Chapter-1

Units and Measurements

Course Content
• Need for measurements, system of units, S.I. units, fundamental and derived units.
Dimensional formula, dimensional equations and their applications. Error in Physical
measurements-causes & types. Combination of errors (qualitative ideas).

1.1 Introduction:
Physics is the branch of science that deals with nature and natural phenomenon. It is based on
the observation, measurement, analysis and then implementation of the obtained results. It has
the capability to measure the radius of nucleus to that of the universe. Physics has a very wide
scope; it lies in all technologies and engineering fields. It has a wide range of applications in
medical sciences, technology, defense, astronomy etc.

Physical Quantity: Any existence in nature that can be measured by any method of science,
called the Physical Quantity e.g. Heat, Length, Area, Volume, Force, Electric Current,
Velocity, Density etc.

Measurement: The measurement of a physical quantity or an object, is its comparison with

any another standard object which is exactly of the same kind.

Need of Measurement: This is a general question arise in our mind that why we measure the
physical quantities, what is the need of measurement? This need of measurement can be
explained as follows:

1) We can use a physical quantity only after its measurement.

2) Measurement is a method to specify the physical quantity.

3) Measurements of physical quantities are also required to remove many daily arising
problems.

4) In the international and national business these are the measurements which make the
process easy.

5) If we not take the measurements of time, length and mass, there will not any another
measurement and the whole system of universe, even our life will disturb.

1.2 Unit: The chosen standard, of the same kind taken as the reference in order to measure a
physical quantity; is called the unit of that quantity.

1.2.1 Types of Units:

1. Fundamental Units: Those units which can neither be derived from one-another nor can
they be further resolved into any other units.

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 In nature there are only three fundamental quantities: Time, length and mass and the
units of these fundamental quantities are called fundamental units because they have their own
existence by virtue of the nature. So, the units of time, length and mass are sec, meter and Kg
respectively, which are the fundamental units.

2. Derived Units: These are the units of those physical quantities which are derived by division
or multiplication of the fundamental quantities for example: Speed, acceleration, force are the
derived quantities as:

Diatance Unit of Distance

Speed = ⇒ Unit of Speed =
Time Unit of time
m
Hence, unit of speed =
sec
Change in velocity
Similarly; Acceleration =
time
Unit of velocity m⁄s
Unit of acc. = = = m⁄s 2
Unit od time sec
And force = ma = mass × acceleration

∴ Unit of force = unit of mass × unit of acceleration

m
= Kg × = Kg. m/s2
s2
Similarly, the units of density, area, volume, Impulse, Viscosity etc. can be obtained.

1.3 System of Units: There are the following four systems of units for the measurement of
physical quantities:

1. CGS system: This is the system of units which is based on centimeter, gram and
second. In this system the length is measured in centimeter, mass in gram and the time
is measured in seconds.

2. FPS system: In this system the length is measured in foot, mass in pounds and the time
in seconds.

3. MKS system: In this system the length is measured in meter, mass in kilograms and
time in seconds. This is a coherent system of units in mechanics.

4. SI system: The units of fundamental quantities length, mass and time can used to obtain
the units of another physical quantities only in mechanics but not in another branches
of physics. So, in order to obtain the units of fundamental quantities in all branches of
physics and to obtain the units of advanced physical quantities; the SI system of units
is introduced. The SI system is based on seven basic and two supplementary units:

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 Sr. No. Basic Physical Quantity Unit Symbol

1. Length meter m

2. Mass kilogram Kg

3. Time second S

4. Temperature Kelvin K

5. Electric current ampere A

6. Luminous Intensity candela cd

7. Quantity of Matter mole mol

Sr. No. Supplementary Physical Quantity Unit Symbol

1. Plane Angle radian rad

2. Solid angle steradian sr

1.3.1 Standard Definitions of Basic and supplementary units:

Basic Units:

1. Meter: -One meter is the length of path travelled by light in vacuum in 1/299,792,458
of a second.

2. Kilogram: -One kilogram is defined as the mass of the international prototype cylinder;
which is the standard block of platinum Iridium alloy preserved in the international
bureau of weights and measures in France.

