLT-3

Q. ( True / False)
1. A spring balance measures weight of a body.(T)
2. A dimensionless physical quantity can have unit.(T)
3. While reading the liquid level in a measuring cylinder, lower meniscus shall be noted for liquids like
mercury.(F)
4. 106 um = 1m.(T)
5. A standard unit should not change with respect to time but may change from place to place.(F)
6. Work and energy have same dimension.(T)
7. At 40C, 1cc water has the mass of 1g.(T)
8. In FPS system the unit of volume of liquid is gallon.(T)
9. Angstrom is a multiple of metre.(F)
10. Density of a substance is independent of mass and volume.(T)
11. 1 litre = 1 cubic dm.(T)
12. The unit of solid angle is radian.(F)
13. century is the largest unit of time.(T)
14. A system of units consists of fundamental units only.(F)
15. Common balance works on the principle of moments.(T)

Q. Fill in the blanks

1. Temperature in SI system is Kelvin.
2. The time taken by the light emitted by cesium –133 atom to complete 9,192,631,770 vibrations is one s.
3. Small time intervals are measured by stop watch .
4. If u be the unit and n be the magnitude of a physical quantity, then it measures nu.
5. 1 litre =0.22 gallon.
6. Angle has unit radian.
7. The average of solar days for one year is called Mean solar day.
8. AU is a unit to measure interstellar distances.
9. SI system has twosupplementary units.
𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟
10. 𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 = Relative error
11. The pendulum with a time period of 2seconds is called seconds pendulum.
12. Area and volume are derived quantities.
13. If surface tension is defined as force per unit length, then its dimensional formula is [MT -2]
14. If observed obliquely ,each measurement carries some error called parallax error.
15. The curved surface of a liquid in narrow tubes is known as meniscus .
16. The range of a wall clock is 12 hours.
17. The unit of area is a derived unit.
18. Dimensional formula is the relationship between a physical quantity and the dimension of its fundamental units.
19. Number of general unit of SI and CGS system is 3.
20. Scalar quantities have only magnitude but no direction.
21. Vector quantities have both magnititude and direction.
22. 277 k temperature is mentioned in the definition of liter.
23. Angle is a dimensionless physical quantity.
24. Nuclear density is a dimensionless quantity. Its dimensional formula is M0L0T0.
25. g/cm3 is the unit of density in CGS system.
26. Parsec is a unit for measurement of length.
27. X-unit is the unit used for the measurement of diameters of atoms and molecules.
28. Wavelength of light is expressed in ternoss of angstrom.
29. Micron is used as a unit to express dimension of microscopic objects.
30. It is convenient to express the mass of a star in terms of solar mass which is a large unit of mass.
31. 1 light-year is equal to 9.46 x 1012 kilometer.
32. A derived quantity is expressed as a combination of several fundamental quantity.
33. Volume is a derived physical quantity.
34. The number of fundamental physical quantities in SI system is 7
35. Litre is volume of 1 kg water at 277 k.
36. The Least Count of the ruler is 1mm.
37. 1 mol hydrogen is 6.023 x 1023H2 molecules.
38. Dimension of force is [MLT-2]
39. Measuring cylinder is used to measure volume of liquid.
40. Weight of a body is measured by common balance.
41. Very small fraction of second is measured by metronome and chronometer
42. 10-10m is 1 Angstrom
43. Barn is a derived unit.
𝟏
44. Second is 𝟐𝟒 𝒙 𝟔𝟎 𝒙 𝟔𝟎 part of mean solar day.
45. Second is the duration of 9192631770 complete oscillations of caesium – 133 atom in a standard magnetic field.
46. When written in full, units are never capitalized.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1. What we must know to express the result of measurement?

a) The unit in which a quantity is to be measured.
b) The numerical value which express how many times a standard quantity or unit is contained in a
given physical quantity.
2. Write some rules to write units.
a) When written in full, units are never capitalized. (eg. Watt)
b) Unites are written in full if preceding number is written in words. (eg. two volts, not 2 volts)
c) There is no plural form of symbols. (100 kg not 100 kgs)
d) Never use a full stop sign after a symbol, except at the end of a sentence. (write 2m no 2m.)
3. Write the difference between scalar and vector quantities in a tabular form.
Ans.
Scalar quantity Vector quantity
1 Scalar quantity has only magnitude but 1 Vector quantity has both magnitude
no direction and direction
2 Addition of similar scalar quantities 2 Addition of similar vector quantities
follows normal algebraic rule does not follow normal algebraic
rules
3 Result of multiplication of two scalar 3 Result of multiplication of two vector
quantities is always a scalar quantity quantities may be either a scalar
quantity or a vector quantity.

