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Units and Measurement

The document discusses measurement and units in physics. It introduces the International System of Units (SI) and the three base units of mass, length and time. It explains how to perform unit conversions and the importance of dimensional analysis. It recommends practice problems from the chapter and preparing for the next lecture and laboratory.

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noorman.6968
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22 views3 pages

Units and Measurement

The document discusses measurement and units in physics. It introduces the International System of Units (SI) and the three base units of mass, length and time. It explains how to perform unit conversions and the importance of dimensional analysis. It recommends practice problems from the chapter and preparing for the next lecture and laboratory.

Uploaded by

noorman.6968
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 1

Measurement

Johan van Lierop


PHYS1050

Johan van Lierop PHYS1050 Chapter 1 Measurement

Physics: What is it?


I Measurements and comparisons are the basis of all science and
engineering.
I Rules are required to permit these comparisons.
I Careful observation and experiment combined with the precise language of
mathematics permit the formulation of the laws we will study.
I One of the main purposes of physics & engineering is to design and
conduct these experiments.
I Useful and meaningful science & engineering requires a consistent set of
units that describe the physical processes occurring.

Global positioning satellites (GPS) orbit the earth at


∼ 4000 m/s. From the speed of light and the times
measured for signals from three or more satellites, you can
locate the receiver. To ensure positional accuracy, the
clocks must be stable to better than 1 part is 1013 .

Johan van Lierop PHYS1050 Chapter 1 Measurement


Units! We don’t need no stinking units!
Metric Math Mistake Muffed Mars Meteorology Mission
The $125 million satellite was supposed to be the
first weather observer on another world. But as it
approached the red planet to slip into a stable
orbit Sept. 23, the orbiter vanished. Scientists
realized quickly it was gone for good.

“It was pretty clear that morning, within


half-an-hour, that the spacecraft had more or less
hit the top of the atmosphere and burned up,”
recalled NASA engineer Richard Cook, who was
project manager for Mars exploration projects at
the time.

1999: A disaster investigation board A NASA review board found that the problem was
reports that NASA’s Mars Climate in the software controlling the orbiter’s thrusters.
Orbiter burned up in the Martian The software calculated the force the thrusters
atmosphere because engineers failed to needed to exert in pounds of force. A separate
convert units from English to metric. piece of software took in the data assuming it was
in the metric unit: newtons.
http://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2010/11/1110mars- climate- observer-report/

Johan van Lierop PHYS1050 Chapter 1 Measurement

The International System of Units (SI)

The International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) was set up by the Metre Convention signed in Paris on 20 May 1875 by
seventeen States during the final session of the diplomatic Conference of the Metre.

The task of the BIPM is to ensure worldwide unification of measurements; its function is thus to:
X establish fundamental standards and scales for the measurement of the principal physical quantities and maintain the
international prototypes;
X carry out comparisons of national and international standards;
X ensure the coordination of corresponding measurement techniques;
X carry out and coordinate measurements of the fundamental physical constants relevant to these activities.
Bureau International des Poids et Mesures – 8th edition, 2006 (Organisation Intergouvernementale de la Convention du Métre)

The three ‘basic’ quantities to describe most of the things we will encounter:

I mass (m) – measured in kilograms (kg)


I length (l) – measured in metres (m)
I time (t) – measured in seconds (s)

Johan van Lierop PHYS1050 Chapter 1 Measurement


Using units

Measured quantities are defined in terms of m, l and t.


8 speed, v , is measured in m/s (ms−1 )
8 acceleration, a, is measured in m/s2 (ms−2 )
8 force, F = ma, ⇒ [F ] = [m][a] ≡ kg m/s2 ≡ Newton (N)
N.B. [ ] is shorthand for “in the units of”

Changing units using the ‘chain–link conversion’ method (Uni Phys 1-3).
X multiply the original measurement by a conversion factor – a
ratio of units equal to unity: Not a numerical factor or ratio!
X e.g. 2.54 cm = 1 inch
1 inch 2.54 cm
= 1 and =1
2.54 cm 1 inch

X Example: 5 cm = ? inches

→ 5 cm × 2.541 inch = 1.97 inches


cm
X Be alert with area and volume conversions:
5 cm3 6= (5 cm)3

Johan van Lierop PHYS1050 Chapter 1 Measurement

Summary & forecast

I Reviewed briefly the SI system of units that we will be using throughout


PHYS1050.
I Read chapter 1 of OpenStax Uni Phys 1 for more details, e.g. how to perform
unit conversions, finding units, etc.
I Pay special attention to 1.4 Dimensional Analysis. This is ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT CONCEPTS in science. Identifying and understanding the
dimensions of a situation will provide deep insight into how to attack and solve
all kinds of problems.
I Work at some problems from chapter 1 of for practice – check your solutions!
I suggest 1.35, 1.51, 1.55 and 1.67, 1.73 and 1.85
I Try OpenStax Achieve!
I Read the textbook for the next lecture. During the next lecture we will cover the
material from the first few sections of chapter 2.
I Read the laboratory manual (on the PHYS1050 UM Learn lab section) and be
ready to start Experiment #1.

Johan van Lierop PHYS1050 Chapter 1 Measurement

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