Quantities & Units

1 Which of the following pairs of units are both SI base units?

A ampere, degree celsius
B ampere, kelvin
C coulomb, degree celsius
D coulomb, kelvin
2 Which formula could be correct for the speed v of ocean waves in terms of the density ρ of sea-
water, the acceleration of free fall g, the depth h of the ocean and the wavelength λ?
g g
A v= gλ B v= C v = ρgh D v=
h ρ
 The unit of work, the joule, may be defined as the work done when the point of application of a
force of 1 newton is moved a distance of 1 metre in the direction of the force.
Express the joule in terms of the base units of mass, length and time, the kg, m and s.
A kg m–1 s2 B kg m2 s–2 C kg m2 s–1 D kg s–2
 The momentum of an object of mass misp.

id
p2
Which quantity has the same base units as ?
m

ah
A energy
B force
C power
Sh
D velocity
5. Which of the following could be measured in the same units as force?
A energy / distance
B energy x distance
C energy / time
D momentum x distance
oq

6 Which of the following definitions is correct and uses only quantities rather than units?
A Density is mass per cubic metre.
B Potential difference is energy per unit current.
C Pressure is force per unit area.
ro

D Speed is distance travelled per second.

7 When a beam of light is incident on a surface, it delivers energy to the surface. The intensity of
the beam is defined as the energy delivered per unit area per unit time.
Fa

What is the unit of intensity, expressed in SI base units?

A kg m–2 s–1 B kg m2 s–3 C kg s–2 D kg s–3
8 A metal sphere of radius r is dropped into a tank of water. As it sinks at speed v, it experiences a
drag force F given by F = kr v, where k is a constant.
What are the SI base units of k?
A kg m2 s–1 B kg m–2 s–2 C kg m–1 s–1 D kg m s–2
9 Which pair of units are both SI base units?
A ampere, degree celsius
B ampere, kelvin
C coulomb, degree celsius
D coulomb, kelvin
10 Which expression involving base units is equivalent to the volt?
A kg m2 s–1 A–1
B kg m s–2 A
C kg m2 s–1 A
D kg m2 s–3 A–1

Page 1
 11 In the expressions below
a is acceleration,
F is force,
m is mass,
t is time,
v is velocity.
Which expression represents energy?
2
A Ft B Fvt 2mv C D at
t 2
12 Which row of the table shows a physical quantity and its correct unit?
physical quantity unit

A electric field strength kg m s–2 C–1

B specific heat capacity kg–1 m2 s–2 K–1
C tensile strain kg m–1 s–2
D the Young modulus kg m–1 s–3

id
13 Which is a pair of SI base units?
A ampere joule

ah
B coulomb second
C kilogram kelvin
D metre newton
Sh
14 The equation relating pressure and density is p = ρgh.
How can both sides of this equation be written in terms of base units?
A [N m–1] = [kg m–3] [m s–1] [m]
B [N m–2] = [kg m–3] [m s–2] [m]
C [kg m–1 s–2] = [kg m–3] [m s–2] [m]
oq

D [kg m–1 s–1] = [kg m–1] [m s–2] [m]

15 At temperatures close to 0 K, the specific heat capacity c of a particular solid is given by c = bT 3,
where T is the thermodynamic temperature and b is a constant characteristic of the solid.
ro

What are the units of constant b, expressed in SI base units?

A m2 s –2 K–3
B m2 s–2 K–4
Fa

C kg m2 s–2 K–3
D kg m2 s–2 K–4
16 The drag force F acting on a moving sphere obeys an equation of the form F = kAv 2, where A
represents the sphere’s frontal area and v represents its speed.
What are the base units of the constant k ?
A kg m5 s–4 B kg m–2 s–1 C kg m–3 D kg m–4 s2
17 The table contains some quantities, together with their symbols and units.
quantity symbol unit

gravitational field strength g N kg–1

density of liquid ρ kg m–3
vertical height h m
volume of part of liquid V m3
Which expression has the units of energy?

