Do you still remember?

What is physics?
Physis Nature.
Physikos knowledge of nature.
Why Physics?
- to find answer to the question why and how in
relation to the mysteries the universe.
- to explain the fundamental nature of the universe
by using simplest explanation.
- to gain a better understanding of the world.
- the law of physics : help us to answer
question.

1.2
Understandin
g Base
Quantities
and
Derived
Quantities

You should be able to :

1. Explain what base quantities and derived
quantities are.
2. List base quantities and their units.
3. List some derived quantities and their units.
4. Express quantities using prefixes.
5. Express quantities using the scientific notation.
6. Express derived quantities as well as their units in
terms of base quantities and base units.
7. Solve problems involving conversion of units.

Measurement is the process of determining the

value of quantity using a scientific instrument with
a standard scale

Quantity
Physical
Quantity
Quantities that are
measurable
Temperature,
pressure, time,
mass etc

Non-physical
Quantity
Quantities that
cannot be measured
Existence of ghost,
..what else?

Physical
Quantity
categories

Base
Quantities

Derived
Quantities

Are physical
quantities that
cannot be defined in
terms of other
physical quantities

Are physical
quantities derived
from base quantities
by multiplication or
division or both

BASE QUANTITIES
Are physical quantities that cannot be defined in terms of
other physical quantities
Base quantities

Length

Symbol

SI unit

SI unit
Symbol

metre

Mass

kilogram

kg

Time

seconds

Temperature

kelvin

Electric current

Ampere

DERIVED QUANTITIES
Are physical quantities derived from base quantities by
multiplication or division or both
Derived Symbol
quantities

Formula

Unit

Area

Length x length

m2

Volume

Length x length x length

m3

Velocity

length
time

m s-1

Density

mass
volume

kg m-3

Example:
A 3.5 kg of chicken, cut into pieces of about 8 cm
long. Add 5 g of salt and 15 cm3 of ginger juice.
Season for 25 minutes. Deep fry until the chicken
pieces turn brownish colour. Place it in a 100 cm2
plate and let it cool down to 80 0C before serve.
From the recipe provided above, identify the
physical quantities and then classify them into
base quantities and derived quantities.
SOLUTION:
Mass 3.5 kg chicken, 5g salt
Length - 8 cm long
Volume - 15 cm3 of ginger juice
Time - 25 minutes.
Area - 100 cm2 plate
Temperature - 80 0C

Base
quantities

Derive
quantities

Mass
Length
Time
Temperature

Volume
Area

STANDARD FORM
To express very larger or very small number to be
neater, brief and easier to read
The standard form written as;

A 10

1 A 10

n is an integer (+ve and ve)

Eg: Speed of light = 300 000 000 m s-1
= 3.0 X 108 m s-1
Eg; wavelength of yellow light = 0.000 000 58 m
= 5.8 X 10-7m

PREFIXES
A prefix is the pre-multiplicative factor which is used
in a measurement when its value is very large or
very small on the SI unit scale.
Measurement whose magnitude is very large- kilo,
Mega, Giga and Tera
Measurement whose magnitude is very small
centi, mili, micro, nano, pico

Prefix
Tera
Giga
Mega
Kilo
deci
centi
milli
micro
nano
piko

Symbol

Power/
factor

Value

T
G
M
k
d
c
m

1012
109
106
103
10-1
10-2
10-3
10-6
10-9
10-12

1 000 000 000 000

1 000 000 000
1 000 000
1 000
You have
0.1
to
0.01
memories
0.001
0.000 001 this table!!!
0.000 000 001
0.000 000 000 001

n
p

Conversion of units
x
BASE

PREFIX

PREFIX

PREFIX

Examples:
1. Convert the following masses to kilogram and giving the answer
in scientific notation
(a) 0.041 Mg
(b) 512 000 000 g

Solution :
(a) 0.041
(b)
512 Mg.kg
000 000 g.kg
(prefix to
(base
prefix)
to prefix)
6
33
= 0.041
512 000
X 10
000
10
10
kg
kg
3
= 0.041
5.12 xX10
108 6- 310
kg
kg
-2 5
= 4.1
5.12x x10
10
xkg
103 kg

= 4.1 x 101kg

Example
2
Convert every measurement to base unit
(a) 2.15 x 108nm
(b) 2.15 x 10-2 cm
Solution:
Solution:
-2
(b) 2.15 x 10
cm..m (Prefix to base)
8
(a) 2.15 x 10 nm..m
(Prefix
to base)
-2
-2
= 2.15 x 108 x 10
m
= 2.15 x 10 x 10-9m
(-2+ -2)
== 2.15
x
10
(8+ -9)
2.15 x 10
mm
== 2.15
10-1 -4mm
2.15 xx10

Exercise to be answer.
Express each measurement in column I in the unit
specified in column II. Show the solution.
I
(i) 0.4 mm
(ii) 10 g
(iii) 240 mg
(iv) 0.02 kg
(v) 3.86 ms
(vi) 3.86 Ms
(vii) 6.37 Gm
(viii) 6.37 km

II
m
kg
kg
g
ns
ds
m
m

I
(ix) 40 cm2
(x) 4.2 mm2
(xi) 1.05 g cm-3

II
m2
m2
kg m-3

Q&A