Phy110 - Chapter 1

Prof. Madya Dr.
Ahmad Taufek Abdul Rahman

School of Physics & Material Sciences
Fakulty of Applied Sciences
Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia
Campus of Negeri Sembilan
72000 Kuala Pilah
Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
AS120
Diploma in Science
DR.ATAR @ UiTM.NS PHY110 2
1.0 Physical Quantities

1.1 Measurement
1.2 Units and standards of measurements
1.3 Unit conversion
(Dimension Analysis Not Included)
Science and Engineering are Based on
Measurements and Comparisons
What is measurement?
What is measurement?
Measurement is the process that brings a precision
to a description by specifying the how much and
of what of a quantity in particular situation.

A number expresses the value of the quantity, and
the name of a unit tells you what the referent is as
well as implying the procedure for obtaining the
number.
How do we measured the quantities?
How do we measured the quantities?
The measurement was made using the
appropriateness of the measuring instruments
Do you think your measurement is correct?
No! Because every measurement made has an
uncertainty that is determined by the precision of
the apparatus used and the physical constraints of
individual.
Accuracy and Precision
Physics demands accurate and precise measurement.
Low Accuracy
High Precision
High Accuracy
Low Precision
High Accuracy
High Precision
Accuracy is how close a measured value is to the
actual (true) value.
Precision is how close the measured values are to
each other.
Accuracy is how close a measured value is to the
actual (true) value.
SI unit of length is meter (m)
Tools of measurement meter rule, vernier calipers
and micrometer screw gauge
Do not measure something using equipment which not
according to its specification
Because every measurement instrument has finite
amount of accuracy

Meter rule - 0.1 cm
Vernier caliper - 0.01 cm
Micrometer screw gauge - 0.01 mm
Measurement of Length
Figure 2
Meter Rule
Was the end of the object exactly opposite the zero of the ruler?
reading the smallest division on the measuring instrument
Meter Rule
Vernier Scale
A vernier scale is a small, moveable scale placed
next to the main scale of a measuring instrument.
It is named after its inventor, Pierre Vernier (1580
- 1637).
It allows us to make measurements to a precision
of a small fraction of the smallest division on the
main scale of the instrument.
There are two specifics examples vernier calipers
and micrometer screw gauge
Vernier Calipers
Vernier calipers can measure up to an accuracy of
0.01 cm.
Vernier calipers are used to measure the internal
and external diameters of tubes and length of a
small object.
0.1 cm
External Caliper
0.1 cm
Internal Caliper
Vernier Calipers
0.01 cm
Digital Vernier Calipers
0.01 mm
Reading Vernier Calipers Scale
The figure shows a Vernier scale reading zero. Notice
that 10 divisions of the Vernier scale have the same
length as 9 divisions of the main scale.
We will assume that the smallest division on the main
scale is 0.1 cm so the divisions on the Vernier scale
are 009 cm each.
1.Check for zero error
Zero error: - the zero of the vernier scale does not
coincide with the zero of the main scale when the
jaws is closed (has no object measured).

2. Read the main scale
Take the reading from the main scale up to the mark
just before the zero line of the vernier scale
Give the reading (in cm) up to the one decimal point
Main scale = 2.6 cm
3.Read the vernier scale
Take the mark from the vernier scale which coincides
with the line on the main scale.
Gives the reading with two decimal places.
Vermeer scale = 0.07 cm
Final reading = (2.6 cm + 0.07 cm) - 0 = 2.67 cm
Final reading = (main scale + vernier scale) Zero Error
Reading Micrometer Screw Gauge
0.01 mm
Sleeve Scale - On the sleeve of micrometer is a
horizontal line called the datum line, which is
graduated in millimeters, with half-millimeter
marked below the scale from 0 to 25 mm.