A gρ hV B ρ hV C ρg D ρ g2h
g hV
Page 2
 18 The product of pressure and volume has the same SI base units as
A energy.
B force.
C force .
area
D force .
length
19 A metal sphere of radius r is dropped into a tank of water. As it sinks at speed v, it experiences a
drag force F given by F = kr v, where k is a constant.
What are the SI base units of k ?
A kg m2 s–1 B kg m–2 s–2 C kg m–1 s–1 D kg m s–2
20 Which physical quantity would result from a calculation in which a potential difference is multiplied
by an electric charge?
A electric current
B electric energy
C electric field strength
D electric power

id
21 Which row shows a base quantity with its correct SI unit?
quantity unit

ah
A current A
B mass g
Sh
C temperature °C
D weight N
22 The frictional force F on a sphere falling through a fluid is given by the formula
F = 6πaηv
where a is the radius of the sphere, η is a constant relating to the fluid and v is the velocity of the
oq

sphere. What are the units of η ?

A kg m s–1 B kg m–1 s–1 C kg m s–3 D kg m3 s–3
23 Which definition is correct and uses only quantities rather than units?
A Density is mass per cubic metre.
ro

B Potential difference is energy per unit current.

C Pressure is force per unit area.
Fa

D Speed is distance travelled per second.

24 Stress has the same SI base units as
A force .
mass
B force .
length
C force .
area
D energy.
25 To check calculations, the units are put into the following equations together with the numbers.
Which equation must be incorrect?
A force = 300 J / 6 m

B power = 6000 J × 20 s
C time = 6 m / 30 m s–1

D velocity = 4 m s–2 × 30 s
Page 3
 2 A cylindrical tube rolling down a slope of inclination θ moves a distance L in time T. The equation
relating these quantities is
 a 2 
L 3 + = QT 2 sin θ
 P 
 
Where a is the internal radius of the tube and P and Q are constants.

Which line gives the correct units for P and Q?

P Q

A m2 m2 s–2
B m2 m s–2
C m2 m3 s–2
D m3 m s–2
2 Which quantity can be measured in electronvolts (eV)?
A electric charge

id
B electric potential
C energy
D power

ah
28 What is a possible unit for the product VI, where V is the potential difference across a resistor
and I is the current through the same resistor?
A newton per second (N s–1)
Sh
B newton second (N s)
C newton metre (N m)
D newton metre per second (N m s–1)
29 What is the unit watt in terms of SI base units?
A J s–1 B m2 kg s–1 C m2 kg s–3 D N m s–1
oq

30 What is the unit of weight in terms of SI base unit(s)?

A kg m s–1 B kg m s–2 C N D J m–1
31 Which quantity has the same base units as momentum?
ro

A density × energy
B density × volume × velocity
C pressure × area
Fa

D weight ÷ area
32 Three of these quantities have the same unit.
Which quantity has a different unit?
energy
A
distance
B force

C power × time

D rate of change of momentum

33 The units of all physical quantities can be expressed in terms of SI base units.
Which pair contains quantities with the same base units?
A force and momentum
B pressure and Young modulus
C power and kinetic energy
D mass and weight
Page 4
 34 One property Q of a material is used to describe the behaviour of sound waves in the material.
Q is defined as the pressure P of the sound wave divided by the speed v of the wave and the
surface area A of the material through which the wave travels:
Q= P .
vA
What are the SI base units of Q?
A kg m2 s–3 B kg m–3 s–1 C kg m–4 s–1 D kg m–2 s–2
35 The unit of resistivity, expressed in terms of base units, is given by
kg x3 y–2 z–3 .
Which base units are x, y and z?
x y z

A ampere metre second

B metre ampere second
C metre second ampere
D second ampere metre

id
36 What is the unit of power, expressed in SI base units?
A kg m2 s–3 B kg m s–3 C kg m s–2 D kg m2 s–1

ah
37 Which row shows an SI base quantity with its correct unit?
SI base quantity unit

A charge coulomb
Sh
B current ampere
C potential difference volt
D temperature degree Celsius
38 The drag coefficient Cd is a number with no units. It is used to compare the drag on different cars
oq

at different speeds. It is given by the equation

2F
Cd =
ρv nA
where F is the drag force on the car, ρ is the density of the air, A is the cross-sectional area of the
ro

car and v is the speed of the car.

What is the value of n?
A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4
39 Which unit is equivalent to the coulomb?
Fa

A ampere per second

B joule per volt
C watt per ampere
D watt per volt
40 The spring constant k of a coiled wire spring is given by the equation
4
k = Gr 3
4nR
where r is the radius of the wire, n is the number of turns of wire and R is the radius of each of the
turns of wire. The quantity G depends on the material from which the wire is made.
What is a suitable unit for G?
A N m–2 B N m–1 C Nm D N m2
41 Which pair of units contains one derived unit and one SI base unit?
A ampere coulomb
B kilogram kelvin
C metre second
D newton pascal
Page 5
 42 The speed v of a liquid leaving a tube depends on the change in pressure ∆P and the density ρ of
the liquid. The speed is given by the equation
 ∆P n
v = k  

 ρ 
where k is a constant that has no units.

