2023

Physical Quantities
and Units
[Unit 1]
V 1.1 Table of Contents 7/21/2023

Table of Contents
Table of Contents...................................................... 1
Physical Quantities.................................................... 2
SI Quantities & Base Units............................................. 2
The Prefixes ......................................................... 2
Derived Units ........................................................ 3
Homogeneity of Equations............................................... 3
The Problem .......................................................... 4
Conventions for Symbols & Units........................................ 4
Errors & Uncertainties................................................. 4
Absolute, Percentage, and Fractional Uncertainty ..................... 4
Accuracy & Precision ................................................. 5
On The Graph ....................................................... 5
Choice of Instruments .............................................. 1
Systematic & Random Error ............................................ 1
What is an Error? .................................................. 1
Systematic Error ................................................... 1
Random Error ....................................................... 6
Combining Uncertainties .............................................. 6
The 3 (Hopefully) Simple Rules ..................................... 6
Scalars and Vectors.................................................... 8
Examples ............................................................. 8
Representation of Vectors ............................................ 8
Vector Addition .................................................... 9
Resolving Vectors ................................................. 10
Past Paper Questions.................................................. 11
Question 1 [9702/22/F/M/22 Q1] ...................................... 11
Question 2 [9702/23/M/J/20 Q1] ...................................... 12
Question 3 [9702/23/M/J/18 Q1 Part A] ............................... 12
Question 4 [9702/13/M/J/15 Q2] ...................................... 12
Question 5 [9702/22/O/N/17 Q1] ...................................... 13
Question 6 [9702/12/M/J/15 Q2] ...................................... 14
Sources (and Resources) Used.......................................... 15

Physical Quantities and Units Page 1

V 1.1 Physical Quantities 7/21/2023

Physical Quantities
A physical quantity is a feature of something that can be measured and
every physical quantity has a numerical value and a unit.
Examples of these include quantities such as time, mass, length, speed,
and temperature.

SI Quantities & Base Units

The SI system of units is founded upon seven fundamental or base units
and is based on the metric system of measurement and is used by
scientists around the world.
The 7 base units are the following:
Base Quantity Base Unit Symbol
Mass Kilogram kg
Length Meter M
Time Second S
Electric Current Ampere (Amp) A
Temperature Kelvin K
Amount of substance Mole Mol
Luminous Intensity Candela Cd

The Prefixes
All quantities have one unit, this unit can have multiples and sub-
multiples so that the unit can be used for values of different sizes.
Here are some prefixes which you should know:
Prefix Symbol Multiplier Prefix Symbol Multiplier
Tera T 1012 Centi c 10-2
Giga G 109 Milli m 10-3
Mega M 106 Micro µ 10-6
Kilo K 103 Nano n 10-9
Deci d 10-1 Pico p 10-12

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V 1.1 Homogeneity of Equations 7/21/2023
Derived Units
These units are basically a combination of the base units.
Derived units may have their own units but can also be expressed in base
units.
Quantities without any named unit (such as the moment of a force) are
expressed in terms of other units (like Nm or kgm2s-2).
Derived Derived
Quantity Unit Quantity Unit
Unit Unit
Frequency Hertz s-1 Energy J kg m2 s-2
Velocity ms-1 m s-1 Power W kg m2 s-3
Electric
Acceleration ms-2 m s-2 C As
Charge
Potential
Force N kg ms-2 V kg m2 s-3 A-1
Difference
Electrical
Momentum Ns kg ms-1 Ω kg m2 s-3 A-2
Resistance

Homogeneity of Equations
Equations are homogenous when both sides have the same units meaning
that there are no errors in it.
Example:
The drag force F acting on a sky diver is given by the equation:
𝟏
𝑭 = 𝑪𝝆𝑨𝒗𝟐
𝟐
Where 𝑪 is a constant, 𝝆 is the density of air, 𝑨 is the cross-sectional
area of the diver and 𝒗 is the speed of fall.
Show that 𝑪 has no base units.
First, let us note down the base units of the known quantities:
Quantity Unit Quantity Unit
A m2 v ms-1
𝝆 kgm-3 F kgms-2
Now, multiply these units together (or whatever the equation does):
1 1
kgms −2 = × 𝐶 × kgm−3 × m2 × (ms −1 )2 kgms −2 = × 𝐶 × kgm−3 × m2 × ms−2
2 2
1
kgms −2 = × 𝐶 × kgms −2
2
Since both sides have the same units, we can say that C has no unit.
We don’t consider ½ because it does not change the units at all.