Thimble Scale - There are 50 divisions marked
on the thimble, when you turn through 50
divisions, the spindle moves through 0.5 mm, so
one divisions = 0.01 mm
1.Check the zero error

Zero error: - the zero of the
vernier scale does not
coincide with the zero of
the main scale when the
instrument is closed (has no
object measured).
2.Read the Sleeve Scale
Take the reading on the sleeve scale up to the
edge of the thimble. The sleeve scale gives the
reading in mm with one decimal place.
Sleeve scale = 3.5 mm
3. Read the Thimble Scale
Then take the thimble scale reading at the mark
which coincides with the datum line.
The thimble scale gives the reading (in mm)
with two decimal places.
Thimble scale = 0.22 mm
The final reading = (3.5 mm + 0.22 mm) - 0 = 3.75 mm
Final reading = (sleeve scale + thimble scale) Zero Error
EXERCISES
EXERCISES
EXERCISES
EXERCISES
EXERCISES
EXERCISES
EXERCISES
EXERCISES
EXERCISES
EXERCISES
EXERCISES
EXERCISES
Type of Errors
Random Errors are usually small and has equal
probability of being positive or negative, example;
parallax error (an error due to incorrect eyes
position during the measurement), mistake in
measurement, wrong count etc.

Systematic Errors Constant error due to
instruments, physical conditions of the surrounding
or physical limitation of the observer.
Determination of Uncertainty
Let say the length of solid is written as l = (67.55 0.05) cm

Therefore:-

Absolute error = Al = 0.05 cm

Relative error =

Percentage error =
l
l A
100 ) (
l
l A
Determination of Uncertainty
Added or subtracted their absolute errors are
summed
Multiplied or divided, their percentage error are
summed
Power of n, the percentage error is multiplied by n
The significant figures in a number are all
figures that are obtained directly from the
measuring process and exclude those zeros
which are included solely for the purpose of
locating the decimal point.

A measurement and its experimental errors
should have their last significant digits in the
same location
When multiplying or dividing several quantities, the
number of significant figures in the final answer should be
the same as the number of significant figures in the least
accurate measurement (having the least number of
significant figures)

Example:
a) 24.75 cm X 6.780 = ________________

b) Period for 50 oscillations of a simple pendulum as
recorded by a stopwatch ( t = 48.6s )
When adding or subtracting numbers, the number of
decimal places of the answer must be equal to the least
number of decimal places of the given numbers

Example:
a) 26.2 cm + 5.67 cm = ________________

b) 3.05 cm 0.528 cm = ________________
Exercises
1. The following measurements are made to determine
the density of a metal cylinder.
diameter = (2.46 0.01) cm
h = (16.8 0.1) cm
mass = (720 10) g
What is the percentage error in the measurement
of the density? Calculate the density of the metal to
the correct number of significant figures.
Exercises
2. To measure the mass of water in a beaker, the
following reading were taken.
Mass of empty beaker, m1 = (45.6 0.5) g
Mass of beaker and water, m2 = (82.8 0.5) g

a) What is the absolute error and percentage error of the
mass of the water.
b) How would the mass of the water be recorded as?
Exercises
3. A cyclist take 15.78 s to travel a distance of 125 m.
what is his average speed? Give your answer to the
correct number of significant figures.
Plotting a graph is one way to find the relationship
between measured variables.

The most important quantities that are deduced
from a straight line graph are:

