Measurements & Review

of Mathematical Concepts
CHAPTER 1

PHY 201 –
Mechanics & Heat
Bulacan State
1.1

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed

1.2 Systems of Measurements
Measurements is simply a way of comparing
certain attribute of an object with some given
standard.
The International Standards of mass
equal to 1 kg refer to a cylinder of
platinum-iridium.

The second is defined as 9,

192,631,770 times the period of
vibration of radiation from Cesium
atom.
1 meter is defined as the
distance of light travels in a
vacuum in 1/299,792,458
seconds.
1.2 Systems of Measurements

Measurement may be taken by

DIRECT METHOD or by
INDIRECT METHOD.
1.2 Systems of Measurements

Fundamental quantities are basic measurable quantities that have no

connection with each other.

Table 1.2
Seven SI Fundamental Quantities

Quantity Symbol Unit

Length l meter (m)

Mass m kilogram (kg)
Time t second (s)
Electric
I ampere (A)
Current
Temperature T Kelvin (K)
Amount of
n mole (mol)
substance
Luminous
Iv candela (cd)
Intensity
 Derived quantities are quantities that are expressed as a combination
of the fundamental quantities.
Table 1.3
Some SI Derived Units
Quantity Sy Unit
Area mb
A square meter, m2
Volume ol
V cubic meter, m3
Density ρ kilogram per cubic meter, kg/m3
Electric charge Q coulomb, C (A-s)
Electric potential Ɛ volt, V (J/C)
Pressure P Pascal, Pa
Energy E Joule, J
Force F Newton, N (kg∙m/ s2)
Velocity v meter per second (m/s)
acceleration a meter per second square(m/s2)
Work W Joule, J (kg∙m2/ s2)
Power P Watt, W (J/s)
 SYSTEM OF UNITS
It is a complete set of units both
fundamental and derived for all kind of
quantities.
• Old British or English System
FPS (foot-pound-second)

• Metric System SI (Systeme

International d ‘Unites)
MKS (meter-kilogram-second)
CGS(centimeter-gram-second)
1.2 Systems of Measurements
The International System of Units (SI)
Table 1.1
Commonly Used Prefixes and Numerical Values for SI Units
Practice:
1. Convert 4.0 cm to m.

2. Convert 4 nL to L.

3. Convert 40.0 L to μL

4. Convert 40 km to mm

5. Convert 0.04 GL to mL.

Significant Figures
 Significant figures are those digits in a number with known
certainty plus the first digit that is uncertain.
Exact numbers (constant number) are numbers that have defined values and are obtained by
definition. This number is not counted in determining the number of significant figures.
For example, 12 eggs in a dozen, and 2 pieces in a pair. Another example, numbers are written in a
formula is an exact number. Like in the formula for the
(a) area of a solid rectangular box, A = 2( lt + lw + wt), 2 is considered exact number;
(b) V = r2h,  is an exact number, and all others are called inexact numbers or variable numbers.

Inexact numbers (variable numbers) are numbers

obtained by measurement and must be expressed in the
right significant figures. The number of significant figures
must depend on the sensitivity of measuring devices
used.
Rule 1 All nonzero digits are significant.

82,824 88,000

80,000 88,800
Rule 2 Middle zeros (zeros between two nonzero digits)
are significant.

3,091 109,003

82,024 100,930

100,903
Rule 3 All zeros that are written to the
right of the decimal number count
as significant figures.

73.0 1254.10

4,531.01 5607.400
83.000
Rule 4 Leading zeros (zeros to the right of the
decimal number less than one and
preceding a nonzero digit) are not
significant.

0.000491 0.000006

0.031 0.1120
Rule 5 Trailing zeros (zeros at the end of a nonzero digit)
is significant if a decimal point or a bar on top is
indicated, for example, 300. kW has three
significant figures; 10ô0 has three significant
figures, and so on.
 •How many significant figures are shown in each of the
following?
a. 2900 m
b. 0.000002 cm
c. 1.0 x 105 Pa
d. 450.0 mL
e. 0.00530 mol
f. 3008 g

g. 2.355 mm
h. 0.40 cm
i. 0.125 in
 Scientific Notation
Scientific notation is a convenient way of expressing a very small or a very
large number.

