A measurement is an integral part of science. It consists of a number and a unit.

The number tells: the magnitude of the measurement, the precision of the measurement. The
units tells what property is being measured

Fundamental and Derived Units

Fundamental units are independently defined, and often the quantities are directly measurable
in a physical system.

Système International d'Unités (SI Units)

Physical Quantity Symbol SI Unit

Mass m Kilogram (kg)
Time t Second (s)
Length l Meter (m)
Temperature T Kelvin (K)
Amount of Substance n Mole (mol)
Electric Current I Ampere (A)
Luminous intensity Iy Candela (cd)

Derived quantities are formed by product of powers of fundamental units. In other words, these
quantities can be derived using fundamental units. These units are not defined independently;
they depend on the definition of other units. Quantities attached to derived units are called
derived quantities.

Physical Quantity Unit Symbol

plane angle Radian (a) rad – m·m-1 = 1 (b)

solid angle Steradian (a) sr (c) – m2·m-2 = 1 (b)

frequency Hertz Hz – s-1

force Newton N – m·kg·s-2

pressure, stress Pascal Pa N/m2 m-1·kg·s-2

energy, work, quantity of heat Joule J N·m m2·kg·s-2

 power, radiant flux Watt W J/s m2·kg·s-3

electric charge, quantity of

Coulomb C – A·s
electricity

electric potential difference,

Volt V W/A m2·kg·s-3·A-1
electromotive force

capacitance Farad F C/V m-2·kg-1·s4·A2

electric resistance Ohm V/A m2·kg·s-3·A-2

electric conductance Siemens S A/V m-2·kg-1·s3·A2

magnetic flux Weber Wb V·s m2·kg·s-2·A-1

magnetic flux density Tesla T Wb/m2 kg·s-2·A-1

inductance Henry H Wb/A m2·kg·s-2·A-2

Celsius temperature Degree Celsius °C – K

luminous flux Lumen lm cd·sr (c) m2·m-2·cd = cd

illuminance Lux lx lm/m2 m2·m-4·cd = m-2·cd

activity (of a radionuclide) Becquerel Bq – s-1

absorbed dose,

specific energy (imparted), Gray Gy J/kg m2·s-2

kerma

dose equivalent (d) Sievert Sv J/kg m2·s-2

catalytic activity Katal kat s-1·mol

Scalar and Vector Quantity

Scalar quantities are express using magnitude alone (number with corresponding units).
Ex. 2 m, 30 kg, 23 m/s

Vector quantities require both magnitude and direction.

Ex. -40 m, West 6 m/s, 20o North of East -9 m/s2, downward