MEASUREMENT

MEASUREMENT IN PHYSICS
Physics is based on measurement of
physics quantities, such as

Length
Time
Mass
Temperature
Electric Current
Pressure
etc

The History

SI UNITS
Le Systme International
dUnits

To express the measurement quantitatively,

we have to introduce UNIT
1. Unit of length : meter (m)
2. Unit of mass

: kilogram (kg)

3. Unit of time

: second (s)

The standard platinum-iridium

The Kg is divined as the mass of a

specific platinumiridium alloy cylinder
kept at the International Bureau of

The nations primary time standard is a

cesium fountain atomic clock developed
at the National Institute of Standards
and Technology laboratories in Boulder,

THE CONVERSION OF UNITS

1 ft

= 0.3048 m

1 mi

= 1.609 km

1 hp

= 746 W

1 liter = 10-3 m3

Example 1 The Worlds Highest Waterfall

The highest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls in
Venezuela,
with a total drop of 979.0 m. Express this drop in
feet.
Since 3.281 feet = 1 meter, it follows that
(3.281 feet)/(1 meter) = 1

3.281 feet
Length 979.0 meters
3212 feet
1 meter

Example 2 Interstate Speed Limit

Express the speed limit of 65 miles/hour in terms of
meters/second.
Use 5280 feet = 1 mile and 3600 seconds = 1 hour and
3.281 feet = 1 meter.

miles
miles 5280 feet 1 hour
feet

Speed 65
11 65

95
hour
hour
mile 3600 s
second

feet
feet

Speed 95
1 95

second
second

1 meter
meters

29
second
3.281 feet

The Power of Ten video

by Charles and Ray Eames.

DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
Length

Time

Mass

meter

second

Kg

[L]

[T]

[M]

All other quantities can be derived from these fundamental

quantities. For example [speed] the dimensional of
speed

[L]
[speed] =

[T]

TRIGONOMETRY

ho
sin
h

ha
cos
h
ho
tan
ha

ho
tan
ha
ho
tan 50
67.2m

ho tan 50 67.2m 80.0m

 ho
sin

h
1

ha
cos

h
1

ho

tan
ha
1

 ho

tan
ha
1

2.25m

tan
9.13
14.0m
1

Assignment
1. The standard kilogram is a platinumiridium cylinder 39.0 mm in
height and 39.0 mm in diameter. What is the density of the material?
2. A major motor company displays a die-cast model of its first
automobile, made from 9.35 kg of iron. To celebrate its hundredth year
in business, a worker will recast the model in gold from the original
dies. What mass of gold is needed to make the new model?
3. A rectangular building lot is 100 ft by 150 ft. Determine the area of
this lot in m2.
4. An auditorium measures 40.0 m ! 20.0 m ! 12.0 m. The density of air
is 1.20 kg/m3. What are (a) the volume of the room in cubic feet and
(b) the weight of air in the room in pounds?
5. Find the height or length of these natural wonders in kilometers,
meters and centimeters. (a) The longest cave system in the world is
the Mammoth Cave system in central Kentucky. It has a mapped
length of 348 mi. (b) In the United States, the waterfall with the
greatest single drop is Ribbon Falls, which falls 1 612 ft. (c) Mount
McKinley in Denali National Park, Alaska, is Americas highest
mountain at a height of 20 320 ft. (d) The deepest canyon in the