3. Second: -One second is defined to be equal to the duration of 9,192,631,970 vibrations

corresponding to the transition between to hyperfine levels of cesium-133 atom in the
ground state.

4. Kelvin: -It is defined as 1/273.16th fraction of the thermodynamic temperature at the

triple point of water.

5. Ampere: -This is the unit of current. One ampere is defined as the current generating a
force of 2×10-7 Newton per meter between two straight parallel conductors of infinite
length and negligible circular cross-section, when placed one meter apart in vacuum.

6. Candela: -This is the unit of luminous intensity. One candela is the luminous intensity
in a perpendicular direction of 1/60,000 m2 area of a block body at freezing point of
platinum under a high pressure.

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 7. Mole: Mole is the unit of quantity of matter. One mole is the amount of substance which
contains as many elementary units as there are the atoms in 0.012Kg of pure-carbon-
12.

Supplementary Units:

1. The radian: -This is the unit of plane angle. One radian is the angle suspended at the
center of a circle by an arc equal in length to the radius of the circle.

2. The steradian: This is the unit of solid angle i.e. angle in three dimensions. One
steradian is the solid angle subtended at the center of a sphere by that the surface of the
sphere; which is equal in area to the square of the radius of the sphere.

Advantages of SI system of units:

1. Coherent system of units: -This is a coherent system of units because it is based on a

set of fundamental units, from which all derived units can be obtained by division,
multiplying and without introducing any numerical factors.

2. Rational system of units: It assigns only one unit to a particular physical quantity for
example joule is the unit for all types of energies. But in the MKS system there are the
different units of energy for different types of energy as mechanical energy is in Joule,
heat energy in calorie etc.

3. It is a metric system: -The multiples and submultiples of units are expressed as power
of 10 e.g. 1m = 102 cm, 1 KJ = 103 J etc.

4. It gives the units of practical physical quantities. Like ampere is the unit of current, ohm
is the unit of resistance, farad is of capacity, watt is the unit of power etc.

Some Important Practical Units:

1. Astronomical unit (AU): -This is the average distance of the center of sun from the
center of the earth.

1 AU = 1.5 × 1011 m

2. Light year: -This is also the unit of distance. One light year may be defined as the
distance travelled by light in one year.

1 ly = 9.46 × 1015 m

3. Par sec: This is also a unit of long distance. One parsec is the distance at which an arc
1Au long subtends an angle of 1”(1”=1 Second)

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 1
as; 1min = 60sec ⇒ 1sec = min
60
1
∴ θ = 1sec = min − − − (1.1)
60
but 1 degree = 60min

1 1 1 1
∴ 1 min = degree 𝑎𝑛𝑑 min = × degree
60 60 60 60
1
from (1.1) θ = degree − − − (1.2)
60 × 60
1800
but 1 rad =
π
π
∴ 1800 = π × 1 rad ⇒ 10 = rad
1800
1 π 1 1
In (1.2) θ = degree = × × rad − − − (1.3)
60 × 60 1800 60 60
𝑙 1 AU
from figure r = or 1 Par sec =
θ 1 sec
1.5 × 1011 m
1 Parsec = = 30.84 × 1015 m
π⁄180 × 60 × 60rad

1 Parsec ≅ 3 × 1016 m

Relation between AU, ly and Parsec: -

As: 1AU = 1.5 × 1011 m, 1 ly = 9.46 × 1015 m

1 Parsec = 3 × 1016 m

1 ly 9.46 × 1015 m
∴ = = 6.3 × 104
1 AU 1.5 × 1011 m
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 1 ly = 6.3 × 104 AU

1 Parsec 3 × 1016 m
Similarly: = = 3.26
1 ly 9.46 × 1015 m

∴ 1 Parsec = 3.26ly

Some other relative units: -

1 Inch=0.0254m

1 Foot=0.3048m

1 Mile=1.609×103m

1 Micron=1μ or 1μm=10-6m

1 Nanometer=1nm=10-9m

1 Angstrom=1A0=10-10m

1 Fermi=1fm=10-15m

1 Pico meter=1Pm=10-12m

1 Millimeter=1mm=10-3m

1.4-Dimensional formula: -This is a way to express the physical quantities by raising powers
to required mass, time and length notations where M, L and T are used as for mass, length and
time respectively.