What is the value of n ?

3
A 21 B 1 C 2
D 2
43 The maximum theoretical power P of a wind turbine is given by the equation
P = kρAv n
where ρ is the density of air, A is the area swept by the turbine blades, v is the speed of the air
and k is a constant with no units.
What is the value of n ?
A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4
44 What is the unit of resistance when expressed in SI base units?
A kg m2 s–2 A–1
B kg m2 s–3 A–2

id
C kg m s–2 A–1
D kg m s–3 A–1

ah
45 The unit of specific heat capacity is J kg–1 K–1.
What is its equivalent in terms of SI base units?
A kg–1 m2 K–1 B m s–1 K–1 C m s–2 K–1 D m2 s–2 K–1
46 What is equivalent to the unit of electric field strength?
Sh
A J C m–1 B N s A–1 C kg m s–3 A–1 D kg m3 s–3 A–1
47 When the brakes are applied on a vehicle moving at speed v, the distance d moved by the
vehicle in coming to rest is given by the expression
d = kv 2
where k is a constant.
oq

What is the unit of k expressed in SI base units?

A m–1 s2 B m s–2 C m2 s–2 D m–1 s
48 Which is an SI base unit?
A current
ro

B gram
C kelvin
Fa

D volt
49 The average kinetic energy E of a gas molecule is given by the equation
E = 32 kT
where T is the absolute (kelvin) temperature.
What are the SI base units of k ?

A kg–1 m–1 s2 K
B kg–1 m–2 s2 K
C kg m s–2 K–1
D kg m2 s–2 K–1
50 Which statement includes a correct unit?
A energy = 7.8 N s
B force = 3.8 N s
C momentum = 6.2 N s
D torque = 4.7 N s

Page 6
 51 What is the joule (J) in SI base units?
A kg m s–1 B kg m2 s–1 C kg m s–2 D kg m2 s–2
52 The time T taken for a satellite to orbit the Earth on a circular path is given by the equation
T 2 = kr
3

M
where r is the radius of the orbit, M is the mass of the Earth and k is a constant.
What are the SI base units of k ?
A kg–1 m–3 s2 B kg–1 m3 s2 C kg m–3 s2 D kg m3 s2
53 What is the unit of the Young modulus when expressed in SI base units?
A kg m–1 s–2
B kg m3 s–2
C kg m–2
D kg m–1 s–1
54 The Reynolds number R is a constant used in the study of liquids flowing through pipes. R is a
pure number with no unit. ρvD
R=
µ
where ρ is the density of the liquid, v is the speed of the liquid and D is the diameter of the pipe

id
through which the liquid flows.
What are the SI base units of µ?
A kg m s B kg m–1 s C kg m s–1 D kg m–1 s–1

ah
55 Which pair of quantities do not have the same SI base units?
A electromotive force and electric potential difference
B pressure and stress
C spring constant and moment of a force
Sh
D torque and work
56 Which quantity with its unit is correct?
A acceleration of a bicycle = 1.4 m s–1
B electric current in a lamp = 0.25 A s–1
C electric potential difference across a battery = 8.0 J C–1
oq

D kinetic energy of a car = 4500 N m–1

57 The luminosity L of a star is given by
L = 4πr 2σT 4
where
ro

r is the radius of the star,

T is the temperature of the star,
σ is a constant with units W m–2 K–4.
Fa

What are the SI base units of L ?

A kg m2 s–1 B kg m2 s–2 C kg m2 s–3 D kg m2 s–4
58 Which list contains only SI base units?
A ampere, kelvin, joule, gram
B kilogram, newton, metre, ampere
C metre, coulomb, second, kelvin
D second, kelvin, ampere, kilogram
59 The speed v of sound in a gas is given by the equation
γP
v=
ρ
where P is the pressure of the gas, ρ is its density and γ is a constant.

What are the SI base units of γ ?

A m–1 s B m3 s–3 C m–4 s–4 D no units

Page 7
60 The stress σ needed to fracture a particular solid is given by the equation
γE
σ= k
d
where E is the Young modulus, d is the distance between planes of atoms, and k is a constant
with no units.
What are the SI base units of γ ?
A kg m s–2 B kg s–2 C kg m s–1 D kg s–1
61 The force F between two point charges q1 and q2, a distance r apart, is given by the equation
kq1q 2
F=
where k is a constant. r2

What are the SI base units of k ?

