There are two quantities of measurement in physics.

i) Basic quantities (Fundamental):-These are quantities

that are obtained directly through measuring e.g. length, mass, time.
ii) Derived quantities: - These are quantities that obtained
from other quantities either by division or multiplication. These
quantities are expressed in terms of basic quantities e.g. area, speed,
density, volume.

System International de’ Units (SI Units).

This is an international system of units that has similar standard units for basics
physical quantities.
The system has some basic quantities that includes.
BASIC QUANTITY SI UNIT SY MBOL
Length Meter m
Mass Kilogram kg
Time Second s
Temperature Kelvin K
Electric current Ampere A
Luminous intensity Candela cd
Amount of substance Mole mol

CONVENTIONS WHEN USING SI UNITS

1. Names and symbols of units are always written in small letters eg meter
(m); unless they are named after a person eg Newton (N), Kelvin (K).
2. Symbols do not have plural form eg we write 3kg but not 3kgs.
3. A combination of units as a division may be expressed as m/s or ms-1,
kg/m3 or kgm-3 etc.

LENGTH
This is the distance between two points eg width, height, radius, depth,
diameter etc. Its SI unit is meter (m). Other units of length are:
1km= 1000m
100cm = 1m
1000mm = 1m
1,000,000 micrometer (µm) =1m

MEASUREMENT OF LENGTH
Length can be measured using a meter – rule. The meter rule is read vertically
above the scale to obtain the correct reading.
Correct
Incorrect Incorrect
0 1 2

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NOTE If the reading falls in btn two marks, the instrument has an accuracy
of 0.05cm and hence second decimal can be approximated. ie
0 1 2

Length = 1.75cm

MEASUREMENT OF CURVED LENGTH

Circumference of a cylinder.
- Closely wrap a thin thread 10 times around the cylinder
Thread
Cylinder

- Remove the thread and measure its length L.

- To obtain the circumference of the cylinder, divide by the number of turns.
𝐋
ie Circumference =
𝟏𝟎
- From the circumference the diameter and radius of the cylinder can be
obtained from the formula
Circumference = 𝝅𝐃
ESTIMATION OF LENGTH
This is comparing length of an unknown object to that a known object eg comparing
the length of a tree to that of a ruler using their shadows.

h
100 cm

120cm 600cm

Then the height of the tree is estimated from the relation

𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐫
=
𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰
𝐡 𝟏𝟎𝟎
=
𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟐𝟎
𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 = 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐜𝐦
AREA
Area is the amount of surface covered. The SI Unit is Square meter (m2)
Since 1m = 100cm
Hence 1m2 = 1m x 1m =100cm x 100cm
1 m2 = 10,000 cm2
Also 1 m = 1,000mm
1 m2 = 1,000mm x 1,000mm = 1,000,000 mm2

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EXAMPLES
Express in m2
a) 850cm2
b) 10,000,000mm2

AREA OF REGULARLY–SHAPED OBJECTS.

The area of regularly shaped object can be found by applying appropriate formula.
Write the formulae for determining the area of the figures below and
calculate their areas in SI Units
20 cm
L=100cm

80cm 12 cm
W=60cm r =7cm

40 cm 50cm

AREA OF IRREGULAR SURFACE

The area can be estimated by dividing it into equal squares each of area 1cm2.
Count the no of complete square = X
Count the no of incomplete squares
and divide it by 2

𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬
=Y
𝟐

Total area = X + Y

VOLUME
Volume is the amount of space occupied by matter. The SI unit is
cubic meter (m3)
1m = 100 cm
1 m3 = 1m x 1m x 1m = 100cm x 100cm x 100cm
Hence:- 1 m3 =1,000,000cm3
Volume can also be expressed in litres (L) or millilitres (ml)
1ml = 1cm3
1litre = 1000cm3
Similarly
1 m = 1000mm
1 m3 = 1000 x 1000 x 1000mm3 = 1000,000,000 mm3