Sr. Physical Formula SI unit Dimensional Formula

No.
Quantity

1. Area l×b m2 L×L=[M 0 L2 T 0 ]

2. Volume l×b×h m3 L×L×L=[M 0 L3 T 0 ]

3. Density Mass/volume kg/m3 M

= [ML−3 T 0 ]
L3
4. Speed/velocity Distance/Time m/s L
= [M 0 LT −1 ]
T
5. Acceleration Change in Velocity m/s2 LT −1
= [M 0 LT −2 ]
Time T
6. Momentum Mass ×velocity Kg m/s MLT-1=[MLT −1 ]

7. Force Mass×acceleration Kg m/s2 MLT-2 =[MLT −2 ]

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8. Pressure Force/Area N/m2 MLT −2
= [ML−1 T −2 ]
L2
9. Work Force X Distance Joule (J) MLT-2.L=[ML2 T −2 ]

10. Energy(all Work Joule (J) [ML2 T −2 ]

types)

11. Power Work/time Watt = J/s ML2 T −2

= [ML2 T −3 ]
T
12. Moment of force Force×⊥distance Nm MLT-2.L=[ML2 T −2 ]

13. Gravitational F. r 2 Nm2/Kg2 MLT −2 . L2

G= = [M −1 L3 T −2 ]
constant m1 × m2 M2

14. Impulse Force × time Ns MLT-2 T=[MLT −1 ]

15. Stress Force Nm-2 MLT −2

= [ML−1 T −2 ]
Area L2
16. Strain Change in Unitless Dimensionless
dimension
Original
dimension
17. Coefficient of Stress Nm-2 ML−1 T −2
= [ML−1 T −2 ]
elasticity Strain 1

18. Surface Tension Force N/m MLT −2

= [ML0 T −2 ]
length L

19. Surface Energy Energy J/m2 ML2 T −2

= [ML0 T −2 ]
Area L2

20. Velocity Velocity m/s LT −1

= s −1 = [M 0 L0 T −1 ]
gradient Distance m L

21. Radius of Distance m L=[M 0 LT 0 ]

Gyration

22. Moment of Mass×(radius of Kg,m2 M.L2=[ML2 T 0 ]

Inertia gyration)2

23. Angle Arc Rad ------

Radius
24. Angular velocity Angle s-1rad 1
= [M 0 L0 T −1 ]
Time T

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 25. Angular Angular Vel. s-2rad T −1
= [M 0 L0 T −2 ]
Acceleration Time T

26. Angular Angular velocity× Kgm2s-1rad T-1.ML2=[ML2 T −1 ]

Momentum moment of inertia

27. Frequency No. of events s-1 or 1

= [M 0 L0 T −1 ]
Time Hz(Hertz) T

28. Planck’s Energy Js ML2 T −2

= [ML2 T −1 ]
Constant Frequency T −1

Some other dimensional formulae of generally used terms:

1. Co-efficient of Viscosity:

force MLT −2
Co − effiecient of Viscosity = = 2 = [ML−1 T −1 ]
area × velocity gradient L × T −1

2. Dimension of temperature=[M 0 L0 T 0 K]; Where K-Kelvin

3. Length of wave (wavelength)=distance =[M 0 LT 0 ]

4.

Cubic Meter L3
Specific Volume = = = [M −1 L3 T 0 ]
Kg M

5.

Joule ML2 T −2
Surface Potential = = = [M 0 L2 T −2 ]
Kg M