24,984,000,000,000 miles (distance of Earth to the closest star)

0.0000000203 seconds (amount of time of light to go from one

side of an average size bedroom to other
side )
30,600,00,000,000,000,000,000,000 atoms (number of atoms in an
average size of glass)

0.000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 00369 lbs. (weight of proton
in an atom)
Scientific Notation

Scientific notation is a convenient way of expressing a very small or a very

large number. It simplifies the use of significant figures.
It has the form
M x 10n
M =decimal number with one nonzero digit before the decimal point
n= is a positive or negative whole number.

Express in proper scientific notation:

(a)0.002854 = (2.854 x 10-3)

(b) 12,000,000 = (1.2 x 107)

•Express the following numbers in scientific notation
and express in 3 SF.

a. 706.5
b. 0.00123
c. 125,000
d. 0.00000034
e. 3,000,000
1.5 Conversion of Units
Dimensional analysis, or factor unit method, is used to convert a unit to another unit,
a numerator and a denominator representing a relationship are used.
Table 1.4
Common Conversion Factors
1 m = 3.281 ft = 1.094 yards (yd)
1 inch (in) = 2.54 cm
LENGTH 1 foot (ft) = 12 in
1 mile (mi) = 1.61 km
1 square meter (m2) = 10.76 square feet (ft 2)
1 ft2= 929 square centimeter (cm2)
AREA 1 hectare = 10,000 m2 = 2.471 acres
1 acre = 43,560 ft2
1 mL = 1 cubic centimeter (cc or cm 3)
1 L = 1000 mL = 1.057 quarts (qt)
VOLUME 1 cubic meter (m3) = 1000 L
1 gal = 3.7854 L
1 earth year = 365.25 days
1 week = 7 days
TIME 1 day = 24 hours (hr)
1 hr = 60 minutes (min) = 3600 sec
1 min = 60 seconds (s)
1 kg = 1000 g = 2.2 pounds (lb)
1 g = 1000 mg
MASS 1. metric ton = 1000 kg
2. pound = 454 g
Sample 1.5.1: The height of a building is 100.0 feet. Find the height in meters
in the right significant figures

1m
h = 100.0 ft x = 30.48 m
3.281 ft
Sample 1.5.2 : Convert 125 mm2 to cm2
(1 cm)2
A = 125 mm2 x (10mm)2 = 1.25 cm

Sample 1.5.3: Convert 5.0 L to cm3 ( 1mL = 1cm3)

1000 mL 1 cm3
A = 5.0 L x x = 5.0 x 103 cm3
1L 1 mL
 SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
The height of a particular lighthouse is about
249 ft. Express this height in miles.
1 inch (in) = 2.54
cm
1 foot (ft) = 12 in
1 mile (mi) =
1.61 km

A volume of a liquid substance is taken as 20.0

cc. Convert this volume in liters.
 The deepest part of the Pacific Ocean is
5968 fathoms deep, what is this depth in
meters? One fathom is exactly 6 feet
1 inch (in) = 2.54
cm
1 foot (ft) = 12 in
1 mile (mi) =
1.61 km

ANS: 1.091 X 10^4 meters

 A force of 2000 N acts on an area those
measures 1 m x 2 m. What is the force per unit
area in kN/m2?

ANS: 1 kN/m2

One furlong is defined as one-eight of a mile. How many km. are

there in a six-furlong race? The following relations are exact:
1 mile = 5280 feet, 12 in. = 1 ft., 1 in. = 2.54 cm.
Express your answer in 2 decimal places.

ANS: 1.21 km
 Physical Quantities
Mass and Weight
Mass is the quantity of matter that it contains. It is a constant quantity.
The weight of a body is the force that gravity exerts on the body.

Triple Beam Balance.

A moderately accurate measurement is done. It is sensitive to 0.01 gram.
ERROR IN READING
Error due to
• PARALLAX ERROR incorrect
positioning of eyes
For accurate measurement the eye must
always be placed vertically above the mark
being read.

For accuracy:
To improve accuracy further , take several readings and
use the average of these readings for better result.
 Top Loading Balance. It is used for more accurate work. It is sensitive to
0.01gram to 0.0001 gram.
 Spring Balance is used to measure the body's weight directly and is given in the
units of force, the Newton (N). The spring is stretched until the force of gravity acting
on the body is equal to the spring's backward pull.
 Length
Length is the distance covered by a line segment connecting two
points. The standard unit of length in metric and SI units is the meter.

 Ruler. A ruler is a device used to measure more extended objects

made up of plastic, wood, metal, etc.