4. What is the necessity of unit?

Ans. In a scientific experiment, it is necessary to mention measurements accurately. So, unit is essential while
measuring any physical quantity. Any physical quantity is expressed in terms of a numerical number and its unit.
Measurement is not possible without unit. Unit is also necessary for establishing relationship among different
physical quantities and to verify correctness of the equations involving physical quantities.

5. Why CGS system or SI is called metric system?

Ans. CGS system or SI is called metric system because to convert any physical quantity from any definite unit to
another smaller or larger unit in these system, one has to only shift the decimal point.
Example: 500 cm = 5 m = 5000 mm = 0.005 km. no multiplication or division is necessary for this conversion.
6. What are the advantages of the metric system?
Ans. Advantages of the metric system are:
(i) The metric system is based on powers of 10. So, it is easier to convert units of any physical quantity
simply by moving the decimal points.
(ii) Once the meaning of the prefixes is remembered, one can easily convert mass, distance, volume
measurements. No further conversion factors are to be memorized except the power of 10.
(iii) There is a convenient relationship between mass and volume in this system. For example, mass of 1 cm3
of water is 1 g or mass of 1 L of water is 1 kg (at 40C).

7. Carat is used as a unit to express mass of precious stones. Again, quintal is used as a unit for measuring rice,
wheat etc. what is the reason behind this difference in respect of mass measurement?
Ans. 1 carat = 200 mg = 0.2 g = 2 x 10-4 kg. and 1 quintal = 100 kg. rice, wheat etc. are available in abundance
compared to precious gems and these gems are generally not used in our body to day life. So the unit carat is
more useful compared to the unit quintal for measurement of the masses of precious stones. On the other
hand, rice, wheat etc. are available in plenty and it is convenient to use quintal for the measurement of their
masses.

8. Define liter. 1 liter = how many cm3?

Ans. one liter (1 L) is defined as the volume of 1 kilogram of pure water at 40C or 277 k. 1 L = 1 dm3 = (10 cm)3 =
1000 cm3.
9. How does the density of a material change with increase of temperature?
Ans. the density of a material decreases with increase of temperature. However the density of water increases
when temperature is increased from 00C to 40C.

10. The dimensional equation of a physical quantity X is [X] = M-2L3T-1. Write down the dimension and the
dimensional formula of the quantity.
Ans. here, [X] = M-2L3T-1
Therefore Dimension of the quality is -2 in mass, 3 in length and -1 in time.
Dimensional formula of the quantity is M-2L3T-1.

11. What is meant by parallax error?

Ans. while taking the readings of the two sides during measurement of length of a line by an ordinary scale, it is
essential to look perpendicularly at the points of reading. Otherwise, the reading becomes erroneous. This
error, which gives different readings due to different positions of the eyes, is called parallax error.

12. Mention different types of clocks.

Ans. we measure time with the help of clocks. The oldest clock is sundial. With the progress of science and
technology, different types of clocks have been invented over the time. Example: Pendulum clock, table clock,
wrist watch, electronic digital watch, chronometer, caesium atomic clock, etc.

13. What is a metronome?

Ans. Metronome (electronic metronome) is a modern watch which measures time very accurately. This watch is
used during launching of artificial satellites.

14. Why are the masses of the standard weights in a weight box kept in the ratio of 5:2:2:1?
Ans. the masses of the standard weights in a weight box are kept in the ratio of 5:2:2:1 so that any mass
between 10 mg and 211.11 g can be measured using them.

