Rashid Notes 1 First Year Physics
Chapter No. 1 MEASUREMENTS
Q. Define Physics. Describe its main areas of research.
Ans. Physics is the branch of science that deals with matter, energy and the relationship between them.
The study of physics involves laws of motion, the structure of space and time, the nature and types of
forces, the interaction between different particles, the interaction of radiation with matter etc.
Q. What do you know about natural philosophy?
Ans. Initially, the observation of man about the world around him give birth to the single discipline of
science called natural philosophy.
Q. Differentiate between physical and biological sciences.
Ans. Difference between physical and biological sciences.
Physical Sciences Biological Sciences
Physical sciences deal with non-living Biological sciences deal with living things
things
Q. Define the following branches of modern physics.
1) Nuclear Physics 2) Particle Physics 3) Relativistic Mechanics 4) Solid State Physics
Ans. Nuclear Physics: The Nuclear physics deals with atomic nuclei.
Particle Physics: It deals with ultimate particles with which the matter is composed.
Relativistic Mechanics: It deals with motion of bodies which move with very large velocities
(approaching to the velocity of light).
Solid State Physics: The solid state physics deals with structure and properties of matter.
Q. Write down the significance of science and technology. Describe the role of physics in the development
of science and technology.
Ans. Modern tools of science and technology have brought all parts of world in close contact. The
information media and fast means of communications have made the world global village. The computer
network play pivotal roles in the development of science and technology. The computer networks are
products of chips developed from basic ideas of physics.
Q. What do you know about physical quantities? Describe their significance.
Ans. The quantities that can be measured and are used to describe the properties of matter are called
physical quantities.
Significance: The foundation of physics rest upon physical quantities in terms of which the laws of
physics are expressed.
Q. Write the difference between base and derived quantities.
Ans. Difference between base and derived quantities.
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Base Quantities Derived Quantities
The base quantities are those physical The quantities that are derived from the
quantities in term of which other physical base quantities are called derived quantities.
quantities are defined.
Examples: mass, time, length etc. Examples: velocity, acceleration, force etc.
Q. How the base quantities are measured?
Ans. The measurement of base quantities involve two steps:
1. The choice of standard.
2. The establishment of a procedure for comparing the quantity to be measure with standard.
Q. What is the characteristics of an ideal standard?
Ans. An ideal standard has two principle characteristics.
1. It is accessible.
2. It is invariable.
Q. What do you know about international system of units? Describe its significance.
Ans. In 1960, an international committee agreed on a set of definitions and standards to describe the
physical quantities. This system that was established is called international system of units.
Significance: Due to simplicity and convenience with which the units in this system are amenable to
arithmetic manipulation, it is in universal use by the world’s scientific community.
Q. Define following:
1) Base Units 2) Derived Units 3) Supplementary units 4) Radian 5) Steradian
Ans. 1) Base Units: The units associated with the base quantities are called base units.
2) Derived Units: The units associated with the derived quantities are called derived units.
3) Supplementary Units: General conference on weights and measurements has not yet classified certain
unit of SI under either base or derived units. These SI units are called derived supplementary units.
Radian and steradian are supplementary units.
4) Radian: The angle between two radii of a circle corresponding to the arc length of one radius on its
circumference is called radian.
5) Steradian: The 3D angle subtended at the center of the sphere corresponding to the surface area of
one square radius is called steradian.
What do mean by scientific notation? Describe the following numbers in scientific notation.
1) 134.6 2) 0.0023 3) 43.94x10-2
Ans. The standard form to represent numbers using power of ten is called scientific notation. In scientific
notation of any measurement, there should be only one zero digit at the left of decimal point. The
measurements expressed in scientific notation as follows.
1) The scientific notation of measurement 134.7 is 1.347x102
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2) The scientific notation of measurement 0.0023 is 2.3x10-3
3) The scientific notation of measurement 43.94x10-2 is 4.394x10-1
Q. Define error. Describe possible causes of errors.
Ans. The difference between the observed and calculated value of any measurement is called error. The
errors may occur due to following reasons.
1) Negligence or inexperience of a person.
2) The faulty apparatus inappropriate method or technique.
Q. What type of errors are possible in measuring the time period of pendulum by stop watch?
Ans. The possible errors that might occur are the personal error and systematic error.
