Page 61 - Physics

Measurement

ICT corner

Visit https://phet.colorado.edu select the simulation involving
measurements of various quantities like time, length

Chapter summary

1. Initially, approximations were used as a form of measurement. Advancement
in science has made it possible to have appropriate instruments for each type of
measurement.
2. Every measurement has the number part and the unit part. This complete measurement
is called measurement of a physical quantity.
3. Fundamental quantities are the physical quantities which cannot be obtained from
any other quantities. These quantities include length, mass, time, temperature,
amount of substance, electric current and luminous intensity.
4. Fundamental physical quantities are measured using base units which are metre
(m), kilogramme (kg), second (s), kelvin (K), mole (mol), Ampere (A) and Candella
(cd).

5. The beam balance and digital balances are used to measure mass, while rulers,
vernier callipers, micrometre screw gauges and tapes are used to measure length.
On the other hand, time is measured using a stopwatch or a clock.
6. Derived quantities are obtained by dividing or multiplying two or more fundamental
quantities. These quantities include weight, acceleration, velocity, volume and
area. Their SI units are the newton, metre per second square, metre per second,
cubic metre, and square metre, respectively.

7. There are three types of errors that emerge during measurements, namely:
(a) parallax error;
(b) zero error; and

(c) instrumental error.

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