15. How do you measure the volume of one drop water of a dropper with the help of a volume measuring
cylinder?
Ans. 200 to 300 drops of water are dropped in a dry and empty measuring cylinder using the dropper. Volume
of this quantity of water is measured. Let the volume of water be
V cm3 and let n drops of water have been dropped.
𝑉
Therefore Volume of 1 drop of water = 𝑛 cm3.
16. If the density of iron in SI is 7800 kg/m3, what is its density in CGS?
Ans. density of iron in SI, d = 7800 kg/m3
1
Again, 1 kg/m3 = g/cm3.
1000
1
Therefore Density of iron in CGS = 7800 x 1000
g/cm3 = 7.8 g/cm3.

17. The diameter of a solid sphere of iron is 21 cm. if the density of iron is 7.8 g/cm3, what is its mass?
Ans. diameter of the sphere = 21 cm.
21 𝑐𝑚
Therefore, Radius of the sphere, r = 2 .
Density of iron, d = 7.8 g/cm3
4 4 22 21
Therefore Volume of the sphere, V = 3πr3 = 3 x 7 x ( 2 )3 = 4851 cm3
Therefore Mass of the iron sphere,
M = d x V = 7.8 g/cm3 x 4851 cm3
= 37837.8 g
= 37.84 kg (approx).

18. The two arms of the balance beam of a common balance are equal but the masses of the two scale pans are
different. When a body is weighed first in the left pan and then in the right pan, 10 g and 10.2 g are obtained
respectively as masses, what is the real mass of the body?
Ans. If the masses of the body are m1 and m2 in the two cases, m1 = 10 g and m2 = 10.2 g
𝑚1+ 𝑚2
Therefore Real mass of the body, m = 2
10 𝑔+10.2 𝑔
= 2
= 10.1 g.

19. The two arms of the balance beam of a common balance are unequal but the masses of the two scale pans
are equal. When a body is weighed at first in the left pan and then in the right pan, 8 g and 12.5 g are
obtained respectively as masses. What is the real mass of the body?
Ans. if the masses of the body are m1 and m2 in the two cases, m1 = 8 g and m2 = 12.5 g
Therefore Real mass of the body,
M = √𝑚1𝑚2 = √8 𝑔 𝑥 12.5 𝑔
= √100 𝑔2
= 10 g.
20. Densities of two liquids are 1.2 g/cm3 and 0.8 g/cm3, respectively. If the liquids are mixed in the density of
this mixture?
Ans. Suppose the mixture is prepared by taking m g of both the liquids.
𝑚
Therefore Volume of the first liquid = 1.2 cm3.
𝑚 𝑚
V = (1.2 +0.8) cm3.
Mass of the mixture, M = (m + m) = 2m g
𝑚
Therefore Density of the mixture d =
𝑉
2𝑚
= 𝑚 𝑚
+
1.2 0.8
2 𝑥 1.2 𝑥 0.8
Or, d = 1.2+0.8
g/cm3
= 0.96 g/cm3.
21. In which unit is the wavelength of X-rays measured?
Wavelength of X-ray is measured in angstrom unit (1 Å=10-10 m)
22. What are the dimensions of frequency and momentum?
Dimension of frequency = No. of oscillations per second= number / time [T-1]
Dimension of momentum = [MLT-1]
Dimension of Acceleration = Velocity / time [LT – 2]
Dimension of Volume = length x length x length [L3]
 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 MLT−2
Dimension of Pressure = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎
= L2
= ML – 1 T – 2

Dimension of Work = Force x Distance = [MLT-2] x [L] = ML2 T – 2

𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘 ML2 𝑇 −2
Dimension of Power = 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
= 𝑇
= ML2T – 3