In centimeter measurement,
there are ten divisions, and each
is read as 1/10 or 0.1 cm.

In inches measurement, there are 16

divisions, and each is read as 1/16 or
0.0625.
Vernier Caliper
A vernier caliper is an instrument that measures the internal
diameter as well as the external diameter and distances of
the object. This device takes more precise measurements
than the regular ruler. The ruler has a sensitivity of 0.01 cm,
while the vernier caliper has a sensitivity of 0.005 cm.
[Link]
ZERO ERROR IN VERNIER CALIPER
PRACTICE:

ANS: 0.28
cm
PRACTICE:

ANS: 0.57
cm
PRACTICE:

ANS: 0.76
cm
PRACTICE:

ANS: 0.60
cm
ANS: 1.99
cm
Area

The area of plane figures or solids is the

number of unit squares that can be
contained within it.
Volume

Volume is defined in terms of standard length.

Cubic meter (m3) is the standard SI-derived unit. It
is the volume of a cube that is exactly one meter
on edge.
Another common unit of volume is liter. A liter is
a non-SI unit of volume that is equal to 1000 mL or
1000 cc.
Regular Solids
ARCHIMEDES AND
THE GOLD CROWN
Irregular Solids
The volume of an irregularly shaped object is determined by water displacement.
Water displacement is done by placing the material in a graduated cylinder with a
known volume of water. The material will displace a volume of water equal to the
volume of the material. An increase in volume is the volume of the material.
 Liquid Volume Measuring
Devices

Beakers and Flasks Graduated Cylinders Burette Pipette

 Measuring Volume of Liquids
When the liquid is poured into the cylinder, the volume is read
from the scale on the side. To read the volume of the liquid
accurately the base of the measuring cylinder must be placed
on flat surface and eye must be leveled with the bottom of the
meniscus.

Meniscus:
The surface of the liquid curves
upwards at the point where it touches the inside
of the cylinder. This curvature is called the
meniscus.
Density
Density () is defined as the ratio of the
samples’ mass to its volume.

mass m
density = or =
volume V
Density
Density () is defined as the ratio of the
samples’ mass to its volume.
Density
Density () is defined as
the ratio of the samples’
mass to its volume.
Sample 1.6.6: What is the mass of 10.0 mL cottonseed oil? The
density of cottonseed oil is 0.926 g/mL at 20.0 oC.
Solution: Derive mass from the density equation and
substitute the data

m
= m = xV
V
0.926 g
m= x 10.0 mL = 9.26 g
mL
Sample Problem 1.6.7: The water level in a graduated cylinder
stands at 20.0 mL before and at 22.0 mL after a 5.4 g metal is
submerged in water. Calculate the volume and density of the
metal.
Solution: The metal will displace a volume of water equal to
the volume of the metal. Thus the increase in volume is the
volume of the metal.
Vmetal = Vwater+metal – Vwater = 22.0 mL – 20.0 mL = 2.0 mL

m
5.4 g
metal = V = = 2.7 g/mL
2.0 mL
Specific Gravity (SG)
denotes the ratio of a substance's density to a reference
substance's density. Water is usually used as the
reference substance for solids and liquids. Common
reference substances used in specifying the specific
gravity of gases are air and hydrogen.
 density of solid or liquid Density of gas
SG = density of water (1.00 g/mL)
SG = Density of air (1.293
g/L)

Specific gravity tells us how many times as heavy

as a liquid, a solid, or a gas is compared to the
reference material.
Sample 1.6.8: The specific gravity of mercury is 13.6 relative
to water. What volume of Hg would have the same mass as
100.0 mL of water?

Given: SGHg = 13.60 Vwater = 100.0 mL

Required: VHg = ?
Solution: m water = m Hg
mHg

VHg =
SGHg = Hg = V water
 water m water VHg
V water
 V water 100.0 mL
VHg= = = 7.35 mL
SGHg 13.6
Practice Exercise 1.6: Answer the following in the right
significant figures
a.A sheet of aluminum foil has a total area of
1.000 ft2 and a mass of 3.636 g. What is the
thickness of the foil in mm? (Al = 2.699 g/cc).
Practice Exercise 1.6: Answer the following in the right
significant figures
b. Calculate the mass of each of the following:
(a)a sphere of gold with radius of 10.0 cm,  = 19.3 g/cc;

(b) a cube of platinum of edge length 0.0400 mm,

r = 21.4 g/cc;

