Notes on Physical Quantities and Measurement
1. What is a physical quantity?
A physical quantity is something that can be measured. Examples include the length of a
room, the amount of water in a glass, the distance and time taken to reach school, the
temperature of a day, or the area of a ground. Measurements like length, mass, time,
temperature, and area are all physical quantities because they have definite values that can
be determined by measurement.
2. What are the two types of physical quantities? Give examples.
Physical quantities are of two types: Fundamental and Derived.
Type Description Examples
Fundamental These do not depend on any Length, mass, time, temperature,
physical other quantity. They are basic electric current, luminous
quantities and independent. intensity, amount of substance
Derived physical These are derived from one or Area, volume, speed; e.g. area =
quantities more fundamental quantities by length × breadth, speed =
mathematical combination. distance/time
3. How do we measure a physical quantity? What is meant by a unit?
To measure a physical quantity, we compare it with a known fixed quantity of the same
kind, which is called the unit. Every measurement has two parts: a numerical value (how
many times the unit is contained in the measured quantity) and the unit itself (such as
metre, centimetre, kilogram, etc.).
4. Why are standard units of measurement important?
Standard units are important because they:
Bring uniformity and accuracy to measurements.
Allow for consistent exchange and pricing of goods.
Enable scientists and people across the world to compare results.
Are fixed and do not change from place to place or person to person.
5. What is the International System of Units (SI units)? Give SI units for some basic
quantities.
The International System of Units (SI units) is a globally accepted standard for
measurement, developed for worldwide uniformity. The SI units for some basic quantities
are:
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Quantity SI Unit Symbol
Length metre m
Mass kilogram kg
Time second s
Temperature kelvin K
6. How do we use smaller and larger units (sub-multiples and multiples) for
measurements? Give examples.
Smaller and larger units are used to measure very small or very large quantities.
Smaller units (sub-multiples):
o 1 millimetre (mm) = 1/1000 metre (m)
o 1 centimetre (cm) = 1/100 metre (m)
o 1 cm = 10 mm
Larger units (multiples):
o 1 kilometre (km) = 1000 metres (m)
o 1 km = 1000 m
7. What are the guidelines for writing SI units and their symbols? Give examples.
Guideline Explanation Example
Symbols Small letters unless named after a scientist metre (m), kilogram
(kg)
Capitalization Capital letter if named after a scientist Kelvin (K), not kelvin
(k)
Plural Symbols are never written in plural 10 m, not 10 ms
Unit names Written in words, always in small letters metre, kilogram
Prefix names Written in small letters, no space or hyphen milligram, not milli-
gram
Full stop No full stop after symbol unless at the end of a The scale is 15 cm
sentence long
8. What is length? How can it be measured, and what are some common devices?
Length is the distance between two points. It can be measured with devices such as a
metre rod, ruler, or measuring tape.
Device Description Smallest Unit
Measured
Metre rod 1 metre long, divided into 100 cm, used by cloth 1 cm
merchants
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Ruler Usually 15 cm or 30 cm, used by students, 1 mm
divided into mm
Measuring Flexible, often more than 1 metre, used for 1 mm
tape large/round objects
9. What is the correct method of measuring length using a ruler or tape?
To measure length accurately:
Place the ruler/tape parallel and close to the object.
Ensure your eye is vertically above the marking (to avoid parallax error).
Check that the zero mark is not damaged. If it is, start measuring from another mark
and subtract the difference.
Use the appropriate unit for the measurement.
10. How can we convert between different units of length? List some common
conversions.
Unit Symbol Conversion
Millimetre mm 10 mm = 1 cm
Centimetre cm 100 cm = 1 m
Metre m 1 m = 100 cm
Kilometre km 1 km = 1000 m
Inch in 1 in = 2.5 cm
Foot ft 1 ft = 12 in
11. What is mass and how can it be measured? What are the main units of mass?
Mass is the quantity of matter present in an object. It is measured using a beam balance
or electronic balance.