Dimension of Area = L x L = L2
23. Name 2 scalar quantities which have all the three fundamental units.
The scalar quantities having all three fundamental units are Work, Power, Pressure.
24. 1 Å=10-10m. 1 micron = 10-6m
25. What is the unit of measuring distance between two stars?
The unit to measure the distance between two stars is Light year.
26. Name a physical quantity which has a unit but no dimension.
Physical quantity that has unit, but no dimension is Plane Angle/Solid Angle.
27. Name two physical quantities having same dimension and write down the dimension.
Two physical quantities having same dimension are Energy and Work.
The dimension of these two quantities are [ML2T-2]
28. Light year is the unit of which physical quantities?
Light year is the unit of measuring the distance between two stars or cosmic bodies.
29. Give an example of a physical quantity which has no unit.
Physical quantity without any unit – Refractive index / Atomic weight.
30. Write the dimension of velocity.
The dimension of velocity [LT-1] (Velocity = distance/time)
31. Write the dimension of density and its unit in S.I system.
Dimension of density [ML-3] (density= mass/volume) and its S.I unit is Kg/m3.
32. Define Litre.
Litre is defined as the volume of 1 kg of water at normal atmospheric pressure and at the temperature of its
maximum density at 40C or 277 k.
33. Name two derived physical quantities each of which involves a single but different fundamental physical
quantities. Also write down in bracket beside the derived quantity, the involved fundamental quantity.
Derived physical quantities which are using single fundamental unit
i. Area/volume [L2], (using fundamental unit of length)
ii. Frequency {T-1] (using fundamental unit of time)

34. Name a physical quantity having both magnitude and direction but which is not a vector quantity.
Scalar quantity having both magnitude and direction is Current.

35. What is the density of pure water at 40C in S.I unit?

Density of pure water at 40C in S.I unit – 1000 Kg/m3

36. Write the S.I unit of density.

S.I unit of density is Kg/m3.
37. What must be mentioned in the result obtained after measuring a physical quantity apart from a number?
Ans. The unit must be mentioned in the result obtained after measuring a physical quantity apart from a
number (There are two parts of a measurement – magnitude and unit)

38. What are the different systems of units? Which among the fundamental units is common in all the systems of
units?
There are different systems of units
CGS system, MKS system, FPS system, SI system
The unit of time, i.e. S (second) is common in all systems of units.

39. Classify – displacement, force, length, temperature, time, volume, weight, density, momentum,pressure and
mass into fundamental and derived quantities.
Fundamental Quantities – length, temperature, time, mass
Derived quantities – displacement, force, volume, weight, density, momentum, pressure.

40. Which of the following are physical quantities and which are not? – water, energy, work, speed, a rupee coin,
book, density

Ans. Energy , Speed, density, work

41. What are SI unit of the following

Physical quantity SI unit
Temperature Kelvin
Force Kilogram.meter/S2 = Newton
Density Kg/m3
Speed m/s
Momentum Kg.m/s
42. Which physical quantity is normally measured with a common balance?
The physical quantity which is measured by common balance is mass of a body.
[‘Weight is measured by spring balance]

43. Give one example of each of the derived physical quantities having one, two and three fundamental physical
quantities.
Derived physical quantities having
One fundamental unit : Frequency (Hz = S-1), volume (m3)
Two fundamental units : Density (Kg/m3), Velocity (m/s)
Three fundamental units : Momentum (Kg.m/s), Force (Kg.m/s2)

44. Name the suitable units which should be chosen to measure

i. Distance between two cities : kilometer
ii. Mass of a small grain : milligram
iii. Wavelength of a colour of a light : nanometer/ Å
iv. Distance between two stars : light year

45. Name a liquid that should be used to measure the volume of a lump of sugar candy with the help of a
measuring cylinder.
The liquid that should be used in the measuring cylinder to measure the volume of a sugar lump is Acetone.
[To measure the volume of an uneven solid we should use a liquid that is non-volatile and does not dissolve the
solid for a piece of wax we can use water.]