(c) 50.0 cc of ethyl alcohol,  = 0.789 g/cc

1.7 Precision and Accuracy
Precision refers to how closely individual measurements agree
with each other. It is usually expressed in terms of percent
deviation
We can calculate the % deviation from the formula
Ave AD
%D= x 100%
M
where: Ave AD = average absolute deviation
M = mean or average of several measurements

Absolute deviation (AD) is the difference between the measured

value (Mo) and the mean (M) for the set of several measurements. In
equation,
AD = ǀMo – Mǀ
Accuracy refers to how closely a measured value agrees with the correct
value for a specific physical quantity. It is expressed in terms of percent
error.
We can calculate the % error from the
formula
Ave AE
%E= MA x 100%
where: Ave AE = average absolute error
MA = accepted value
Absolute error is the actual difference between the measured
value and the accepted value. In equation,

AE = ǀMo – MAǀ
 PRECISION VERSUS
ACCURACY

not precise precise but precise

and not accurate and
not accurate accurate
Percent Error can also be obtained by the absolute difference between the accepted
value (or true value) and the average measurement (or average experiment value) divide
by the accepted value.
%E= ǀ TV – EV ǀ x 100%
TV
Sample Problem 1.7.1: Three students were asked to
weigh 10.0 mL of distilled water. The results of two
successive weighings by each student are:

Student A Student B Student C

10.02 9.75 9.80
10.00 9.85 9.86
10.01 9.80 9.83
Average
value

The true mass of distilled water is 10.00 g. Compare their

measurements.
Solution:
 Ave AD 0.01
% DA = x 100 = x 100 = 0.1%
M 10.01

Ave AD 0.05
% DB = x 100 = x 100 = 0.5%
M 9.80

Ave AD 0.03
% DC = x 100 = x 100 = 0.3%
M 9.83

Ave AE 0.01
% EA = x 100 = x 100 = 0.1%
MA 10.00

Ave AE 0.20
% EB = x 100 = x 100 = 2.0%
MA 10.00

Ave AE 0.17
% EC = x 100 = x 100 = 1.7%
MA 10.00
ǀ TV – EV ǀ ǀ 10.00 – 10.01 ǀ x 100 = 0.1%
% EA = x 100 =
TV 10.00

ǀ TV – EV ǀ ǀ 10.00 – 9.80 ǀ
% EB = x 100 = x 100 = 2.0%
TV 10.00

ǀ TV – EV ǀ ǀ 10.00 – 9.83 ǀ
% EC = x 100 = x 100 = 1.7%
TV 10.00
 Student C's results are more precise than Student B's results,
but neither set results are very accurate. Student A’s results are
not only the most precise but also the most accurate.
Supplemental Problems:

1. A 68 kg nursing-aide is on her diet for two and a half months. Determine her weight in pounds
after losing 20.25 pounds.

2. Calculate how many cu. cm. of blood is in 9 packs of 1.5 pints each. Express your answer in
scientific notation.

3. A metal cylinder 3.0 cm high and 1.0 cm in diameter has a mass of 12.60 g. Find its density in g/mL.
(Hint: density = mass per volume)

4. How much longer (in percentage) is a one-mile race than a 1,500-meter race?

5. A rectangular lot has a length of 50.0 meters and a width of 26.0 meters. What is the area of
the lot in square inches?
Supplemental Problems:

6. A ladder 9.00 m long leans against the side of a building. If the ladder is inclined at an angle of
75.0o to the horizontal, what is the horizontal distance from the bottom of the ladder to the building?

7. The radius of the planet Saturn is 5.85x107 m, and its mass is 5.68x1026 kg. (a) Find the density
of Saturn in grams per cubic centimeter. (b) Find the surface area of Saturn in square feet.

8. Estimate the total number of heartbeats a typical human heart makes in a lifetime. A typical
resting heart rate is 70 beats/min but during exercise goes a lot higher so its safer to take 80
beats/min as average. An average person lives about 70 years.

9. Estimate the thickness of a page of a book whose first 500 pages measures about 15 cm.
Express your answer in scientific notation.

10. A light-year is the distance travelled by light in one year whose speed is about 2.998 x 10 8 m/s.
How many meters are there in 1.00 light-year? An astronomical unit (AU) is the average distance
from the sun to the earth equivalent to 1.50 x 108 km. How many AU are there in 1.00 light-year?