A Public School

Physics Physical Quantities & Measurement SSC-I

Fill the relevant bubble against each question according to the curriculum.
Fill in the relevant circles. A B C D A B C D
i. Which one of the following units is not
pascal kilogram newton watt
a derived unit?
ii. The amount of a substance in terms of
gram kilogram newton mole
numbers is measured in:
iii. The number of significant figures in
2 3 5 6
0.00650s are:
iv. Which of the following numbers
9000.8 4 5174.00 0.001248
shows 4 significant digits?
v. Which of the following prefixes
mega pico Peta kilo
represents the largest value?
vi. A micrometer can be used to
current force length mass
measure:
vii. The instrument that best measures the measuring
screw gauge vernier caliper metre rule
internal diameter of a pipe is: tape
viii. Least count of the screw gauge is
0.01 mm. If the main scale reading of the
screw gauge is zero and the third line of
0mm 3mm 0.03mm 0.3mm
its circular scale coincides with the
datum line then the measurement on the
screw gauge
ix. 9.483x103m is the standard form of 94.83m 9.483m 948.3m 9483m
meter per
x. Which of the following is a base unit? pascal coulomb mole
second
xi. The numbers having one significant
1.1 6.0 7.1 6×102
digit are:
xii. The ratio of a millimeter to
1000metre 0.001metre 1000 0.001
micrometer is:
xiii. 0.2 mm in units of meters is: 0.0002m 2×104m Both a & b none
Q. HOW PHYSICS PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR LIFE
A: Physics plays a vital role in our everyday lives, often in ways we may not immediately recognize—the laws &
principles of physics help in understanding nature. Physics is the most fundamental of all the sciences. Biology
uses physics principles of fluid movement to know how blood flows through the heart. Physics is behind every
technology. It is present in the alarm clock that wakes us, the electricity that powers our appliances, and the
vehicles that transport us to work or school. In our daily routines, we encounter countless examples of physics in
action, whether it's the laws of motion governing the movement of traffic, the principles of thermodynamics
regulating the temperature, or the optics behind the screens of our electronic devices. In essence, physics is the
unseen force driving the functionality of our world, from the simplest interactions to the most complex systems.
Q. ESTIMATE YOUR AGE IN MINUTES AND SECONDS
A: Suppose age = 15 years
= 15 x 365 days = 5465 days (1 year = 365 days)
= 5465 x24 hours 131400 hours (1 day = 24hours)
Age in minutes = 131400 x 60 minutes (1 hour = 60 minutes)
= 7884000 minutes
Age in seconds = 7884000 x 60 seconds (1 minute = 60 seconds)
= 473040000 seconds
Q. What base quantities are involved in these derived physical quantities; force, pressure, power &
charge?
A: Force
Derived unit of force = Kgms–2 = Kgms–2
Kg>> unit of mass
m>> unit of length
 s>> unit of time
So, the base quantities involved in Force are Length, Mass, and Time
Pressure = F/A = Kgms–2/m2=Kgm–1s–2
So, the base quantities involved in Pressure are Length, Mass, and Time
Power = work done/time = F.d/t
Derived unit of power = Kgms–2, m/s = Kgm2s–3
So, the base quantities involved in Power are Mass, Length, and Time
Charge = Current × Time (I=Q/t)
The base quantities involved in Charge re Electric Current and Time
Q. Show that prefix micro is a thousand times smaller than prefix milli.
A: As we have, micro = 10–6
= 10–3×10–3
=
10–3 milli (As, milli = 10–3)
I micro = 10–3 milli
1 1
= 3 milli = milli
10 1000
So, the prefix micro is a thousand times smaller than the prefix milli.
Q. Justify that displacement is a vector quantity while energy is a scalar quantity.
A: Displacement:
Displacement refers to the shortest path between two points.
It describes how far and in what direction an object has moved.
Since it includes both magnitude (distance) and direction, displacement
is a vector quantity.
Energy:
Energy is the ability of a system to do work. It comes in various forms, such as kinetic, potential, and
thermal energy.
Energy has a magnitude (amount) but no direction. Therefore, energy is a scalar quantity.
Q. Screw gauge can give a more precise length than vernier calipers. Briefly explain why.
A: The least count of an instrument is the smallest measurement that can be taken accurately with it.
Least count of screw gauge = 0.01mm
Least count of vernier caliper = 0.1mm
As the least count of the screw gauge is smaller than the vernier caliper, it can measure the length more precisely.
Q. Differentiate between mechanical stopwatches and digital stopwatches.
Mechanical Stopwatch Digital Stopwatch
i. It is spring-driven It is battery-driven.
ii. It has two circular dials. In the large dial second hand No dials are present in the digital stopwatch. Time is
of the watch rotates, while the minute hand is in the displayed on the screen digitally.
smaller dial. It operates using buttons. Pressing the left button starts
iii. Mechanical Stopwatch starts & stops by pressing a the watch, and pressing the button again stops it.
knob at the top while pressing the knob for a long time Pressing the right button resets the stopwatch.
will reset the watch.
Q. How measuring cylinder is used to measure the volume of an irregularly shaped stone?
A: We can use water displacement to measure the volume of an irregular-shaped stone using a measuring cylinder.
i. Fill the measuring cylinder with a known volume of water. Note the initial water level reading.
ii. Lower the irregular-shaped stone into the water-filled measuring cylinder using a wire or tweezers.
iii. Once the stone is fully submerged and the water level stabilizes, take a new reading of the water level in the
measuring cylinder.
iv. The difference between the initial and final water level readings represents the volume of water displaced by
the irregular-shaped stone.
Volume of Stone = Final Water Level Reading – Initial Water Level Reading
Q. What precautions should be kept in mind while taking measurements using a measuring cylinder?
A: The following are the precautions to be taken while measuring the volume of the liquid with a measuring
cylinder
i. Make sure the measuring cylinder is placed on a flat surface.
ii. Take care of the meniscus and take the reading accurately. Read the bottom of the meniscus (the curved surface
of the liquid) to determine the volume. The meniscus forms a concave shape, and volume should be measured at
the lowest point of the curve.
iii. Avoid parallax errors while taking the measurement. Always read the volume markings at eye level to avoid
parallax errors. Parallax errors occur when the observer's line of sight is not perpendicular to the scale, leading to
inaccurate readings.
Q. Why do we need to consider significant digits in measurements?
A: i. Significant figures play a vital role in determining which digits in a number are reliable and meaningful.
ii. They indicate the precision of a measurement or calculation by identifying digits that are known with certainty.
If we go beyond significant digits, we add the level of uncertainty associated with a particular value. So, it is
important to consider the significant digits in measurements.
Q. How random error can be reduced?
A: i. We cannot eradicate random error, but it can be reduced by repeatedly taking the measurements. Taking
multiple measurements of the same quantity and then calculating the average will reduce the chances of getting a
higher error because averaging helps minimize the impact of random fluctuations.
ii. One other way can be increasing the sample size. Large samples have less random error than small samples.
That's because the errors in different directions cancel each other out more efficiently when you have more data
points.
Q. Differentiate between precision and accuracy.
Accuracy Precision
i. Accuracy is the level of correctness of a i. It refers to how close two or more measurements are to each
measurement to its true or standard value. other, regardless of whether those measurements are accurate or not
ii. An Accurate measurement is close to the ii. A measurement is considered precise if repeated measurements
true value, regardless of whether the under the same conditions yield similar results.
measurement is repeatable or consistent.

