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Chap 1

The document outlines fundamental concepts in measurement, including definitions of physical quantities, base and derived quantities, and examples of measuring instruments. It explains accuracy versus precision, significant figures, and the use of prefixes and scientific notation in SI units. Key information includes the seven base quantities and their SI units, methods for determining least count, and the correction of zero errors.

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Maryam Waqar
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6 views

Chap 1

The document outlines fundamental concepts in measurement, including definitions of physical quantities, base and derived quantities, and examples of measuring instruments. It explains accuracy versus precision, significant figures, and the use of prefixes and scientific notation in SI units. Key information includes the seven base quantities and their SI units, methods for determining least count, and the correction of zero errors.

Uploaded by

Maryam Waqar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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General Concepts:

1. Q: What is a physical quantity?


o A: A physical quantity is anything that can be measured. It has a numerical value
and a unit. (e.g., length, mass, time, temperature).
2. Q: What is the difference between base quantities and derived quantities?
o A: Base quantities are fundamental and cannot be defined in terms of other
quantities (e.g., length, mass, time). Derived quantities are defined in terms of
base quantities (e.g., area, volume, speed).
3. Q: Name the seven base quantities and their SI units.
o A:
 Length (meter, m)
 Mass (kilogram, kg)
 Time (second, s)
 Electric current (ampere, A)
 Thermodynamic temperature (kelvin, K)
 Amount of substance (mole, mol)
 Luminous intensity (candela, cd)
4. Q: What are derived quantities? Give some examples.
o A: Derived quantities are obtained by combining base quantities using
multiplication or division. Examples: area (m²), volume (m³), speed (m/s), density
(kg/m³).

Measurement and Instruments:

5. Q: What is a measuring instrument? Give examples.


o A: A measuring instrument is a tool used to determine the magnitude of a
physical quantity. Examples: ruler, measuring tape, vernier caliper, micrometer
screw gauge, stopwatch.
6. Q: What is the least count of a measuring instrument?
o A: The least count is the smallest measurement that can be accurately made using
a measuring instrument.
7. Q: Explain how to find the least count of a vernier caliper.
o A: Least count = Smallest division on the main scale / Number of divisions on the
vernier scale.
8. Q: Explain how to find the least count of a micrometer screw gauge.
o A: Least count = Pitch of the screw / Number of divisions on the circular scale.
9. Q: What is a zero error? How do you correct it?
o A: A zero error occurs when the measuring instrument shows a reading even
when there is no actual measurement. To correct it, subtract the zero error from
the measured value.

Accuracy and Precision:

10. Q: What is the difference between accuracy and precision?


o A: Accuracy refers to how close a measurement is to the true value. Precision
refers to how close repeated measurements are to each other.
11. Q: What are significant figures?
o A: Significant figures are the digits in a measurement that are known with
certainty plus one estimated digit.
12. Q: What are the rules for determining significant figures?
o A: (Be prepared to state the rules, e.g., non-zero digits are always significant,
zeros between non-zero digits are significant, etc.)

Prefixes and Scientific Notation:

13. Q: What are prefixes used in SI units? Give examples.


o A: Prefixes are used to represent multiples or submultiples of SI units (e.g., kilo,
milli, micro). Examples: kilometer (km), milligram (mg), microsecond (μs).
14. Q: What is scientific notation? Why is it used?
o A: Scientific notation is a way to express very large or very small numbers in the
form a × 10^n, where 1 ≤ a < 10 and n is an integer. It is used to simplify the
writing and handling of such numbers.

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