Unit Symbol Conversion
Milligram mg 1000 mg = 1 g
Gram g 1000 g = 1 kg
Kilogram kg 1 kg = 1000 g
Quintal q 1 quintal = 100 kg
12. What is the difference between a beam balance and an electronic balance?
Feature Beam Balance Electronic Balance
Working Balances mass with standard Uses electronic sensors
Principle weights
Reading Manual, pointer-based Digital display
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Sensitivity Less sensitive Highly sensitive, measures small/large
masses
Uses Shops, traditional Laboratories, airports, shops
13. What is time? How can time be measured and what are its main units?
Time is the interval between two events. It is measured using devices such as clocks,
watches, and stopwatches.
Unit Symbol Conversion
Second s 1 minute = 60 seconds
Minute min 1 hour = 60 minutes
Hour h 1 day = 24 hours
14. What are the differences between a 12-hour clock and a 24-hour clock? Give
examples.
Aspect 12-hour clock 24-hour clock
Division of Day Two 12-hour periods (a.m./p.m.) Single 24-hour period
Examples 8:00 a.m., 8:00 p.m. 08:00, 20:00
Conversion 1 p.m. = 13:00, 7 p.m. = 19:00 14:44 = 2:44 p.m.
15. What is a stopwatch and how is it used?
A stopwatch measures the time interval between two events. It is started at the beginning of
an event and stopped at the end. Laboratory stopwatches can measure to 0.01 seconds,
and are used in sports and experiments.
16. What is temperature? How is it measured?
Temperature is a measure of the hotness or coldness of an object. It is measured using a
thermometer, which is marked in degrees.
Clinical thermometer: Used for measuring body temperature (range: 35°C–42°C),
accurate to 0.02°C, has a kink.
Laboratory thermometer: Used in labs for measuring temperature of substances
(range: -10°C to 110°C), no kink.
Unit Symbol
Celsius °C
Fahrenheit °F
17. What is the difference between a laboratory thermometer and a clinical
thermometer?
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Feature Laboratory Thermometer Clinical Thermometer
Use Lab objects, chemicals, liquids Human body temperature
Range -10°C to 110°C 35°C to 42°C
Kink No kink Has a kink
Division 1°C 0.02°C
18. Why does a clinical thermometer have a kink?
The kink prevents mercury from falling back immediately after the thermometer is taken
out of the mouth, so the temperature can be read accurately even after removal.
19. Why is a clinical thermometer marked between 35°C to 42°C?
This is the range of human body temperature, so the thermometer is designed for precise
measurement within this range.
20. Why can't you use a laboratory thermometer to measure the temperature of
human body?
A laboratory thermometer does not have a kink, so mercury can fall back before you can
read it after removing the thermometer from the body, leading to inaccurate readings.
21. What is area? How is it measured? Give formulas for common shapes.
Area is the surface covered or enclosed by an object. It is measured in square units like
cm², m², or km².
Shape Formula
Square side × side
Rectangle length × breadth
Triangle ½ × base × height
22. What is graph paper and how can it be used to measure area?
Graph paper is a grid made of equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines. To measure
area:
Place the object on graph paper and trace its outline.
Count the number of full squares and half squares covered.
Area = Number of full squares + (½ × number of half/more than half squares).
23. Differentiate between ruler and measuring tape.
Feature Ruler Measuring Tape
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Material Rigid Flexible
Typical Length 15 cm or 30 cm More than 1 metre
Uses Straight objects, desks, books Round/large objects, body
Smallest Division 1 mm 1 mm
24. Solve these numerical problems:
a) If a room has length 10 m and breadth 5 m, calculate both in cm.
Length: 10 m × 100 = 1000 cm
Breadth: 5 m × 100 = 500 cm
b) If thickness of 15 coins is 10.5 cm, what is the thickness of one coin?
10.5 cm ÷ 15 = 0.7 cm or 7 mm
c) How much rice is in a sack of one quintal?
1 quintal = 100 kg
d) 500 cm = ? m
500 ÷ 100 = 5 m
e) 2 kg = ? g
2 × 1000 = 2000 g
25. What is meant by "parallax error" in measurement?
Parallax error occurs when the eye is not vertically above the marking on the ruler, causing
incorrect readings due to the angle of viewing.