A kg m3 s–4 A2 B kg m3 s–4 A–2 C kg m3 A2 D kg m3 A–2
62 Which expression has the same SI base units as pressure?
force
A
length × speed

id
B force
length × time
C mass

ah
length × (time ) 2

D mass × (time ) 2
length
Sh
63 Which SI unit, expressed in base units, is not correct?
A unit of force, kg m s–2
B unit of momentum, kg m s–1
C unit of pressure, kg m–2 s–2
oq

D unit of work, kg m2 s–2

64 Which pair of units are not the same when expressed in SI base units?
A m s–2 and N kg–1
ro

B N s and kg m s–1
C Pa and N m–2
Fa

D V m–2 and N C–1

65 Which row shows a quantity and an incorrect unit?
quantity unit

A efficiency no unit
B moment of force N m–1
C momentum Ns
D work done J
66 What is a unit for stress?
A kg m–1 s–2 B kg m–2 s–2 C N m–1 D Nm
67 What is the best way of describing a physical quantity?
A a quantity with a magnitude and a direction but no unit
B a quantity with a magnitude and a unit
C a quantity with a magnitude but no direction
D a quantity with a unit but no magnitude
Page 8
68 When a beam of light is incident on a surface, it delivers energy to the surface. The intensity of
the beam is defined as the energy delivered per unit area per unit time.
What is the unit of intensity, expressed in SI base units?

A kg m–2 s–1 B kg m2 s–3 C kg s–2 D kg s–3

69 Three of these quantities have the same unit.
Which quantity has a different unit?
energy
A
distance
B force

C power × time
D rate of change of momentum

70 Which unit can be expressed in base units as kg m2 s–2?

A joule

id
B newton
C pascal

ah
D watt

71 The luminosity L of a star is given by

Sh
L = 4πr 2σT 4
where

r is the radius of the star,

T is the temperature of the star and
oq

σ is a constant with units W m–2 K–4.

What are the SI base units of L ?

ro

A kg m2 s–1 B kg m2 s–2 C kg m2 s–3 D kg m2 s–4

72 What is the number of SI base units required to express electric field strength and power?
Fa

electric field
power
strength

A 3 3
B 3 2
C 4 2
D 4 3

Page 9
 73 The Planck constant h has SI units J s.

Which equation could be used to calculate the Planck constant?

DE
A h= where D is distance, E is energy and v is velocity
v

v
B h= where v is velocity and D is distance
D

1
C h= where E is electric field strength
4πE

Fr 2
D h= where F is force, r is radius and m is mass
m

74 Which is an SI base unit?

id
A current
B gram

ah
C kelvin
D volt
Sh
75 The speed of a wave in deep water depends on its wavelength L and the acceleration of free
fall g.

What is a possible equation for the speed v of the wave?

 gL  gL g  2πg
A v=   B v= C v = 2π   D v=
oq

 2π  4π2 L L

76 Which expression gives an SI base quantity?

A charge per unit time

ro

B force per unit area

C mass per unit volume
Fa

D work done per unit distance

77 Which quantity with its unit is correct?

A acceleration of a bicycle = 1.4 m s–1

B electric current in a lamp = 0.25 A s–1
C electric potential difference across a battery = 8.0 J C–1
D kinetic energy of a car = 4500 N m–1
78 Which two units are not equivalent to each other?

A N m and kg m2 s–2
B N s and kg m s–1
C J s–1 and kg m2 s–3
D Pa and kg m s–2
Page 10
79 The table shows some measurable quantities.
Which row gives the correct order of magnitude of the measurable quantity in the stated unit?

order of
measurable quantity unit
magnitude

A mass of a coin 10–4 kg

B thickness of a sheet of paper 10–2 m
C weight of an apple 100 N
D temperature of a person’s body 101 K

80 The frequency f of vibration of a mass m supported by a spring with spring constant k is given by
the equation
f = Cm pk q
where C is a constant with no units.

id
What are the values of p and q?

p q

ah
A – 21 – 21

B – 21 1
2
Sh
C 1
2
– 21

1 1
D 2 2
oq

81 Which quantity is a physical quantity?

A atomic number
B efficiency
ro

C number density of charge carriers

D strain
Fa

82 The speed v of waves on a stretched wire is given by the equation

v = T pq

where T is the tension in the wire and  is the mass per unit length of the wire.

