General Physics 1

Subject Description: Mechanics of particles, rigid bodies, and

fluids; waves; and heat and thermodynamics using the
methods and concepts of algebra, geometry, trigonometry,
graphical analysis, and basic calculus
General Physics 2
Course Description: Electricity and magnetism; optics; the
basics of special relativity, atomic and nuclear phenomena
using the methods and concepts of algebra, geometry,
trigonometry, graphical analysis, and basic calculus
Measurement
&
Units

Teacher:
Marvin Darius M. Lagasca
Most Essential Learning Competencies
▪Solve measurement problems involving conversion of units,
expression of measurements in scientific notation
STEM_GP12EU-Ia-1
▪Differentiate accuracy from precision STEM_GP12EU-Ia-2
▪Differentiate random errors from systematic errors
STEM_GP12EU-Ia-3
 Objectives:
TOPICS ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE ESSENTIAL SKILLS
W1, Q1 The learner demonstrates knowledge by being able to: The learner is able to:

1. Define what physical quantities are and cite examples

of them.
1. Convert units.
I. MEASUREMENTS 2. Explain how physical quantities are measured.
3. Enumerate the characteristics, advantages and 2. Express sums and products with the
A. Units of
disadvantages, of the 2 Systems of Units. correct number of significant figures.
Measurements 4. Give the names of the 7 SI Base Units, their symbols, 3. Express measurements in scientific
B. Accuracy & Precision and the quantities for which they are used for.
5. Define the various prefixes used in the SI system.
notation with required number of
C. Random Error &
6. Apply the significant-figure rules. significant figures.
Systematic Error
7. Differentiate between Accuracy and Precision. 4. Calculate the Absolute, Relative, and
D. Uncertainty in 8. Differentiate between Random Error and Systematic
Percentage Errors of measurements.
Measurements Error.
9. Explain the necessity of expressing measurements 5. Express measurements with uncertainties.
with uncertainties.
 Importance of Measurement:
“When you can measure what you are speaking
about and express it in numbers, you know
something about it; but when you cannot express it
in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and
unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of
knowledge, but you have scarcely, in your thoughts,
advanced to the stage of science.” -Lord Kelvin
 PHYSICAL
QUANTITIES
& UNITS

MEASUREMENT

UNCERTAINTY NOTATION
What is a Physical Quantity?
• a property of a material or system that can be quantified
by measurement.
• can be expressed as the combination of a numerical
value and a unit.

Examples:
Length, mass, time, etc.

Source: Wikipedia
 How are Physical Quantities measured?

The measurement of a physical quantity is simply a comparison

with a standard.

These established standards are expressed by various units, for

example the standard in measuring length is the unit meter.
2 Systems Of Units

1. English / British / Imperial System

2. Système international d'unites / SI / Metric System

 English/British/Imperial System
Examples: in, ft, yd,
mi, lb.

There are only 3

countries left that still
persist in using this
system:
 The 7 Base Units of SI

The
SI
System
SI
prefixes:
Examples:
Quantity Approximate measurement Remarks

Diameter of an atom 100 pm

Wavelength of visible light 400 – 700 nm

Mean distance between Earth

150 Gm
and the Sun

Vitamin C in a vitamin capsule 500 mg

Mass of adult blue whale 150 Mg

 SI vs. English
SI English

1. It has 7 fundamental base units from which all other units

1. No base units.
are derived.

2. It assigns only one unit for a particular physical quantity and 2. The pound is used for both mass and force. It often has to
has no shortage of units so it does not need to borrow. borrow units from the SI.

3. It uses prefixes based on the powers of 10 so conversion is 3. It uses arbitrary conversion factors so conversion is not
easy. easy.

4. It honors physicists. 4. It honors the foot, the horse, and a couple of physicists.

5. It highlights some of nature’s constants. 5. “Miles” sounds better than “kilometers.”

Please check out:

https://www.nist.gov/si-redefinition/definitions-si-base-units
Conversion of Units: Examples
1. Convert 300 m to
a) km b) cm c) ft d) mi e) in
Conversion of Units: Examples
1. Convert 300 m to
a) km b) cm c) ft d) mi e) in
2. Convert 40 mi/h to km/h.
3. Express 500 lb in kg
4. Express 1 250 000 ml in
a) L b) 𝑚3 c) 𝑓𝑡 3 d) gal
 UNITS

MEASUREMENT

UNCERTAINTY NOTATION
 UNCERTAINTY in Measurements
What is the meaning of the following measurements?
1. 43 𝑚𝑚 ± 1 𝑚𝑚

2. 8. 45 𝑚 ± 0.05 𝑚

3. 2.3 𝑘𝑔 ± 0. 2 𝑘𝑔
UNCERTAINTY in Measurements

𝑴𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕
=
𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑬𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 ± 𝑼𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒚
“Any measurement that
you make without
knowledge of the
uncertainty is
meaningless!”
-Walter Lewin
 Necessity of expressing measurements with
specified uncertainties:
1. No measurement is without error. We can only be accurate
to a certain degree.

