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Measurement is a fundamental concept in science that involves determining the properties of objects by comparing them to standards, primarily using the metric system. The document outlines the seven base units of measurement, including length, time, mass, electric current, temperature, amount of substance, and luminous intensity, along with their definitions. It also explains derived units and provides answers to frequently asked questions about measurement and units.

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5 views

Bio

Measurement is a fundamental concept in science that involves determining the properties of objects by comparing them to standards, primarily using the metric system. The document outlines the seven base units of measurement, including length, time, mass, electric current, temperature, amount of substance, and luminous intensity, along with their definitions. It also explains derived units and provides answers to frequently asked questions about measurement and units.

Uploaded by

ar4sh.01
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Measurement is one of the fundamental concepts in science.

Without the ability to


measure it would be difficult for scientists to conduct experiments and form
theories. The word “measurement” comes from the Greek word “metron,” which means
“limited proportion.”

Measurement is a technique in which the properties of an object are determined by


comparing them to a standard.

Measurement requires tools to provide scientists with a quantity. A quantity


describes how much of something there is and how many there are. Scientists use a
system of measurement still commonly referred to as the “metric system.” It was
the first standardised system of measurement, developed in France in the 1790s.
Today, this form is the standard form of measurement in every country except the
United States.
Units of Measurement

The Seven Base Units of Measurement


Length – Metre (m)
It is defined as the length of the path travelled by light in an interval of
exactly

It is based on the fundamental quantity, the speed of light in a vacuum which is c


= 299,792,458 m/s.
Time – Second (s)
It is the time taken by 9,192,631,770 periods of oscillations of the light emitted
by a caesium -133 atom corresponding to the transition between two hyper-fine
levels of the ground state. This is determined by using highly precise atomic
clocks.

Mass – Kilogram (kg)


It is the mass of a prototype platinum-iridium cylinder kept at the International
Bureau of Weights and Measures in Paris, France. Copies of this cylinder are kept
by many countries which use them to standardise and compare weights.

Electric current – Ampere (A)


The constant current which, if maintained in two straight parallel conductors of
infinite length and negligible circular cross-section when placed 1 m apart in
vacuum, would produce a force equal to 2 x 10-7 newton per metre of length between
these conductors. While, it may appear that electric charge should have been used
as a base unit, measuring current is far easier and hence is chosen as the standard
base unit.

Temperature – Kelvin (K)


The SI unit of temperature is Kelvin. It is exactly 1/(273.16) of the thermodynamic
temperature of the triple point of water. The triple point of water is a fixed
temperature and pressure at which the solid, liquid and gaseous states can exist at
the same time.

Amount of a substance – Mole (mol)


The mole is the amount of substance which contains as many entities as there are
atoms in 0.012 kg of carbon-12. A mole contains an Avogadro number of entities.
Check out our chemistry articles to know more about the Avogadro number.
Luminous Intensity – Candela (cd)
It is the luminous intensity of a source that emits radiation of a constant
frequency of 540 x 1012 Hz with a radiant intensity of 1/683 Watt per steradian in
any given direction.
Derived Units
The units of measurement derived from the seven base units specified by the
International System of Units are known as SI derived units. They are either
dimensionless or can be expressed as a product of one or more of the base units,
possibly scaled by an appropriate power of exponentiation. The names of SI derived
units, when written in full, are always in lowercase. However, the symbols for
units named after persons are written with an uppercase initial letter. For
example, the symbol for hertz is “Hz”, but the symbol for metre is “m.” In the
table below, we have given a list of derived units.

Name Symbol
Quantity

hertz

Hz
Frequency

radian

rad
angle

newton

N
force, weight

farad

F
electrical capacitance

ohm

Ω
electrical resistance, impedance, reactance

weber

Wb
magnetic flux

degree Celsius

°C
temperature relative to 273.15 K

becquerel

Bq
radioactivity (decays per unit time)

Stay tuned with BYJU’S to learn more about temperature, electric charge and many
more.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs


Q1
What is measurement?
Measurement is a technique in which properties of an object are determined by
comparing them to a standard.
Q2
Define a unit.
Any given physical quantity is measured in comparison to a basic unit that is
arbitrarily chosen, internationally accepted. The result of a measurement is
expressed by a number which is accompanied by a unit.
Q3
What are significant figures ?
Significant figures can be defined as important numbers between 0 and 9 that are
used in the coefficient of an expression that explains the precision of the
expression. These figures are obtained by rounding off the expression after the
calculations are executed on them.
Q4
Define supplementary units.
Supplementary units are dimensionless physical quantities that are used along with
fundamental units.
Q5
How is force measured in a metric system?
In the metric system, force is measured in kilograms and is denoted by the symbol
kgf.

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