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V 1.1 Conventions for Symbols & Units 7/21/2023
The Problem
As we know, homogenic equations only have the same units.
This does not necessarily mean that the equation is error-free.
This is because the error may not be the units but the equation itself,
such as specific number.

Conventions for Symbols & Units

When writing the units on a graph axis or table header, we usually write
it in this format:
symbol/unit
Here, we write the symbol in italics (like t or v) and the unit in roman
which is separated by a slash.

Errors & Uncertainties

Absolute, Percentage, and Fractional Uncertainty
Uncertainty refers to the total range of values within which a
measurement is likely to lie in.
Absolute uncertainty is the size of the range of values within which the
‘true value’ of a measurement is likely to lie
Percentage uncertainty is the ratio of the absolute uncertainty in a
measurement to the measured value, expressed as a percentage.
Fractional uncertainty is the ratio of the absolute uncertainty in a
measurement to the measured value, expressed as a fraction.
For Example:
Let’s say a measurement was 46.0 ± 0.5cm.
The absolute uncertainty of this is ± 0.5cm.
The percentage uncertainty is ± 1% and is calculated like so:
0.5
× 100 ≈ 1%
46
The fractional uncertainty is literally:
0.5 1
=
46 92

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V 1.1 Errors & Uncertainties 7/21/2023
A Few Rules:
1. When writing measurements, the number of significant figures of the
measurement indicates its uncertainty.
2. The uncertainty in a measurement should be stated to 1 significant
figure.
3. The value for the quantity should be stated to the same number of
decimal places as the uncertainty.
4. Uncertainty ≠ Error (usually).

Accuracy & Precision

Accuracy Precision
Refers to the closeness of a Refers to how close a set of
measured value to the “true” or measured values are to each other.
“known” value.
Depends on:
Depends on:
▪ Equipment used
▪ Size of the range of values
▪ Skill of the experimenter
▪ Uncertainty in measurement
▪ Technique(s) used

On The Graph
Let’s put accuracy and precision in a visual to understand the
difference.
Let’s say the quantity we are measuring is called “X” and make a graph
which records our readings, we will place the number of readings on the
y-axis and the value on the x-axis.
Accurate and Precise Not Accurate and Imprecise

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V 1.1 Errors & Uncertainties 7/21/2023
Not Accurate but Precise Accurate but Imprecise

In the graphs, when the readings are precise, they all have a large
frequency of readings in one area and when they are accurate, the
readings are more close to the answer.

Choice of Instruments
The choice of an instrument for a measurement is related to the
measurement being made.
For example, the diameter of a strand of hair would be measured using a
micrometer screw gauge rather than a ruler.
Note: This is likely to be examined when planning experiments

Systematic & Random Error

Apart from the instruments themselves, we must also take the techniques
of measuring into account as they can both; increase or decrease the
uncertainty.

What is an Error?

Systematic Error
A systematic error is when the error results in the reading being more
than or less than the true value, this shift is by a fixed value and in
the same direction each time the measurement is taken.
Examples
Zero Error on an Instrument:
This is when the scale reading is not 0 before the measurements are
taken; this is easily avoided by checking for the zero error before
taking the measurements.

Physical Quantities and Units Page 1

V 1.1 Errors & Uncertainties 7/21/2023
Reaction Times:
This is mainly to do with time because as humans, we have a small delay
when starting or stopping a timer which causes delay and may lead to
some incorrect values.
Note: Systematic errors may be any error but it should lead to the measurement being
off by the same amount. (Don’t trust me on this; I’m also just a student)

Wrongly Calibrated Scale:

Usually, measurement tools are calibrated properly (no systematic error)
making it unnecessary to check the calibration of tools in experiments.
Checking the calibration changes from tool to tool, for example, we can
check a meter rule by placing many side by side or thermometers can be
put in well-stirred water.

Random Error
This is due to the scatter of readings around the true value and can be
reduced in 2 ways:
1. Plot a graph with all the values taken and draw a line of best fit.
2. Take an average of all the readings.
Examples
▪ Reading a ruler may cause errors such as the parallax error which may
cause measurement(s) to be scattered.
▪ Taking readings which vary with time may cause some varying results as
it is hard to read 2 scales at the same time.
Note: Most of the examples were just errors made by us.

Combining Uncertainties
When we obtain the value of a physical quantity, it is likely that we
had to measure many other quantities to calculate it.
Each of these “other quantities” had an uncertainty of some sort in
their value and so, we must combine these uncertainty values to get the
uncertainty of our newly calculated quantity.