Unit 1 Physical quantities and 10–9 = n 10–6 = µ

measurement Q. 3 If a boy has aged 15 years 2 months and 10
Numerical Response Questions. days, convert his age into:
Q. 1 Write the following numbers in scientific a. Seconds b. milli seconds c. mega seconds
notations: Solve:15years into second 2month into second
a. 1234m b. 0.000023s 10days into second
= 1.234×103m Ans = 2.3×10–5s Ans = 15years → = 15×12month
= 15×12×30days → =
c. 469.3×105m d. 0.00985×107s 15×12×30×24hours
= 4.693×105+2m = 0009.85×10–3×107s = 15×12×30×24×60min
= 4.693×107m Ans = 9.85×107–3s = 15×12×30×24×60×60sec → = 466, 560, 000s
2month into second → = 2×30days
=9.85×104s Ans
= 2×30×24hours → = 2×30×24×60min
Q. 2 Express the following measurements using
= 2×30×24×60×60sec → = 5, 184, 000s.
prefixes.
10days into second
a. 27.5×10–10m b. 0.00023×10–2s
= 10days → = 10×24 hours
= 2.75×10–10+1m = 2.3×10–2–4s
= 10×24×60min → = 10×24×60×60sec
= 2.75×10–9m = 2.3×10–6s
= 864, 000s
= 2.75×nm Ans = 2.3µs Ans
= 466, 560, 000+5, 184,000+864,000 Solve: The pitch of the screw gauge is the distance
= 472, 608, 000 → = 4.72608×108s moved by the spindle per revolution which is given
b. milli second as 0.5mm.
= 4.75608×108×103×10–3s = 4.75608×108+3ms pitch
Least count 
= 4.75608×1011ms total no of division
c. mega second mega = 106 
0.5
mm
= 4.72608×108s → = 50
2
4.72608×10 ×10 s 6  0.01mm
= 4.72608×102Ms → = 472.608×102–2Ms Q. 6 Look at the measurement of the Vernier caliper.
= 472.608×100Ms → = 472.608Ms a. What is its main scale reading?
Q. 4 How many kilometers are there in 25 main scale reading = 2.5cm
micrometers? b. What is it coinciding on the v-scale?
= 25µm → = 25×10–6m v. scale reading =8
= 25×10–6×10–3×103m → = 25×10–6–3×103m c. Calculate the total reading on the v.scale suppose?
= 25×10–9km Total reading = M.S reading + V.S reading×L.C
= 25×10–9+1km → = 2.5×10–8km Ans = 2.5+8×0.01
Q. 5 What is pitch and the least count of =2.5+0.08
a. Vernier Calipers if the smallest division on the = 2.58cm
main scale Q. 7 Look at the figure of the screw gauge, let's
is 1mm and the total division of the Vernier scale is suppose a small steel ball is placed between its
20. spindle and anvil:
a. Vernier Calipers has no pitch. a. What is its main scale reading?
smallest division on main scale main scale reading = 6.5mm
least count=
Total division on vernier scale b. What is the coinciding division of circular scale?
1 coinciding division of circular scale = 46
 mm c. Calculate the total diameter of the ball.
20
 0.05mm Total reading = M.S reading + C.S reading×L.C
= 6.5+46×0.01
changeint o cm
= 6.5+0.46 = 6.96mm Ans.
0.05
 smallest division on main scale
10 least count=
Total division on circular scale
 0.005cm
0.5
b. Screw gauge if the smallest division on its main Least count  mm
scale is 0.5mm and its moveable scale has 50 50
divisions.  0.01mm