CHAPTER: 01
Physical Quantities and Measurement
Q 01: What is Physics? Describe its branches?
Ans: Physics:
“The branch of science which deals with the study of properties of matter, energy
and their mutual relationship is called physics”.
Branches of Physics:
Main branches:
The main branches of physics are:
1) Mechanics:
The branch of physics which deals with the motion of material objects under
the action of forces.
2) Heat and thermodynamics:
The branch of physics in which we study the transformation of heat
into other forms of energy.
3) Optics:
The branch of physics which deals with the nature of light, its properties,
reflection, refraction, dispersion and, wave properties of light.
4) Electricity and magnetism:
It deals with the study of static as well as moving charges and the
phenomena that occurs due to the effect of charges.
5) Atomic physics:
The branch of physics which deals with the study of structure and properties
of individual atoms.
Other branches:
Other branches of physics are:
6) Nuclear physics:
It deals with the study of structure and properties of nuclei of atoms.
7) Solid state physics:
It deals with the study of specific properties of matter in solid form.
8) Particle physics:
It deals with the study of elementary particles such as electron, proton etc.
9) Plasma physics:
It deals with the study of matter in plasma state.
10) Quantum physics:
Quantum physics deals with the discrete indivisible units of energy called
‘quanta’.
11) Semi conductor physics:
It deals with the study of semi conductors.
12) Astro physics:
It deals with the study of heavenly bodies and interaction of matter and
energy in space.
13) Geophysics:
The study of physical properties of planet earth is called geophysics.
14) Biophysics:
The study of applications of physics to biological processes is called
biophysics.
Q 02: What do you mean by physical quantity? Describe its types?
Ans: Physical quantity:
“A quantity which can easily be observed and measured is called physical
quantity”.
Types of physical quantities:
There are two types of physical quantities described below.
1) Base physical quantities:
“Those physical quantities which are the simplest standards selected by
scientists are called base quantities”.
They are seven in number. Base quantities along with their SI
units are given below.
Base quantity Unit
i. Length Metre
ii. Mass Kilogram
iii. Time Second
iv. Temperature Kelvin
v. Electric current Ampere
vi. Luminous intensity Candela
vii. Amount of substance Mole
2) Derived physical quantities:
“Those quantities which are obtained by multiplying or dividing base
quantities are called derived quantities”.
Examples
Area length length
Volume length length length
length
Speed
time
Q 03: What do you mean by international system of units?
Ans: International system of units:
“The system of units in which the unit of length, mass and time are
meter, kilogram and second respectively is known as system international (SI)”.
It is based on seven basic units given below:
SI Units Symbol
i. Meter m
ii. Kilogram Kg
iii. Second s
iv. Kelvin K
v. Ampere A
vi. Candela Cd
vii. Mole mol
Q 04: What are prefixes? Explain.
Ans: Prefixes:
In scientific calculation, we have to deal with quantities that are either very large
or small compared with base units. In such cases we use higher or smaller units of the
standard unit. These units are in power of 10 which are called “prefixes”.
For example: The distance between two cities is taken in kilometers while the length
of a book is taken in centimeters.
Some of the prefixes with their multiples are given below:
Multiple Prefix Symbol
10-1 deci d
10-2 centi c
10-3 milli m
10-6 micro µ
101 deca da
102 hecto h
103 kilo k
106 mega M
Q 05: What do you know about scientific notation?
Ans: Scientific notation OR Standard form:
Every small or large number ‘N’ can be expressed in terms of
number ‘M’ multiplied by a negative or positive power of 10 as follows.
N = M x 10n
Where n 0,1,2,3,......... ..........
It must be noted that the first digit of M is a non zero digit.
Steps of writing in Scientific Notation:
1) In a given number N, move the decimal point and place it after first non-zero digit.
2) If the decimal point is moved towards left from its initial position, then power of 10
will be positive.
3) If the decimal point is moved to the right, then the power of 10 will be negative.
Examples:
i. The mass of moon is 70 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 Kg.
In scientific notation,
Mass of moon = 7 x 1022 Kg
ii. The diameter of atomic nucleus is about 0.000 000 000 000 01m.
In scientific notation,
Diameter of nucleus = 1 x 10-14 m
Q 06: What are significant figures? Give the rules to identify them?
Ans: Significant figures:
“The number of accurately known figures and the first doubtful figure are
known as significant figures”.
For example 9.8, 9.94 and 9.85 have two significant figures.
Rules for significant figures:
1) All the non-zero digits are significant.
2) Zero between two non-zero digits is significant. For example, 708, 2.03
3) Zero after decimal having non-zero digit at the end is not significant, For example
1.021.
4) Zero at the right of decimal point having no non-zero digit at the end is significant.
For example 22.00
Q 07: Write a comprehensive note on Vernier Calipers?
Ans: Vernier Calipers:
It is an instrument used to measure small lengths up to 0.1mm (0.01cm). It
was invented by a French mathematician Pierre Vernier in 1631.
Construction:
It consists of two scales i.e, main scale and vernier scale.
i. Main scale:
It has markings of 1mm each and contains a jaw on its left end.
ii. Vernier scale:
It is a sliding scale with markings of 0.9mm each. It has a total of 10 or 20
divisions. It also contains a jaw on its left end as shown.
Figure: Vernier Calipers
Least count:
The smallest digit on the main scale divided by total number of divisions on
vernier scale is called least count of the Vernier Caliper. Mathematically,
smallest digit on main scale
Least count
total divisions on vernier scale
1mm
Least count
10
Least count = 0.01mm = 0.01cm
Working:
1) First note the least count.
2) Close the jaws and check zero error.
3) Fix the object between the jaws and tight the screw.
4) Note the main scale reading.
5) Find the vernier division which coincide with the main scale division.
6) Calculate the length of object using the following formula,
Length = main scale reading + (vernier scale reading x least count)
7) Add the zero error to the length in case of negative zero error.
8) Subtract the zero error from the length in case of positive zero error.
Q 08: What is zero error in vernier caliper? What are its types?
Ans: Zero error:
When the jaws of Caliper are closed and the zero of main scale does not
coincide with the zero of vernier scale, then there is an error in vernier caliper which is
called zero error.
There are two types of zero error:
i. Positive zero error:
When the zero of vernier scale remains right to the zero of main scale, then
the error is called positive zero error.
It is subtracted from the final reading.
ii. Negative zero error:
When the zero of vernier scale remains to the left of the zero of main scale,
then the error is called negative zero error.
It is added to the final reading at the end.