PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, UNITS & MEASUREMENTS

Physical Quantities and Units

1. Which of the following is not an SI base unit 9. When a beam of light is incident on a surface, it
(Systeme International Units)? delivers energy to the surface. The intensity of
A Kelvin (K) B coulomb (C) the beam is defined as the energy delivered per
C second (s) D Ampere (A) unit area per unit time.
What is the unit of intensity, expressed in SI base
2. Which of the following quantities do not carry units?
any units? A kg m 2 s 1 B kg m2 s 3 C kg s 2 D kg s 3
Refractive
A Impulse
Index 10. Which of the following definitions is correct and
Electric Electric field uses only quantities rather than units?
B A Density is mass per cubic metre.
potential strength
Power / B Potential difference is energy per unit current.
C Strain C Pressure is force per unit area.
Energy
Refractive D Speed is distance travelled per second.
D Strain
Index
11. Which of the following statements is false?
3. What is the special name given to the unit of A A homogeneous equation is a physical correct
electromotive force of a battery, and what are the equation.
base units of electromotive force? B The principle of homogeneity of an equation
2 -3 -1
A V, kg m s A cannot determine the value of a unitless constant
B N, kg m s -2 in an equation.
2 -3 -1
C N, kg m s A C For an equation to be physically correct, it must
D V, kg m s -2 have dimensional consistency.
D The principle of homogeneity of an equation of
4. The electrical power, P dissipated in a resistor of an equation cannot discriminate between two
resistance R when a current I passes through the quantities having the same units(e.g. length of
2
resistor is given by P=I R. How may R be pendulum string, radius of pendulum bob).
expressed in base units?
A A2 kg-1 m-2 s3 B kg m2 s-2 A-2 12. Which of the following has different SI units from
2 -3 -2
C kg m s A DWA -2 the other.
A stress x strain B stress / strain
5. Which of the following pairs of quantities are C potential energy per unit volume
both scalars? D Moment of a force
A speed, velocity B current, charge
C pressure, force 13. The unit of strain are
D electric potential, work A mass / (length x time2) B (length)-1
C length D no units
6. E is given by
14. What is the SI base unit of pressure?
E = (F / A) / (e / l) A kg m s-2 B kg m2 s-2
-1 -2
Where C kg m s D kg m-2 s-2
F = force exerted on cross-sectional area A of the
material. 15. r V
e = deformation produced (an extension or under steamline conditions in a viscous fluid
compression) experiences a retarding force, given by F = KrV ,
l = original length of the material. K K
2 -1
E possesses a unit similar to A kg m s B kg s-1 m-1
-2 -2
A work B power C kg m s D kg m s-2
C energy D pressure
16. which one of the following pairs of electrical units
7. Which is a pair of SI base units? are the units not equivalent?
A ampere joule A J s-1; W B J C-1; V
-1
B coulomb second CAs ; C D N c-1; V m-1
C kilogram kelvin
D metre newton 17. What is the ratio 1µm / 1 Gm ?
A 10-3 B 10-9 C 10-12 D 10-15
8. If p is the momentum of an object of mass m,
then the expression p2 / m has the same units as Note
A acceleration B energy For formulae see back side of this work sheet
C force D impulse
Formulae
1. Refractive index: Refractive index = speed of light in vacuum or air ; n=c/v
speed of light in any medium

2. Impulse: Impulse = (Force)(time) = Change of momentum ; u)

3. Electric Potential: Electric Potential = Work done / charge ; V=W/Q

4. Electric field strength: Electric field strength = Force / charge = P.d/ distance ; E=F / Q = V /d

5. Strain: Strain = extension / original length =e/l

6. Stress: Stress = force / cross-sectional Area ; A

7. Moment of a force: Torque = (force)(perpendicular distance) ;

8. Momentum: Momentum = (mass)(velocity) ; P = mv

Answer grid:
Q.No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.