The 3 (Hopefully) Simple Rules

To combine uncertainties, we follow two simple rules:
1. For quantities which are added or subtracted to give a result, add the
absolute certainties.
2. For quantities which are multiplied together or divided to give the
result, add the fraction or percent uncertainties.
3. For quantities with indices, multiply the power by the percent
uncertainty.

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V 1.1 Errors & Uncertainties 7/21/2023
Examples
Example 1: Example 2:
Let’s say we have 2 lengths: Let’s say we need to divide 2
values:
1. 5cm ± 0.1cm
2. 2cm ± 0.2cm 1. 100m ± 20cm
2. 25s ± 0.5s
Now, let’s find the difference
between the 2 lengths: Now, let’s divide the two:
5𝑐𝑚 − 2𝑐𝑚 = 3𝑐𝑚 100
= 4𝑚𝑠 −1
Now to combine the uncertainties… 25
just add them: To get the uncertainty, we add the
fraction uncertainties:
0.1 + 0.2 = 0.3𝑐𝑚
0.2 0.5 0.2 2 2.2
Therefore, the answer is 3cm ± + = + = 𝑚𝑠 −1
100 25 100 100 100
0.3cm.
Therefore, the answer is 4ms-1 ±
0.022ms-1

Physical Quantities and Units Page 7

V 1.1 Scalars and Vectors 7/21/2023

Scalars and Vectors

A scalar quantity is a quantity which only has a magnitude and unit.
A vector quantity is a quantity with magnitude, unit, and a direction.

Examples
Quantity Scalar Vector Quantity Scalar Vector
Momentum ✓ Mass ✓
Weight ✓ Speed ✓
Displacement ✓ Power ✓
Velocity ✓ Pressure ✓
Acceleration ✓ Temperature ✓
Force ✓ Density ✓

Representation of Vectors
One way of representing vectors is using arrows:

As seen in the image above, we can determine the following:

1. Arrow one shows a vector of 3 meters due north.
2. Arrow two shows a vector of 4.24 meters due south east.

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V 1.1 Scalars and Vectors 7/21/2023
Vector Addition
Let us say we want to add 2 Step 2:
vectors: Draw a new vector (the resultant
vector) from the start of the trail
to the end:

Step 1:
We take one of the vectors and
place it on the top of the other so Step 3:
that they join: Convert the final measurement and
write down the answer.
In this case it is a vector of 3
meters pointing in the east
direction.

By MST_Creator Physical Quantities and Units Page 9

V 1.1 Scalars and Vectors 7/21/2023
Resolving Vectors
As we know, we can add 2 vectors to get a resultant.
This resultant vector acts in the same way as any other vector.
This means that we can “split up” a vector into two other vectors; this
means that the vector is “resolved” into 2 “components”.
The only condition for this is that when combined, the product of the
components MUST BE THE ORIGINAL VECTOR.
Example
Question: Step 2:
Let’s say we wish to resolve the Make one vector from the end to the
vector below: intersection point and another
vector from the end of the first
one:

Step 1:
Make a line from both ends to make
it so that they intersect:

Physical Quantities and Units Page 10

 V 1.1 Past Paper Questions 7/21/2023

Past Paper Questions

Question 1 [9702/22/F/M/22 Q1]
A sphere of radius 2.1mm falls with terminal (constant) velocity through
a liquid, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Three forces act on the moving sphere. The weight of the sphere is 7.2 ×
10–4 N and the upthrust acting on it is 4.8 × 10–4 N. The viscous force FV
acting on the sphere is given by
𝑭𝑽 = 𝒌𝒓𝒗
where r is the radius of the sphere, v is its velocity and k is a
constant. The value of k in SI units is 17.
1. Determine the SI base units of k.
First up, rearrange the formula to get k:
𝐹𝑉
𝑘=
𝑟𝑣
Now, replace the quantities with their SI units:
𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑠 −2 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑠 −2
𝑘= = = 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑠 −2 × 𝑚−2 𝑠 = 𝒌𝒈𝒎−𝟏 𝒔−𝟏
𝑚 × 𝑚𝑠 −1 𝑚2 𝑠 −1
The rest of the q is not related.

Physical Quantities and Units Page 11

 V 1.1 Past Paper Questions 7/21/2023
Question 2 [9702/23/M/J/20 Q1]
Part A:
State one similarity and one difference between distance and
displacement
Similarity: They both have magnitude
Difference: Displacement has direction, distance does not.
Part B:
A student takes several measurements of the same quantity.
This set of measurements has high precision, but low accuracy.
Describe what is meant by:
High precision:
When the results fall in a small range.
Low accuracy:
When the results are not close to the true value.

