Chapter 1

2 hours

Prepared by:
Nur Maizatul Azra Mukhtar
JSG -UiTM Negeri Pulau Pinang 1
After studying this chapter, you should :

Able to state the definition of base and derived quantities

Able to state the differences between Base & Derived
Quantities
Able to list the SI Prefix from power of one to 18 (+-)
Able to calculate any question involves conversion of unit
without use the information on the top cover of calculator
Able to make a conversion of any units given by using
simple & common method of rational number method
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1.1 Basic and derived quantities,
system of units, basic and
derived units, unit conversion.

1.2 Dimensional analysis

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PHYSICAL QUANTITY
Quantity that can be measured
Used to observed & measure something
Exm 1 : time, volume, mass, length, and temperature

Length Electric
Charge Time
Exm 2 :
The length of the ruler is 1 meter

the length = physical quantity , since we can measure the length

1 meter = the measurement of the length
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 Physical Quantity..

PQ can be divided into 2 categories:

Base Quantity

Derived Quantity

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 SI Unit is an
International
BASE QUANTITY System of Units

The basic of a physical measurement

Not a combination of any other quantities
Each basic quantity has its own unit of measurement
Example: Table 1.1

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 Seven Fundamental Units
Website: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/index.html

Quantity Unit Symbol

Length Meter m
Mass Kilogram kg
Time Second S
Electric Current Ampere A
Temperature Kelvin K
Luminous Intensity Candela cd
Amount of Mole mol
Substance 7
DERIVED QUANTITY
Combination of more than two base quantities ; multiply @
divide
Obtained & expressed in terms of basic quantities
Example: Table 1.2

Derived Quantity SI Unit

Area, A m2
Volume, V m3
Velocity, v ms-1
Pressure, P kgm-1s-2 , Pascal , Nm-2
Frequency s-1 , Hz
Density, kgm-3
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Example 1.1 Length is a
basic quantity

Area, A Length Length

(metre) (metre)
m2

Length
Velocity , v Time is also a
Time basic quantity
(metre)

(sec ond )
1
ms
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Exercise 1.1
Identify and highlight the parameter that
reflect the physical quantity and its measurement

1. The boy took about 15 minutes to walk to the bus stand

2. The strength of the tie string is 10 Newton
3. A student runs a distance of 330 meter in 7 seconds
4. A room temperature in the laboratory is 298 Kelvin
5. A car starts from rest and accelerates with constant acceleration of
3 ms-2 for 12 second

Check your answer here

Continues 10
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 Systems of Units
SI System: The international system of units
established by the International Committee
on Weights and Measures. Such units are
based on strict definitions and are the only
official units for physical quantities.

US Customary Units (USCU): Older units still

in common use by the United States, but
definitions must be based on SI units.

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 SI Prefixes is an
International
System of prefixes

Name or associated symbol that precedes a unit of

measure (or its symbol) to form a decimal multiple @
submultiples

Used :

to indicate power of ten factors

to simplify pronunciation
to form decimal multiples & submultiples of SI units
to reduce the quantity of zeroes in numerical
equivalencies.

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Table 1.3 Prefix Symbol Value
Tera T 1012
Giga G 109
Mega M 106
Kilo k 103
Hector h 102
Deca da 101
Deci d 10-1
Centi c 10-2
Milli m 10-3
Micro 10-6
Nano n 10-9
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Pico p 10-12
 One system of unit to another
One prefix to another

Single unit Multiple unit

Power of 1 Power of n

Same physical quantities !!!

Simple & easy method of rational no !!!
Conversion Factor !!!
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 Unit Conversion...

Conversion Factor [CF]

= numerical factor used to multiply or divide a quantity,
expressed in one set of units

Steps involve in the process of conversion:

Write in the form of a ratio (rational method) -

mathematical operation
Apply CF
The unit (CF) located at the side that opposite to the
previous unit
cancelled off when multiplication is performed, leaving
only the desired units to describe the answer

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 Unit Conversion...
Table 1.4
Quantity Conversion Factor
Length 1 km = 1000 m
1 m = 100 cm
1 cm = 10 mm
1 mi = 1609 m
1 ft = 0.3048 m
1 in = 2.54 cm
1 m = 39.37 in = 3.281 ft

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 Table 1.4

Quantity Conversion Factor

Mass 1 kg = 1000 g
1 metric ton = 103 kg
1 slug = 14.59 kg

Time 1 h = 60 min
1 min = 60 s
1 h = 3600 s

Force 1 N = 0.2248 Ib = 105dyne

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 Unit Conversion...
Example 1.2

Convert 110 kmh-1 to ms-1

km 1000m 1h
110
h 1km 3600s
110 1000m

3600s
1
30.6ms
One system of unit to another
Single unit
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 Unit Conversion...
Example 1.3
Convert 15 cm2 to m2
15cm 1m
2 2