1. The personal error occur due to negligible or inexperience of a person.
2. The systematic error occurs due to poor calibration of equipment or incorrect marking etc.
Q. Differentiate between random and systematic error.
Ans. Difference between random and systematic error.
Random Error Biological Sciences
If repeated measurements of a quantity give Systematic error refers to the effect that
different values under same conditions, influences all measurement of a particular
then the error is called random error. quantity.
The random error occurs due to unknown It may occur die to zero error of the
causes instrument, poor calibration or incorrect
marking etc.
Repeating the measurement several times The systematic error can be reduce by
and taking an average can reduce the effect comparing the instrument with another
of random error. which is known to be more accurate.
Q. What are significant figures? Describe their significance.
Ans. In any instrument, the accurately known digits and the first doubtful digit are called the significant
figures. The uncertainty or accuracy in the value of a measured quantity is indicated by significant
figures.
Q. How many significant figures are there in the following measurements?
1) 1007 2) 0.0467 3) 02.59 4) 7.40000 5) 3.570 6) 8.70x103 7) 8000 with
least count of 10.
Ans. 1) The number of significant figures in the measurement 1007 are 4.
2) The number of significant figures in the measurement 0.00467 are 3.
3) The number of significant figures in the measurement 02.59 are 3.
4) The number of significant figures in the measurement 7.40000 are 5.
5) The number of significant figures in the measurement 3.570 are 4.
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6) The number of significant figures in the measurement 8.70x103 are 3.
7) The number of significant figures in the measurement 8000, with least count of 10 are 3.
The number of significant figures in the measurement 8000, with least count of 1000 are 1.
Q. Write down the final result of following computation to appropriate precise.
𝟓.𝟑𝟒𝟖×𝟏𝟎−𝟐 ×𝟑.𝟔𝟒×𝟏𝟎𝟒
1) = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟓𝟕𝟔𝟖𝟗𝟖𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟑
𝟏.𝟑𝟑𝟔
2) 72.1 3) 2.7543
3.42 4.10
0.003 1.2373
75.523 8.1273
Ans. 1) The final result up to appropriate precision is 1.46x103. It is because of the reason that the factor
3.64x104 is the least accurate measurement which has three significant figures. Therefore, the answer
should be written to the three significant figures.
2) The final result up to appropriate precision is 75.5. It is because of the reason that the factor 72.1 has
smallest number of decimal places. Thus the answer should be rounded off to one decimal place.
3) The final result up to appropriate precision is 8.13. It is because of the reason that the factor 4.10 has
smallest number of decimal places. Thus, the answer should be rounded off two decimal places.
Q. Differentiate between precision and accuracy.
Ans. Difference between precision and accuracy.
Precision Accuracy
The precise measurement is one which has An accurate measurement is one which has
least absolute uncertainty. less fractional or percentage uncertainty.
The precision of measurement depends on The accuracy is any measurement not only
the instrument or device being used. depends on instrument being used, but also
on the total measurement taken.
Q. Which of the following measurement is more precise and which of them is more accurate?
1) Length of the object is recorded as 25.5 cm using meter rod.
2) The length of the object is measured as 45 cm using vernier calipers.
Ans. 1) Length of object is recorded as 25.5 cm using meter rod.
Absolute uncertainty = Least count of meter rod = 0.1 cm
𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑈𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦 0.1
Percentage Uncertainty = × 100 = 25.5 × 100 = 0.4%
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
2) The length of object is measured as 0.45 cm using vernier calipers.
Absolute uncertainty = Least count of vernier calipers = 0.01 cm
𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑈𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦 0.1
Percentage Uncertainty = × 100 = 0.45 × 100 = 2%
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
Result: The measurement (2) is more precise because it has less absolute uncertainty. The measurement
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(1) is more accurate as it has less absolute uncertainty.
Q. Assess the total uncertainty in the final result for
1) Find out displacement between points x1 = 10.5 ± 0.01 and x2 = 26.8 ± 0.1
2) If the potential difference of V = 5.2 ± 0.1 volt applied across the ends of a conductor and as the result
the current I = 0.84 ± 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓 pass through the conductor. Determine the resistance of the conductor?