46. What is the dimension of a physical quantity?

The dimension of a physical quantity are expressed as the power to which the fundamental units of mass, length
and time are raised to obtain the derived unit of the quantity.
[Example : Velocity = distance/time = L/T =LT-1
47. Name a scalar quantity and a vector quantity, both of which are derived using all the three fundamental
quantities. Write their dimensional formulae.
Derived Scalar quantity with 3 fundamental units : Work [ML2T-2]
Derived Vector quantity with 3 fundamental units : Force [MLT-2]

48. Is the unit of volume fundamental or derived?

Unit of volume is a derived unit, Volume = length x length x length = [L]3

49. What is the utility of a unit? Do all physical quantities have units?
Unit is a definite amount of a physical quantity taken as standard for the measurement. A standard unit is
universally accepted. Unit is used to compare physical quantity without any confusion or ambiguity.
A physical quantity should be expressed as (magnitude)xunit. Thus without a unit a measurement is useless.
[By using unit, a measurement of certain physical quantity become standardize and universal, non-ambiguent,
convenient and create no confusion.

Some physical quantities which do not have unit :

There are some physical quantities are expressed as a ratio of two similar physical quantities, so they have no
unit.
𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
Example : Specific gravity of a substance = 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 4 0 𝐶

𝑀𝐿−3
= 𝑀𝐿−3 = M0L0 = no unit
50. Why are several units associated with the same physical quantity? Or ‘Units are chosen according to
convenience’ – explain.
Each physical quantity can be ranged from small to large magnitude. If we stick to just one unit, it would not
always be feasible.
For example, SI unit of length is metre but if we use this unit to measure a radius of an atomic nucleus or any
interstellar distance, in both cases the magnitudes would be very huge (or very small)
Radius of hydrogen atom = 0.00000000012 m
Distance of sun from earth = 1496000000000 m
Thus we use large unit for larger magnitude and small unit for smaller magnitude.

51. Is light year a fundamental unit or derived unit? Arrange in descending order of magnitude – angstrom,
femtometre, micron, nanometer.
By definition, light year is the distance travelled by light in one year at its standard speed in vaccum, 3x108m/s+
So, 1 year = 365 days = 365 x 24 x 60 x 60 sec
Speed of light = 3 x 108 m/sec
∴ 1 light year = Distance travelled by light in one year
= 3 x 108 x 365 x 24 x 60 x 60 m
= 94608 x 1011 m
Thus it is a derived unit, as it connot be directly measured by the unit of length.

52. How can you measure

i) Thickness of a page of a book
ii) Diameter of a piece of hair or thread and
Ans. i. Thickness of a page of a book
STEP 1: The height / thickness of the book is measured by using a linear scale (X)
STEP 2: This measurement is divided by the total number of pages (n)
𝑋
So, the thickness of a page = 𝑛
For more specification, we can take different reading for different number of pages. (X1 for n1, X2 for n2………)
𝑋1 𝑋2
and calculate the average of 𝑛1, 𝑛2 ……………….etc
 ii. Measuring the radius of hair or a thread
An even right cylinder is taken. A part of the cylinder is covered by the hair (or thread) by coiling it around the
curved surface of cylinder tightly.
Now the height of the coiled area is measured using a linear scale (h). This measurement ‘h’ is divided by the coil
number (n) to get the radius of the hair (or thread)
CS of cylinder = 2𝜋r1h1=2𝜋r2h2 for the covered portion
ℎ1
Therefore, r2 = 𝑛

53. Why are the units of length, mass and time called fundamental units?

Units of length, mass and time are called fundamental units because
a) Units of length, mass and time are independent of each other, i.e. they are of independent nature.
b) One cannot reduce them further into more simple units.
c) With the help of these three units, one can form units of other physical quantities.

54. Give example of two physical quantities which do not have any dimension or unit.
Atomic mass and Specific gravity.

55. MATCH THE ITEMS OF COLUMN A AND B

A B
(A) Femtometre (i) Luminous intensity
(B) Stop watch (ii) Common balance
(C) Mass (iii) 10 – 15 m
(D) Candela (iv) Measurement of short duration of time

56. What is the use of a chronometer watch?

Chronometer watch gives the correct time at Greenwich, London and this time has been adopted as a global
standard time.

57. In defining litre, the temperature of water is specifically mentioned at 40C or 277K. Why?
OR
Why is the temperature 40C mentioned in defining density of water in CGS system?
Because at this temperature, density of water is highest (1g/cc) and it gives a simple relation between mass and
volume of water.