What are the values of p and q? p q

A 1 1
2 2

B 1 1
2 2

1 1
C
2 2

1 1
D
2 2
Page 11
83 What is not an SI base unit?

A coulomb
B kelvin
C kilogram
D second
84 Which physical quantity could have units of N s2 m–1?
A acceleration
B force
C mass
D momentum

85 Which combination of units could be used for expressing the power dissipated in a resistor?

id
A newton per second (N s–1)

ah
B newton second (N s)
C newton metre (N m)
D newton metre per second (N m s–1)
Sh
86 Which quantity could have units of N m V–1?
A acceleration
B charge
C current
oq

D resistance

87 What is a unit of momentum?

ro

A kg m s–2 B N s–1 C Ns D kg s m–1

88 What is essential when recording a measurement of a physical quantity?
Fa

A the measurement has an SI unit

B the measurement has a unit and a number
C the measurement has a unit given as a base unit
D the measurement is from an analogue scale

89 The mobility  of electrons travelling through a metal conductor can be calculated using the
equation
 
 =  e 
m

where e is the charge on an electron and m is its mass. The average time between the collisions
of an electron with the atoms in the metal is .
What are the SI base units of  ?

A A kg–1 B A s2 kg–1 C A s kg–1 D A s–2 kg–1

Page 12
90 Which row shows what all physical quantities must have?

magnitude direction unit

A   
B   
C   
D   

91 What is the unit of resistance when expressed in SI base units?

A kg–1 m–2 s A2
B kg–1 m–2 s3 A2
C kg m2 s–1 A–2

id
D kg m2 s–3 A–2

ah
92 What could not be a measurement of a physical quantity?

A 10 K B 11 J N–1 m–1 C 17 Pa m3 N–1 D 25 T m

Sh
93 Which term represents a physical quantity?

A metre
B percentage uncertainty
oq

C quark flavour
D spring constant
ro

94 Which two units are identical when expressed in terms of SI base units?

A J C–1 and kg m2 A–1 s–2

Fa

B J s and kg m2 s–1
C N m and kg m3 s–2
D N s and kg m s–3

95 What is the symbol for the SI base unit of temperature?

A C B K C C D K

96 Which pair of quantities are physical quantities?

A charge and ampere

B efficiency and kilogram
C pascal and strain
D period and potential difference

Page 13
97 The drag coefficient Cd is a number with no units. It is used to compare the drag on different cars
at different speeds. Cd is given by the equation

2F
Cd =
v n A

where F is the drag force on the car,  is the density of the air, A is the cross-sectional area of the
car and v is the speed of the car.

What is the value of n?

A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4

98 What is needed to accurately represent all physical quantities?

id
A a base unit and a number

ah
B a unit and a number expressed in standard form (scientific notation)
C a unit and a numerical magnitude

D an SI unit and a numerical magnitude

Sh
99 Which quantity is a physical quantity?

A flavour
B kelvin
oq

C minute
D potential difference
ro

100 What are the SI base units of electromotive force (e.m.f.)?

A kg m2 s–1 A–1
Fa

B kg m2 s–3 A–1
C kg m2 s–1 A
D kg m s–3 A–1

Page 14
 Mark Scheme

1 B 21 A 41 A 61 B 81 C 101
2 A 22 B 42 A 62 C 82 C 102
3 B 23 C 43 C 63 C 83 A 103
4 A 24 C 44 B 64 D 84 C 104
5 A 25 B 45 D 65 B 85 D 105

id
6 C 26 B 46 C 66 A 86 B 106
7 D 27 C 47 A 67 B 87 C 107
8 C 28 D 48 C 68 D 88 B 108

ah
9 B 29 C 49 D 69 C 89 B 109
10 D 30 B 50 C 70 A 90 C 110
11 B 31 B 51 D 71 C 91 D 111
12 A 32 C 52 C 72 D 92 B 112
D
Sh
13 C 33 B 53 A 73 A 93 113
14 C 34 C 54 D 74 C 94 B 114
15 B 35 B 55 C 75 A 95 B 115
16 C 36 A 56 C 76 A 96 D 116
17 A 37 B 57 C 77 C 97 B 117
18 A 38 B 58 D 78 D 98 C 118
oq

19 C 39 B 59 D 79 C 99 D 119
20 B 40 A 60 B 80 B 100 B 120
ro
Fa

Till Nov. 2022

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