3) Find the volume of sphere whose radius r = 2.25 ± 0.01 cm.
4) The six measurements were taken of the diameter of wire using screw gauge which are 1.20, 1.22,
1.23, 1.19, 1.22, 1.21. Determine the uncertainty in final result.
5) The simple pendulum completes 30 vibrations in 50.6 s. The least count of the stop watch is 0.01 s. Find
out uncertainty in the time period of simple pendulum.
Ans. 1) Given points are x1 = 10.5 ± 0.01 and x2 = 26.8 ± 0.1
Displacement = x =?
x = x2 – x1
x = (26.8 ± 0.1) – (10.5 ± 0.01) = 16.3 ± 0.2 cm
2) Resistance = R = ?
Given quantities are
Potential difference = V = 5.2 ± 0.1 volt
Current = I = 0.84 ± 0.05
By Ohm’s law,
V 5.2
R= = = 6.2 Ohm
I 0.84
Uncertainty =?
0.1
% uncertainty in V = 5.2 × 100 = 2%
0.05
% uncertainty in V = 0.84 × 100 = 6%
Therefore,
R = 6.2 Ohm with 8% uncertainty or R = 6.2 ± 0.05 Ohm.
3) Volume of sphere = V =?
Given,
Radius = r = 2.25 ± 0.01 cm
4
As Volume of sphere = V = 𝜋𝑟 3
3
Uncertainty =?
0.01
% uncertainty in r = 2.25 × 100 = 6% = 0.4%
Total uncertainty in r = 3x0.4% = 1.2%
Hence volume of sphere V = 47.7 cm3 with 1.2% uncertainty
V = 47.7 ± 0.06 cm3
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4) The measurements of the diameter are 1.20, 1.22, 1.23, 1.19, 1.22, 1.21
1.20,1.22,1.23,1.19,1.22,1.21
Average diameter of wire = = 0.01
6
Thus, uncertainty in mean value of diameter = 0.01
Hence, diameter of wire = 1.21 ± 0.01 mm
5) Given
Time for 30 vibrations = 54.6 s
54.6
Time Period = Time for one vibration = = 1.82 s
30
Uncertainty =?
Least count 0.1
Uncertainty = = = 0.003 s
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 30
Thus, time period is expressed as
T = 1.82 ± 0.003 s
Q. What do you know about s=dimension analysis?
Ans. To express any physical quantity in by scientific symbols of corresponding base quantities, written
within the square brackets, called the dimensions. The scientific symbols used to express the dimensions
of different physical quantities are as follows.
Dimension of Mass = [M]
Dimension of Length = [L]
Dimension of Tim = [T]
Q. Write down the dimensions of velocity, acceleration and force.
Dimension of Displacement [L]
Ans. Dimension of velocity = = [T]
= [LT −1 ]
Dimension of Time
Dimension of Velocity [LT−1 ]
Dimension of acceleration = = [T]
= [LT −2 ]
Dimension of Time
Dimension of Force = (Dimension of Mass) (Dimension of acceleration) = [F] = [M][LT −2 ] = [MLT −2 ]
Q. What are the advantages of dimension analysis?
Ans. The dimension analysis may be used for
1. Checking the correctness of a physical quantity.
2. Deriving a possible formula of a physical quantity.
Q. What is homogeneity principle?
Ans. According to homogeneity principle, “if the dimension of a pixel quantity on both sides of equation
are the same, then the equation will be dimensionally correct.
Q. Write down any two drawbacks of dimension analysis.
Ans. The major drawbacks of dimension analysis are
1. The dimension analysis is unable to find the values of various constant in physical equations.
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2. The dimension analysis cannot be applied to physical quantities involving trigonometric and
logarithmic functions.
Q. Determine the dimension of owing physical quantities? 1) Nuclear Energy 2) Angle
Ans. Dimension of Energy = Dimension of Work
[Energy] = [W] = [F. d]
[Energy] = [F]. [d]
[Energy] = [MLT −2 ]. [L]
[Energy] = [ML2 T −2 ]
We know that
𝑆 = 𝑟𝜃
S [S] [L]
⟹ θ = r ⟹ [θ] = [r] = [L] = 1
Therefore, angle is a dimensions quantity.
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