EXAMPLE
Express in m3
i) 9400 cm3
ii) 50,000mm3

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 VOLUME OF REGULARLY SHAPED SOLIDS.
The volume can be gotten by applying the appropriate formulae.
Write the formulae for determining the volume of the figures below and
calculate their volume in SI Units
r =3cm
40cm r =70cm

50cm 100cm

80cm
𝟒
V= 𝝅𝒓𝟑
𝟑
EXAMPLES
1. Find the capacity of a cylinder of radius 70cm and height 20cm in litres.
2. A solid Cuboid of dimensions 11cm x 14cm x 20cm is melted in to a
cylindrical solid of diameter 28 cm. calculate the height of the cylinder
3. A sphere of radius 6cm is moulded into a thin cylindrical wire of length
32cm. Calculate the radius of the wire.

VOLUME OF LIQUIDS
Volume can be measured using various apparatus such as
MEASURING CYLINDER BEAKER BURETTE PIPETTE
0 cm3
10 cm3
100cm3 20 cm3
250cm3
30 cm3
40 cm3
50 cm3
0cm3

NOTE:
- While using the measuring vessels the reading of volume is taken at the
bottom of the meniscus.
Observer

- The scale of a burette begins from zero at the top and increases downwards
to the maximum value at the bottom.

EXAMPLES
1. The initial level of water in a burette was 32cm3. Some 20 drops of water each
of volume 0.4cm3 are added. Find its final reading.
2. The water level in a burette is 35cm3. If 20 drops of water each of volume
0.15cm3are added, find the new level.
3. The water level in a burette is 27cm3. If 80 drops of water fall from the
burette and the average volume of one drop is 0.25cm3 what is the final
water level in the burette?
4. The initial level of water in a burette was 26cm3. Some 10 drops of water
each of volume 0.5cm3 are allowed to drop out. Find its final reading.

F O R M 1 N O T E S: M E A S U R E M E N T 1 Pg 4
VOLUME OF IRREGULAR SOLIDS
Volumes of irregular solids are measured by the displacement method using a
measuring cylinder or a Eureka can

1. Using a measuring cylinder

- Put some water into the measuring cylinder and record the reading of the
water level V1.

Object V2

V1

- Lower an object into the cylinder and record the new water level V2.
- The volume of the stone= V2 – V1
2. Using eureka can
- Fill the Eureka can with water until it flows out of the spout.

Object
10Displaced
0cwater
03
m
- Immerse the stone into the can and water c will flow out into the cylinder.
- The volume of water displaced is equal tomthe volume of the stone.
3

MASS
This is the quantity of matter in a body. The SI unit is kilogram (kg).
Other units of mass are:-
1 tonne = 1000 kg
1000g = 1kg
1000,000 mg = 1kg
Mass is measured using:-beam balance and top-pan balance.
DENSITY
Density is mass per unit volume. The SI unit is kilogram per cubic meter
(Kg/m3). The symbol for density is rho (ρ)
𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬
Density = 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞
𝐌
ρ=
𝐕
To convert g/cm3 to kg/m3 we multiply by 1000 ie

1 g/cm3 = 1000kg/m3

EXAMPLES
1. Express 3.75g/cm3 in SI units

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 2. A block of metal of mass 72g measures 2cm x 4cm x 6 cm, calculate the
density of the metal in SI unit.
3. The figure below shows a block of wood plank of mass 600kg and dimension
5m by 0.2m by 0.3m.

0.3m

5m 0.2m

Calculate
(a) Volume of the block. (ANS 0.3m3)
(b) The density of the plank. (ANS 2,000kg/m3)

4. The figure below shows a block of mass 360g.

2cm

5cm
12cm
Calculate the
(i) Volume of the block. (120cm3)
(ii) Density of the block in SI unit. (3000kg/m3)

5. The figure below shows the change in volume of a liquid in a measuring

cylinder when an irregular solid is immersed in it. Given that the mass of the
solid is 60g, determine the density of the solid.