i. Gradient of the graph, m
ii. Intercepts on the axes, c
Information from the Graph
y = mx + c
1. Use s sharp pencil to avoid any unnecessary inaccuracies
2. Draw your graph on a full page of the graph paper (>
of graph paper)
3. Give the graph a concise title
4. The dependent variable should be plotted along the
vertical axis (y) and the independent variable along the
horizontal axis (x)
5. Label axes include units
6. Select the best scale and start at zero if possible
7. Use error bar to indicate errors in measurements
8. Draw a smooth curve through the data point (best line as
possible about 2/3 of the data plot lie along the curve)
1. Calculate and coordinates of the centroid.
|
.
|
\
|
E E
n
y
n
x
i i
,
2. The best straight line of the graph that is drawn
must pass through the centroid.
3. Draw another straight line, one with the max
gradient (m
max
) and second with the least gradient
(m
min
). These two straight line must be pass through
the centroid.
1. Relative uncertainty of intercept c
( )
c
c c
c
c
min max
2
1
=
A
2. Relative uncertainty of gradient m
( )
m
m m
m
m
min max
2
1
=
A
Examples
1. Graph the data using the above guidelines
Speed (m/s) Time (s)
0.45 0.06 1
0.81 0.06 2
0.91 0.06 3
1.01 0.06 4
1.36 0.06 5
1.56 0.06 6
1.65 0.06 7
1.85 0.06 8
2.17 0.06 9
Examples
2. A cyclist starts from rest and the distance travelled is
measured as a function of time. The time measurement is
assumed to be precise. Determine distance d as a function of
time t by graphical analysis.
Distance (m) Time (s)
1.2 0.6 1
5.4 0.6 2
11.1 0.6 3
22.0 0.6 4
32.1 1.0 5
49.0 1.0 6
63.1 1.5 7
86.0 1.5 8
Physical quantity is defined as a quantity which can
be measured.
It can be categorised into 2 types
Basic (base) quantity
Derived quantity
Basic quantity is defined as a quantity which cannot
be derived from any physical quantities.
Derived quantity is defined as a quantity which can be
expressed in term of base quantity.
Quantity Symbol SI Unit Symbol
Length l metre m
Mass m kilogram kg
Time t second s
Temperature T/u kelvin K
Electric current I ampere A
Amount of substance N mole mol
Luminous Intensity candela cd
Derived quantity Symbol Formulae Unit
Velocity
v s/t
m s
-1
Volume
V l w t
M
3
Acceleration
a v/t
m s
-2
Density
m/V
kg m
-3
Momentum
p m v
kg m s
-1
Force
F m a
kg m s
-2
@ N
Work
W F s
kg m
2
s
-2
@ J
ATAR@UiTM/PHY081/1 64
The meter was again redefined in 1983 as
the length of the path traveled by light in
vacuum during a time interval of
1/299,792,458 of a second.

The SI unit of mass.
1 kg is equal to the
mass of an
international prototype
metal cylinder by a
platinum-iridium alloy
cylinder.
The standard kilogram
Second was redefined in 1967 in terms of the
resonant frequency of the cesium atom-that
is, the frequency at which this atom absorbs
energy, or a duration of 9,192,631,770
period of radiation emitted by cesium 133
atom.
The SI unit of temperature.
It is equal to 1/273.16 of the
temperature of the triple point of water,
at which the solid, liquid, and gas are in
equilibrium (can all exist at the same
time) on the absolute temperature scale.
The SI unit of current .
The ampere (A) was defined as the constant
current that, flowing in two parallel
conductors one meter apart in a vacuum, will
produce a force between the conductors of 2
10
-7
Newton per meter of length.
1 A of current is equivalent to 1 C of charge
passing through the cross-sectional area in a
time interval of 1s.
1 A=1 Cs
-1

Unit is defined as a standard size of measurement of physical
quantities. The common system of units used today are S.I unit
(System International/metric system)
Examples :
1 second is defined as the time required for 9,192,631,770
vibrations of radiation emitted by a caesium-133 atom.
1 kilogram is defined as the mass of a platinum-iridium
cylinder kept at International Bureau of Weights and
Measures Paris.
1 meter is defined as the length of the path travelled by light
in vacuum during a time interval of

s
458 , 792 , 299
1
It is used for presenting larger and smaller
values.
Unit prefixes is important to express larger
and smaller units in the same physical
quantities.
The names of the additional units are derived
by adding a prefix to the name of the
fundamental unit.
UNIT PREFIXES
Power Prefix Abbreviation
10
-18
Atto a
10
-15
Femto f
10
-12
Pico p
10
-9
Nano n
10
-6
Micro
10
-3
Mili m
10
-2
Centi c
10
-1
Deci d
10
1
Deca da
10
3
Kilo k
10
6
Mega M
10
9
giga G
10
12
tera T
10
15
peta P
10
18
exa E
Length Mass
1 m = 39.37 in = 3.281 ft 1 kg = 10
3
g
1 in = 2.54 cm 1 slug = 14.59 kg
1 km = 0.621 mi 1 lb = 0.453 592 kg
1 mi = 5280 ft = 1.609 km 1 kg = 0.0685 slug
1 angstrom () = 10
10
m
1. Solve the following problems of unit
conversion.
a) 30 mm
2
= ? m
2

b) 865 km h
1
= ? m s
1

c) 300 g cm
3
= ? kg m
3

d) 17 cm = ? In
e) 24 mi h
1
= ? km s
1


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Prof. Madya Dr.

Ahmad Taufek Abdul Rahman

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