TOPIC 03-MEASUREMENT

Measurement is the process of assigning numbers and units to a given event or observation.

Example:

• Length of a book is 25cm
• An angle of 30⁰

Consider the fact that if we say the length of a pen is 25 cm “ 25 gives the answer for how much” and “cm” gives the answer for “of what”.

PHYSICAL QUANTITIES

In physics whatever we measure is referred as a physical quantity. Physical quantity is something that we can measure in Physics.

This includes:Mass, time, length, volume, area, pressure, temperature etc

Each of these physical quantities may be measured by using one or more units. Internationally each physical quantity is assigned with its single unit which is recognized. These are the standard international unit (SI units) or system of international unit.

There are two types of physical quantities;

1. Fundamental physical quantity
2. Derived physical quantity

Fundamental physical quantities are those which can not be expressed in terms of other physical quantities namely;

1. Mass
2. Length
3. Time
4. Thermodynamic Temperature
5. Electric current
6. Luminous intensity
7. Amount of substance

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