50 50
cm3 40 40
30 30
20 20
10 10

6. A liquid of density 0.8g/cm3 has a mass of 400g. Calculate its volume.

7. The figure below shows a burette initially filled with water to the level marked
X. An object of density 2500kgm-3 is immersed into it and the level rose to
Y. Determine the mass of the object

cm3 30
Y
40

X
50

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DENSITY OF MIXTURES
A mixture is a combination of two or more substances. The volume of
the mixture is equal to the sum of the volumes of the individual substances.

𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
Density of mixture =
𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

EXAMPLES
1. 200cm3 of water of density 1g/cm3 is mixed with 300cm3 of juice of
density 2g/cm3. Calculate
(i) The total volume of the mixture.
V= 200 + 300 = 500cm3

(ii) Total mass of the mixture.

Mass of water = ρw x Vw = 1 x 200 = 200g
Mass of juice = ρm x Vm = 2 x 300 = 600g
Total Mass = 200g + 600g

(iii) The density of the mixture in SI units.

𝑴 𝟖𝟎𝟎 1.6 x 1000

ρ= 𝝆=
𝟓𝟎𝟎
= 1.6g/ cm3 ρ = 1600kg/m3
𝑽

2. 1000cm3 of water density 1g/cm3 mixed with 2000cm3 of saturated salt

solution of density 1.3g/cm3. Calculate
(i) The total volume of the mixture
(ii) The total mass of the mixture
(iii) The density of the mixture in SI units.
3. An alloy is made by mixing 80cm3 of copper of density 9g/cm3 with 120cm3
of alluminium of density 3g/cm3. Determine the
(i) Total volume of the alloy.
(ii) Total mass of the alloy
(iii) Density of the alloy in SI units.
4. 100cm3 of water of density 1g/cm3 is mixed with 400cm3 of ethanol of
density 800kg/m3. Calculate the density of the mixture in SI units.
5. An alloy is made by mixing 180cm3 iron metal of density 2g/cm3 with
120cm3 of lead meal of density 4g/cm3. Calculate the density of the alloy.
6. 400cm3 of alcohol of density 800kg/m3 is mixed with 600cm3 of water of
density 1000kg/m3. Calculate the density if the mixture in SI units.

F O R M 1 N O T E S: M E A S U R E M E N T 1 Pg 7
 RELATIVE DENSITY OF A LIQUID
This is a ratio of the density of a substance to that of water.
RD is determined using a density bottle which is a specially designed bottle
that measures density of liquids.
HOW TO DETERMINE THE RD OF A LIQUID
- Measure the mass of the empty bottle
- Fill the bottle with a liquid and find their total mass (Liquid + bottle)
- Fill the bottle with water and find their mass (water + bottle)
𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 – 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞
RD =
𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 – 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞
Hence
𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐝
RD =
𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫
NOTE: RD is a ratio and has no units. To obtain the actual density multiply the
RD by 1g/cm3 or to obtain SI units multiply by 1000kg/m3.

EXAMPLES
1. The mass of an empty density bottle is 50g. When the bottle is full of liquid K
it weighs 120g and when full of water weighs 100g. Calculate the density of
liquid K in SI units.
𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 – 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆
RD =
𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 – 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆

𝟏𝟐𝟎 – 𝟓𝟎 𝟕𝟎 1.4 X 1000

RD = RD =
𝟏𝟎𝟎 – 𝟓𝟎 𝟓𝟎
= 1400kg/m3
RD = 1.4
2. The mass of an empty density bottle is 20g. When the bottle is full of water it
weighs 70g when and 50g when full of ethanol. Calculate the density of
ethanol in SI units.
3. A density bottle has a mass of 45g when full of paraffin and a mass of 50g
when full of water. If the empty bottle weighs 25g, calculate the relative
density of paraffin.
4. The mass of an empty density bottle is 10g. When the bottle is full of alcohol
it weighs 40g and when full of water weighs 50g. Calculate the density of
alcohol in SI units.

TIME.
This is the duration for a particular event to take place. The SI unit is
seconds (s).
1 minute = 60 seconds
1 hour = 60 x 60 = 3600 seconds
Time is measured using, stopwatch or stop – clocks.

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