1 100cm
15cm 2 12 m 2
2

2
1 100 cm
15 1m 2
2
100 One system of unit to another
3
1.5 10 m 2 Power of 2

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 Unit Conversion...
Example 1.4

Convert 100 MW to kW
100 MW 10 6
W 1kW
3
1 1MW 10 W
100 10 kW
6
3
10
10 kW
5

One prefix to another

Single unit

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 Unit Conversion...
Example 1.5

Convert 25 mih-1 to ms-1

25miles 1609m 1h

1h 1mile 3600s
25 1609m

3600s
11.174ms -1

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 Unit Conversion...
Example 1.6

Convert 2.438 m to feet

2.438m 1 ft

1 0.3048m
2.438 ft

0.3048
8 ft

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Example 1.7
Convert 60 mi/h to units of ft/s

mi 5280 ft 1 h
60
h 1 mi 3600 s
88.0 m/s

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 Unit Conversion...
Exercise 1.2

Convert:
1. 20 m to m
2. 7.9 gcm-3 to kgm-3
3. 15 s to ps
4. 30 mm2 to nm2
5. 10 ms-2 to cms-2
6. 13 in to m
7. 8.5 ft to mm Check your answer here
Continues
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 Unit Conversion...
Exercise 1.3
1. Calculate the volume of a sphere of radius 10 cm in:
i. mm3
ii. pm3
iii. m3

2. The density of hydrogen gas is 0.095 x 10-3 gcm-3.

State this value in:
i. kgm-3
ii. mgmm-3
iii. kgcm-3
Continues
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Dimensional Analysis
Shows how the physical quantities are related to its basic
quantities
the power to which the fundamental units of length, mass
and time are to be raised so that the derived quantity can
be completely represented.
Its application:
> to find the SI unit of any physical quantity
> to check the homogeneity/consistency of an
equation
> to prove the validity of an equation
> to construct an equation
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* We can use the bracket, [ ], and put the symbol of physical
quantity inside the bracket

The square brackets are referring to dimensions not units.

Dimensions are basic types of quantities such as:

Length [L]
Time [T]
Mass [M].

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Example 1.8

Find the SI Unit for Force.

From Newtons 2nd Law , Force, F = m a

F=ma
[Force] = [mass][acceleration]
=[mass][length/time^2]
= M (L.T ^-2)
=kg.m.s^-2
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Example 1.9
Show that v = u + at is dimensionally consistent

v = final velocity u = initial velocity

= [length / time] = [length / time]
= LT^ -1 = LT^ -1

a.t = [acceleration][time]
= [length / time^2][time]
= LT^ -1

As the result, each term in the equation have the same dimension, of
LT^-1, so, the equation is homogen/consistent

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Exercises 1.4 (Dimensional Analysis)

1. An equation for potential energy states U = mgh. If U is in joules,

with m in kg, h in m, and g in m/s2, find the combination of SI base
units that are equivalent to joules.

2. Check the homogeneity of these equations,

a) s = at + (1/2)ut^2

b) Density, rho = mV

c) Pabsolute = Patm + pgV

3. Determine the equation of period, T for a simple pendulum, which

is depends on the mass, m, the length, l and the gravity, g

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 Physical Quantity...
Answer / Exercise 1.1
Identify and highlight the parameter that reflect the physical quantity
and its measurement
1. The boy took about 15 minutes to walk to the bus stand
[15 minutes = measurement of time ]
[time = physical quantity (base quantity)]

2. The strength of the tie string is 10 Newton

[10 Newton = measurement of force / strength]
[force / strength = physical quantity (derived quantity)]

3. A room temperature in the laboratory is 298 Kelvin

[298 Kelvin = measurement of temperature]
[temperature = physical quantity (base quantity)]

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 Answer / Exercise 1.1

4. A student runs a distance of 330 meter in 7 seconds

[330 meter = measurement of length / distance]
[length / distance = physical quantity (base quantity)]
[7 seconds = measurement of time ]
[ time = physical quantity (base quantity)]

5. A car starts from rest and accelerates with constant acceleration of

3 ms-2 for 12 second
[rest / 0 ms-1 = measurement of initial velocity]
[velocity = physical quantity (derived quantity)]
[3 ms-2 = measurement of acceleration ]
[acceleration = physical quantity (derived quantity)]]
[12 seconds = measurement of time ]
[time = physical quantity (base quantity)]
Back
Continues
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 Unit Conversion...
Answer / Exercise 1.2

1. 20 x 10-6 m
2. 7900 kgm-3
3. 1.5 x 1013 ps
4. 3 x 1013 nm2
5. 1 x 103cms-2
6. 0.3302 m
7. 2590.8 mm
Back
Continues
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PleAsE ComE To See Me If U HaVe Any ProBleMs In YouR StuDy

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