58. Density of a substance is independent of its mass or volume. Justify.

If the mass of a substance is increased or decreased its volume correspondingly increases or decreases
proportionately and vice versa. So, density, the ratio of mass to volume remains unchanged, provided
temperature remains constant. For this reason, density of a solid golden bar and that of a solid golden ball is
same, although the said bar and the ball may have different masses and hence the corresponding different
volumes.

59. Name the units used to measure interstellar distance.

a) Parsec = 3 x 1013 km approx.
b) Light year = 9.46 x 1012 km.
c) Astronomical Unit (AU) = 1.49 x 108 km

60. Fill in the blanks

1. Electric current is a scalar quantity.
2. Area is a vector quantity.
3. 1 lightyear =9.46 x 1012 km.
4. 1 parsec = 3.26 lightyear = 30.84 x 1012 km
5. The unified atomic mass unit is used for measuring the mass of molecules and atoms.
6. Carat is used for measuring the mass of different precious stones.
 7. 1 carat = 0.28 g.
8. 1 Chandrasekhar limit (CSL) = 1.39 x mass of the sun.
9. 40C or 277 K is mentioned in the definition of litre.
10. The density of water at 40C is 1 g/cm3.
11. 1m3 = 1000 L
12. Potential energy is stored in the spring of a pendulum clock.
13. 1 gallon = 4.536 litre
14. AU (astronomical unit) is used to measure interstellar distance.
15. Density of the liquid in SI is 800 kg/m3.
16. Weights are kept in the ratio of 5:2:2:1 in a weighing box.
17. For measuring volume of a liquid, the units usually used are litre or gallon.
18. In FPS system the unit of volume of liquid is gallon.
19. Smaller units of litre are decilitre, millilitre or cubic centimetre (cc)
20. 1 Litre = 1000.028 cubic centimetre (cc)
21. Unit of density in CGS is g/cc or g cm–3
22. Unit of density in MKS or SI is kg/m3 or kg m–3
23. In CGS, temperature is measured in Celsius scale.
24. In SI, the temperature scale used is known as Kelvin or Absolute scale.
25. A temperature in Celsius scale is written with 0C at the end of a number that indicates the magnitude of the
temperature.
26. Femtogram stands for 10 – 15 gram.
27. Attosecond means 10 – 18 second.
28. Picofarad means 10 – 12 farad.
29. Kilogram stands for 103 gram.
30. Megawatt means 106 watt

61. How can you measure

a) Length of a segment of a zigzag line?
Take a thread. Put it on the zigzag line. Cut the thread at the end of the zigzag line and simply measure the
thread.
b) Diameter of a football with a ruler?
For this, soak the ball in water and then roll the wet ball once on the floor of room. The impression of the
track left by the wet ball on the floor which equals the circumference of the ball is measured with with a
ruler. Now, the diameter of the ball is obtained from the relation
Diameter = Circumference / 𝜋 [𝜋=3.14]

62. How can you find the volume and hence density of a solid body which is heavier than and insoluble in water?
Some water is poured carefully in a dry measuring cylinder upto a certain mark of graduation on it. Care is taken
that no water bubble forms. The level of water is observed. Let the volume of water be x cc. Now the body
whose volume is to be determined is tied with a piece of waxed thread and is dipped slowly inside the water of
the measuring cylinder, so that no water splashes outside. Since the body displaces water equal to its own
volume, water level rises, the reading is taken. Let the volume now be x1 cc. So, (x1 – x) cc is the volume of the
given body.
At the time of taking reading lower part of the water meniscus is to be taken to avoid parallax error. The density
of a substance is the mass per unit volume of the substance. So, if the mass of the irregular shaped solid (m) be
measured by a common balance, then
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑 𝑚
Density of the solid = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑 = 𝑥
1 −𝑥

63. How do you determine the rate of flow of water from a tap?
Take a medium sized measuring cylinder and a stop watch. Hold the measuring cylinder below the tap from
which water falls. Start the stop watch just at the moment when water begins to fall. After sometime both the
time period and the volume of water collected are noted. Dividing the volume of water by the time noted, we
can obtain the rate of flow of water.