Answer

Paper 2 (Structured theory) :

1. For each of the four concepts listed in the left hand column, place a tick by the correct example
of that concept in the appropriate box. [4]
Concept
A base quantity mole length kilogram

A base unit coulomb ampere volt

A scalar quantity torque velocity kinetic energy

A vector quantity mass weight density

2. Complete following table to show each quantity and its unit. [4]

quantity unit
speed
m s-1
density

s-1
electric field strength
.......................................

kg m s-1

3. (a)

............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(b) Explain why an equation must be homogeneous with respect to the units if it is to be correct.
[1]
(c) Write down an equation which is homogeneous, but still incorrect.
[1]
 CIE Questions on Physical Quantities and Units
1. A 9. Which of the following could be measured in the
moves a distance L in time T. The equation relating same units as force?
these quantities is A energy / distance B energy x distance
C energy / time D momentum x distance
{Q.2/June.2004/9702-1}

10. The notation µs is used as an abbreviation for a

Where a is the internal radius of the tube and P and Q
certain unit of time.
are constants.
What is the name and value of this unit?
Which line gives the correct units for P and Q?
P Q name value
A m2 m2s-2
6
B m2 ms-2 A microsecond 10 s
2
C m m3s-2 3
3 B microsecond 10 s
D m ms-2
{Q.4/Nov. 2011/9702/11} C millisecond 10 6
s
3
2. Which pair of units are both SI base units? D millisecond 10 s
A ampere, degree Celsius B ampere, Kelvin {Q.3/June.2004/9702-1}
C coulomb, degree Celsius D coulomb. Kelvin
{Q.1/Nov.2005,June 2002/9702-1} 11. A student measures a current as 0.5 A. Which of the
3. following correctly expresses this result?
-2
Which line in the A 50mA B 50MA C 500mA D 500MA
table correctly indicates the prefixes micro, nano and {Q.1/Nov.2003/9702-1}
pico? 12.
x 10-12 x 10-9 x 10-6 The momentum of an object of mass m is p. Which
quantity has tehsame base units as p2/m?
A nano Micro pico A enrgy B force C power D velocity
{Q.3/Nov.2000/9702-1}
B nano Pico micro
The unit of work, the joule, may be defined as the
13. work done when the point of application of a force
C pico Nano micro
of 1 newton is moved a distance of 1 metre in the
D pico Micro nano direction of the force.
{Q.2/Nov.2005, Nov 2002/9702-1} Express the joule in terms of the base units of mass,
length and time, the kg, m and s.
Which quantity is measured in electronvolts (eV)? A kg m 1 s2 B kg m2 s 2
4. A electric charge B electric potential C kg m s2 1
C kg s 2
C energy D power {Q.2/June.2003/9702-1}
{Q.1/Nov. 2011/9702/12}
14. Which formula could be correct for the speed v of
Which group of quantities contains only vectors? ocean waves in terms of the density of sea water,
5. the acceleration of free fall g, the depth h of the
A acceleration, displacement, speed
B acceleration, work, electric field strength ocean and the wave length
C displacement, force, velocity A B
D power, electric field strength, force C D
{Q.1/Nov. 2011/9702/13} {Q.3/June.2002/9702-1}
6. 15. Which of the following is a base quantity with its
To check calculations, the units are put into the correct S.I. unit?
following equations together with the numbers. Quantity Unit
Which equation must be incorrect?
A force = 300 J / 6 m B power = 6000 J × 20 s A Current A
C time = 6 m / 30 m s 1 D velocity = 4 m s 2 × 30 s B Mass G
{Q.1/June 2011/9702/11}
C Temperature °C
7. Which of the following definitions is correct and uses D weight N
only quantities rather than units?
A Density is mass per cubic metre. {Q.1/ Nov. 2001/8702-1}
B Potential difference is energy per unit current. 16.
Four physical quantitiesP, Q, R and S are related by
C Pressure is force per unit area. the equation P =Q RS. Which statement must be
D Speed is distance travelled per second. correct for the equation to be homogeneous?
{Q.2/Nov.2004/9702-1} A P, Q, R and S all have the same units.
8. B P, Q, R and S are all scalar quantities.
When a beam of light is incident on a surface, it C The product RS has the same units as P and Q.
delivers energy to the surface. The intensity of D The product RS is numerically equal to (Q and P)
the beam is defined as the energy delivered per unit {Q.1/Nov. 1999/9243/1}
area per unit time. What is the unit of intensity,
expressed in SI base units? Show that Pressure = density x (speed)2 is
A kg m 2 s 1 B kg m2 s 3 C kg s 2 D kg s 3 17. homogeneous equation. {Q.1 (b)//June 01/8702-2}
{Q.3/Nov.2004/9702-1}
 1(g) Estimation
Q. 1 Give an SI unit and an estimate of the magnitude of each of the following physical quantities.
(Marks will be awarded for the correct order of magnitude of each estimate, not necessary for its
accuracy).
Physical Quantity Magnitude unit

