General Physics 1 Origins of Measurement “International System” or SI units (French:

Teacher: Marian A. Callo Systéme International)

 In ancient times, the body ruled when it
Physics came to measurement. Standards on Measurement
-is a natural science based on experiments,
 Length
measurements, and mathematical analysis  Inch
-reference standard: 1 meter = distance
with the purpose of finding quantitative Then: width of a man’s thumb
travelled by light in a vacuum in
physical laws for everything Now: 3 grains of barley placed end to end
1/299,792,458 seconds (based on speed
-branch of science that deals with matter, lengthwise (King Edward II of England)
of light: 299,752,458 m/s.)
energy, and their relationship  Hand
-SI unit: meter
Then: 5 inches or 5 digits (fingers)
Physical Quantity  Time
Now: 4 inches (used to measure horses
-property of a material that can be quantified -reference standard: 1 second =
from ground to its withers/shoulders)
by a measurement 9,192,631,770 cycles of the microwave
 Span: Length of a hand stretched out;
radiation due to the transition between
A. Base Quantities about 9 inches
two lowest energy states of the cesium
-distinct in nature and cannot be defined  Foot
atom (measured from an atomic clock
by other quantities Then: 111/42 inches
using transition)
-basis of which other quantities can be Now: 12 inches (length of average man’s
-SI unit: second
expressed foot)
 Mass
 Yard
International System of Units Base -reference standard: 1 kilogram = mass
Then: length of a man’s belt or girdle;
Quantities (standard unit, dimension symbol) of a cylinder of platinum-iridium alloy at
distance from nose to thumb of
the International Bureau of Weights and
i. Length: meter (m), L outstretched arm (King Henry I of England)
Measures (Sèvres, France)
ii. Time: second (s), T Now: 36 inches
-SI unit: kilogram
iii. Mass: kilogram (kg), M  Cubit
-update: a new scale called kiddle scale
iv. Temperature: kelvin (k), θ Then: distance from elbow to fingertips
since May 2019
v. Amount of Substance: mole (mol), N Now: 18 inches
vi. Electric Current: ampere (A), I
vii. Luminous Intensity: candela (cd), J  Problem of Ancient Measurement:
INCONSISTENCY
B. Derived Quantities Reference Standard
-those whose definition are based on base -basis of value established for the measure
quantities of quantity, weight, extent, or quality
-ex: area, volume, speed, force, energy -since 1960, the system of units used by
scientists and engineers is the “metric
system”, officially known as the

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Conversion of Units and Significant Figures Conversion Between Metric and English Examples:
System
Advantages of the Use of Metric System o 349 – 3 SF
Example: 9.3 feet = ? centimeter o 230000.00 – 8 SF
 Majority of countries in the world employ
o 1000 – change first to 1 x 103 (1 SF)
it. 12 in. 2.54 cm.
9.3 ft. � �� � = 280 cm. o 0.00043 – 2 SF
 Prefixes attached to metric units carry 1 ft. 1 in.
o 2004 – 4 SF
the same for all base units.
Significant Figures
 Based upon powers of ten, which is Significant Figure in Calculation Rules
-number of important single digits (0-9)
convenient.
-indicates the confidence or precision with  Adding/Subtracting
Metric Prefix Scale which an engineer or scientist states a -least number of decimal places
quantity -ex: 1.586 + 2.31 = 3.90 (2 DP)
pico (p) 10-12 tera (T) 1012
 Multiplying/Dividing
nano (n) 10-9 giga (G) 109 -least number of significant figures
micro (µ) 10-6 mega (M) 106 -ex: 2.10 x 0.5896 = 1.24 (2 SF)
milli (m) 10-3 kilo (k) 103
centi (c) 10-2 hecto (h) 102
deci (d) 10-1 deca (da) 101

Technique in Using Metric Conversion

1. Write the exponents of the original prefix.

Then, subtract the exponent of the
desired prefix.

Example: 345 millimeter = ? megameter

milli = 10-3 mega = 106

(-3) – (6) = -9

2. Multiply the value of your original

coefficient by 10 with the exponent that
you got from the number.

345 x 10-9

3. Simplify.

3.45 x 10-7

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  Systematic Error Method of Determining Uncertainty in
-an uncertainty of a physical quantity due Random Error
to the instruments, physical conditions of
• Mean Deviation
the surroundings, and physical limitations
of the observer
1. Find the mean of all values.
-a consistent, repeatable error associated
with faulty equipment or flawed Example: 3, 6, 6, 7, 8, 11, 15, 16
 Precision “consistency of performance”
experimental design
-refers to the closeness of two or 3+6+6+7+8+11+15+16
-sources: Mean = = 9
measurements to each other 8
a. The instrument used a wrong
 Accuracy “exactness of correct answer” 2. Find the distance of each value from the
calibration
-refers to the closeness of a measured mean. Subtract the mean from each value.
b. The reaction time of the observer
value to a standard or known value (Ignore minus sign.)
who uses a stopwatch/tools
Measurement of Errors 3 – 9 = 6
-ex: Wrong calibration of the steel ruler
6 – 9 = 3
 Random Error because of the increase in room
6 – 9 = 3
-uncertainty of measurement caused temperature.
7 - 9 = 2
mainly by the action of the observer or
Determining Uncertainties 8 – 9 = 1
effect of the environment
11 – 9 = 2
-also called as unsystematic error, Two Types of Uncertainties
15 – 9 = 6
systematic noise, or random variation
 Absolute Uncertainty 16 – 9 = 7
-has no pattern
-sources: -exact value
3. Find the mean of those distances.
a. Wrong reading of the scale of an -ex: a single reading of the length of a
6+3+3+2+1+2+6+7
instrument plate measured using a caliper Mean Deviation = = 3.75
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1. Mistake of the observer / +Δ / -> (5.00 ± 0.01) cm. -END-
2. Wrong position of the eyes
(Parallax Error: difference on the  Relative Uncertainty “You don’t need luck. You’ve got the skills.”
data gathered by the observer -in percentage (%) form By: Dustin C. Francisco (SC24)
depending on the position of the
/ +Δ / -> (5.00 ± 0.01) cm. (Absolute)
eye of the observer)
(Δ | / |) x 100% = (0.01 / 5.00) x 100% =
b. Wrong counting
0.2% (Relative)
c. Quivering point of the device
d. Changing of the temperature of the
surrounding where temperature is
assumed to be constant