2. We can not compare whether 2 or more measurements are

consistent or not if we do not know the uncertainty of our
measurements.
Illustration of # 2:
Are the following measurements consistent or
not?

1. 171 𝑚𝑚, 173 𝑚𝑚

2. 1.28 𝑔, 1.32 𝑔
Illustration of # 2:
Are the following measurements consistent or
not?

1. 171 𝑚𝑚 ± 2 𝑚𝑚, 173 𝑚𝑚 ± 2 𝑚𝑚

2. 1.28 𝑔 ± 0.02, 1.34 ± 0.02 𝑔

Rule in determining consistency/discrepancy:

If the ranges of the two measured values don’t overlap, the

measurements are discrepant (the two numbers don’t agree).

If the ranges overlap, the measurements are said to be

consistent.
Sources of
Uncertainties:
Measurement
Errors
Sources of
Uncertainties:
Measurement
Errors
The Errors
affect the
QUALITY
of the
measurements.
 Illustration: true value 𝑚 = 35.12 𝑔
Mean Quality of
Measurements Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Measurement
Value

A 32.42 35.14 37.90 35.15

B 36.75 36.72 36.76 36.74

C 35.10 35.11 35.13 35.11

 UNITS

MEASUREMENT

UNCERTAINTY NOTATION
 NOTATION
The Scientific Notation format: 𝑁 𝑥 10𝑦
Examples:

Quantity Scientific notation Using prefix

300 000 000 m 3 𝑥 108 m ____ Mm

0.000000007 kg 7 𝑥 10−9 kg ____ µg

2 Rules in moving the decimal point:
1. Bigger to smaller unit: Move the decimal point to the right.
Ex. 0.2035 kg = ______________ mg

Scientific Notation: _______________ kg

2. Smaller to bigger unit: Move the decimal point to the left.

Ex. 102 µm = ______________ m

Scientific Notation: ________________m

Significant Figures:
- express the degree of precision of a measurement

What do the significant figures signify?

Sig Figs are:

1. Only the digits that we are certain of.

2. Only the digits that are meaningful for a certain degree of

accuracy.
Illustration 1: “Certainty”
Ysa measured the length of her table using a meterstick. Which of the
following measurements would you believe? Which one is the most proper?

𝑎. 82. 2375 𝑐𝑚

𝑏. 82. 237 𝑐𝑚

𝑐. 82.23 𝑐𝑚

𝑑. 82.2 𝑐𝑚

𝑒. 82.2 𝑐𝑚 ± 0.1 𝑐𝑚
Illustration 2: “Meaningfulness”
Teacher Angel measures the mass of her students with a very precise
weighing scale that gives measurements in kg up to 6 significant figures.
One student’s mass is measured 44.3275 kg. Should teacher Angel list
all digits? How should she record the mass?
Rules for Counting Significant Figures:
Counting Significant Figures:
 Number of Significant
Numbers
Figures

1. 1.234
How
2. 1.2340
many −5
3. 1.230 𝑥 10
significant 4. 0.024280
figures? 5. 3.01030
4
6. 1.2000 𝑥 10
7. 20000
2 Kinds of Rounding Off
Given: 44.125
Precision Rounded to Rounded to
(No. of places) Significant Figures Decimal Places
5 44.125 44.12500
4 44.13 44.1250
3 44.1 44.125
2 44 44.13
1 40 44.1
0 N/A 44
2 Kinds of Rounding Off
Given: 0.0255
Precision Rounded to Rounded to Decimal
(No. of places) Significant Figures Places
5 0.025500 0.02550
4 0.02550 0.0255
3 0.0255 0.026
2 0.026 0.03
1 0.03 0.0
0 N/A 0
Examples:
1. Express 0.00345 𝑛𝑚 in 𝑚 using scientific notation
rounded off to 2 significant figures.
2. Express 4504 Gg to kg using scientific notation rounded off
to 3 significant figures.
Questions:
1. How do you express 200 in 3 significant digits?

2. How do you express 8000 in 3 significant digits?

Rules for performing Addition/Subtraction:
The final answer is written so that it has the same
number of decimal places as the measurement
that has the fewest decimal places (i.e. the number
that is the least precise).
Illustration:
Rules for performing Multiplication / Division:
The final answer is written so that it has the
same number of Sig Figs as the measurement
with the fewest Sig Figs.
Illustration:

12.1234 15.789 5.05 = 966.6526311 = 967

12.1234 15.789 2 = 382.8327252 = ?

Examples:

1) 0.023 + 1.231 + 1.3412 = 2.5952

Answer:

2) (2.1)(1.23)(1.234) = 3.187422
Answer:
Summary: UNITS

MEASUREMENT

UNCERTAINTY NOTATION
Prepare for a test.

Next Lesson: Vectors