Question 3 [9702/23/M/J/18 Q1 Part A]

An analogue voltmeter is used to take measurements of a constant
potential difference across a resistor.
For these measurements, describe one example of:
1. A systematic error:
Voltmeter scale not calibrated properly.
2. A random error:
Reading the voltmeter incorrectly.

Question 4 [9702/13/M/J/15 Q2]

What is the joule (J) in SI base units?
A. kgms-1 B. kgm2s-1 C. kgms-2 D. kgm2s-2
Use the formula for Work Done which has the unit joules:
𝑊. 𝐷 = 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 × 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑊. 𝐷 = 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑠 −2 × 𝑚
𝑊. 𝐷 = 𝒌𝒈𝒎𝟐 𝒔−𝟐

Physical Quantities and Units Page 12

 V 1.1 Past Paper Questions 7/21/2023
Question 5 [9702/22/O/N/17 Q1]
One end of a wire is connected to a fixed point. A load is attached to
the other end so that the wire hangs vertically.
The diameter d of the wire and the load F are measured as
d = 0.40 ± 0.02mm,
F = 25.0 ± 0.5N.
Part A:
For the measurement of the diameter of the wire, state:
1. The name of a suitable measuring instrument,
Micrometer screw gauge.
2. How random errors may be reduced when using the instrument in (i).
Take many readings and get the average of the diameter.
Part B:
The stress σ in the wire is calculated by using the expression:
𝟒𝑭
𝝈=
𝝅𝒅𝟐
1. Show that the value of  is 1.99  108 Nm-2.
0.4
𝑑= = 4 × 10−4 𝑚
10 × 100
4 × 25
𝜎= ≈ 𝟏. 𝟗𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖
(4 × 10−4 )2 × 𝜋
2. Determine the percentage uncertainty in σ.
Find the percentage uncertainties:
1. d = 5%
2. F = 2%
Now, create a basic formula using the 3 rules:
%𝜎 = %𝐹 + (%𝑑 × 2)
Now, substitute in the percent uncertainties:
%𝜎 = 2% + (5% × 2) = 𝟏𝟐%

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 V 1.1 Past Paper Questions 7/21/2023
3. Use the information in (b)(i) and your answer in (b)(ii) to determine the
value of σ, with its absolute uncertainty, to an appropriate number of
significant figures.
First up, get 12% of the value of  (absolute uncertainty):
12
1.99 × 108 × = 2.388 × 107
100
If you remember, we must round the absolute uncertainty to 1 s.f:
2.388 × 107 ≈ 2.0 × 107
Now, round off the value of  to match the d.p/s.f of absolute
uncertainty:
1.99 × 108 ≈ 2 × 108
Finally, put the absolute uncertainty and actual value together:
𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 ± 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟕 𝑵𝒎−𝟐

Question 6 [9702/12/M/J/15 Q2]

The average kinetic energy E of a gas molecule is given by the equation.
𝟑
𝑬=
𝒌𝑻
𝟐
Where T is the absolute (kelvin) temperature.
What are the SI base units of k?
A. kg-1m-1s2K B. kg-1m-2s2K C. kgms-2K-1 D. kgm2s-2K-1
First, rearrange the formula for k:
𝐸 = 1.5 × 𝑘 × 𝑇
𝐸
𝑘=
𝑇 × 1.5
We can remove the constant(s):
𝐸
𝑘=
𝑇
Replace the variables with SI units:
𝑘𝑔𝑚2 𝑠 −2
𝑘= = 𝒌𝒈𝒎𝟐 𝒔−𝟐 𝑲−𝟏
𝐾

Physical Quantities and Units Page 14

V 1.1 Sources (and Resources) Used 7/21/2023

Sources (and Resources) Used

Most of the information has come from the AS & A Level Physics Student
Book by Hodder Education.
Other resources/tools have also been used and are listed below:

Name Link Use

Save My Exams LINK Mainly understanding
concepts to make them
ZNotes LINK simpler
Designing of figures
Canva LINK
and diagrams
Geogebra LINK Vector diagrams
AS/A Level Syllabus LINK Checking syllabus

Physical Quantities and Units Page 15

V 1.1 Sources (and Resources) Used 7/21/2023
2023

Physical Quantities
and Units
Physics