the weight of an adult

the power of a hair drier

the energy required to bring to the boil a kettle full of
water
the resistance of a domestic lamp

the wavelength of visible light

Mass of a cricket ball

Q. 2 Make reasonable estimates of the following quantities.
(a) mass of an apple
mass = ............................................... kg [1]
(b) number of joules of energy in 1 kilowatt-hour
number = ................................................... [1]
(c) wavelength of red light in a vacuum
wavelength = ............................................m [1]
(d) pressure due to a depth of 10 m of water
pressure = .............................................. Pa [1]
{Q. 1/June 2002/9702}
Q. 3 Make estimates of the following quantities.
(a) the speed of sound in air

(b) the density of air at room temperature and pressure

(c) the mass of a protector

(d) the volume, in cm3, of the head of an adult person

{Q. 1/June 2005/9702}

Q.4 Make reasonable estimates of the following quantities.
(a) the frequency of audible sound wave

(b) the wavelength, in nm, of ultraviolet radiation

(c) the mass of a plastic 30 cm ruler

(d) the density of air at atmospheric pressure

-3
[1]
{Q. 1/June 2008/9702}
Q. 5 Make estimates of the following quantities:

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

(e) (f) The diameter o

(g) (h)

(i) (j)
 1(g) Estimation (Answers)
Q. 1 Give an SI unit and an estimate of the magnitude of each of the following physical quantities.
(Marks will be awarded for the correct order of magnitude of each estimate, not necessary for its
accuracy).
Physical Quantity Magnitude unit

the weight of an adult 585 to 980 N

the power of a hair drier 400 to 1000 W

the energy required to bring to the boil a kettle full of
7500 to 315000 J
water
the resistance of a domestic lamp 240 to 960

the wavelength of visible light 400 to 700 × 10-9 m

Mass of a cricket ball kg

Q. 2 Make reasonable estimates of the following quantities.
(a) mass of an apple
mass = allow 50 g to 500 g [1]
(b) number of joules of energy in 1 kilowatt-hour
number = allow 3M J to 4M J [1]
(c) wavelength of red light in a vacuum
wavelength = allow 600 to 800 n m [1]
(d) pressure due to a depth of 10 m of water
pressure = allow 5 × 104 to 5× 105 Pa [1]
{Q. 1/June 2002/9702}
Q. 3 Make estimates of the following quantities.
(a) the speed of sound in air
speed = allow 100 ms-1 to 900 ms-1 [1]
(b) the density of air at room temperature and pressure
density = allow 0.5 kg m-3 to 1.5 kg m-3 [1]
(c) the mass of a protector
mass = 5 to 50 g [1]
3
(d) the volume, in cm , of the head of an adult person
volume = allow 2 × 103 cm3 to 9 × 103 cm3 [1]
{Q. 1/June 2005/9702}
Q. 4 Make reasonable estimates of the following quantities.
(a) the frequency of audible sound wave
frequency = allow anything in the range 20 Hz to 20 kHz [1]
(b) the wavelength, in nm, of ultraviolet radiation
wavelength = allow anything in the range 10 nm to 400 nm [1]
(c) the mass of a plastic 30 cm ruler
mass = allow anything in the range 10 g to 100 g [1]
(d) the density of air at atmospheric pressure
density = allow anything in the range 0.1 kg m-3 to 10 kg m-3 [1]
{Q. 1/June 2008/9702}
Q. 5Make estimates of the following quantities:

(a) Length of a car 4m (b) diameter of a hair 5 × 10-4 m

(c) diameter of an atom 3 × 10-10 m (d) diameter of a nucleus 6 × 10-15 m

(e) mass of an adult human 55 to 95 kg (f) The diameter of a pencil 0.5 to 1 cm

(g) Volume of a pea 0.5 cm3 (h) The speed of a jumbo jet 220 m s-1

(i) The temperature of the human body 310 K (j) The height of ceiling in a room 2.5-3.5m