Physics CH 1 - Making Measurements-Notes

P1 Making measurements
SI units
✓ A physical quantity is something that can be measured. For any measurement, the
unit being used must be stated to give an understanding of the scale of the
measurement.
✓ For example, distance can be measured in kilometres or in miles. They are similar,
but not the same and it is important to identify which was used for the
measurement, to know how far the distance is.
System International Units
✓ The units that scientists use all over the world are standardised in the System
International units - SI units. It is important to remember these six fundamentals (or
‘base’) units of measurement:
• metre (m) - unit of length

• kilograms (kg) - unit of mass
• second (s) - unit of time
• ampere (A) - unit of electrical current
• kelvin (K) - unit of temperature
• mole (mol) - unit of the amount of substance
Derived units
✓ There are many quantities scientists measure that come from the base units. These
derived units are very useful to quote as measurements, but they are not
fundamental as they come from fundamental units.
✓ For example, frequency is the number of times something happens per unit of time.
This is a useful quantity, but it is a division into the time unit. The standard unit for
frequency is considering the number 'per second', which is called 'hertz, Hz', but this
comes from the fundamental unit 'second'.
Measuring Length
• Rulers can be used to measure small distances of a few cm. They are able to measure to
the nearest mm
A ruler can measure small distances to the nearest mm
1.1 Length
• When making measurements, physicists use different instruments, such as rulers

to measure length, measuring cylinders to measure volume and stopwatches to
measure time.
• A ruler is used to measure length. When using a ruler, be careful to

avoid parallax error.
Note
Parallax causes an object to appear shorter or longer depending on

how you view it. An object must be viewed at right angles to the scale
to measure its length correctly.
Micrometer screw gauge
How To Read A Micrometer Screw Gauge
✓ Equipment: It is made up of a main scale and a thimble scale and can measure
objects up to 5 cm in length. The smallest marking is usually 1 mm on the main
scale (sleeve) and 0.01 mm on the thimble scale (thimble). The thimble has a
total of 50 markings representing 0.50 mm.
✓ It has:
• an anvil and a spindle to hold the object
• a ratchet on the thimble for accurate tightening (prevent over-
tightening)
• How to use: The spindle is first closed on the anvil to find any zero
errors ( use the ratchet for careful tightening). The spindle is then
opened to fit the object firmly (use the ratchet for careful tightening)
and the reading is then taken.
Accuracy: ± 0.01 mm
The above image shows a typical micrometer screw gauge and how to read it. Steps:
• To obtain the first part of the measurement: Look at the image above,
you will see a number 5 to the immediate left of the thimble. This
means 5.0 mm. Notice that there is an extra line below the datum line,
this represents an additional 0.5 mm. So the first part of the
measurement is 5.0+0.5=5.55.0+0.5=5.5 mm.
• To obtain the second part of the measurement: Look at the image

above, the number 28 on the rotating vernier scale coincides with the
datum line on the sleeve. Hence, 0.28 mm is the second part of the
measurement.
• You just have to add the first part and second part of the measurement
to obtain the micrometer
reading: 5.5+0.28=5.785.5+0.28=5.78 mm.
• To ensure that you understand the steps above, here’s one more
example:
First part of the measurement: 2.5 mm
Second part of the measurement: 0.38 mm
Final measurement: 2.88 mm
Q.What is the smallest possible reading (in mm) on the thimble scale? What is the
biggest possible reading?
The smallest possible reading on the thimble scale is 0.01 mm, while the biggest
possible reading is 0.49 mm.
Measuring Volume
• Measuring cylinders can be used to measure the volume of liquids or, by measuring the
change in volume, the volume of an irregular shape
Measuring cylinders can be used to determine the volume of a liquid or an irregular shaped
solid
Density
• Density is the mass per unit volume of a material:
o Objects made from low-density materials typically have a low mass, whilst
similar-sized objects made from high-density materials have a high mass
(Think of how heavy a bag full of feathers is compared to a similar bag full of
metal)
• Density is related to mass and volume by the following equation:
(Note: The greek letter ρ is used to mean density)
• You can rearrange this equation with the help of the formula triangle:
Use the formula triangle to help you rearrange the equation
• The units of density depend on what units are used for mass and volume:
o If the mass is measured in g and volume in cm3, then the density will be in g/cm3
o If the mass is measured in kg and volume in m3, then the density will be in kg/m3
Floating
• In general, an object will float in a liquid if the average density of that object is less than
the density of the liquid it is placed in
• Water, for example, has a density of about 1 g/cm3
o If an object has a density of less than 1 g/cm3 then it will float in water
o If an object has a density that is greater than 1 g/cm3 then it will sink in water
Diagram showing the relationship between an object’s density and its ability to float in water
Measuring Density
• To measure the density of an object, we must measure its mass and volume and then
use the following equation:
• The mass of an object can be measured quite simply by placing it on a top pan balance
You ought to state that you will ‘zero’ the balance before using it
Always zero a top pan balance before taking any measurements
• In the case of a liquid, the liquid must be placed in a container, the mass of which should
be measured both when it is empty and when it contains the liquid:
o The mass of the liquid will be the difference between the two values
• The volume can be determined in a couple of ways:
Regular shapes (e.g. cubes, spheres, cylinders):
• The width (and length) can be measured using a ruler or a pair of digital calipers
• To make the measurements accurate, several measurements should be taken between
different faces or points on the circumference, and an average taken
When measuring the width (or diameter) take several readings between different points and
take an average
• The volume can then be calculated using an appropriate equation:
(Note: When measuring the width of a sphere or cylinder, divide the measurement by two to
find the radius)
Irregular shapes:
• The volume can be found using a Eureka can:

Placing an object in a full Eureka can will displace water equal to its volume
• Fill the Eureka can with water

• Place an empty measuring cylinder below its spout
• Now carefully lower the object into the Eureka can (use a piece of string, perhaps)
• Measure the volume of displaced water in the measuring cylinder
• Alternatively, the object can be placed in a measuring cylinder containing a known

volume of liquid, and the change in volume then measured
When an irregular solid is placed in a measuring cylinder, the level of the liquid will rise by an
amount equal to the volume of the solid
• Once the mass and volume of the shape is known, its density can be calculated

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P1 Making measurements

System International Units

• metre (m) - unit of length

A ruler can measure small distances to the nearest mm

• When making measurements, physicists use different instruments, such as rulers

• A ruler is used to measure length. When using a ruler, be careful to

Parallax causes an object to appear shorter or longer depending on

• To obtain the second part of the measurement: Look at the image

First part of the measurement: 2.5 mm

Second part of the measurement: 0.38 mm

Final measurement: 2.88 mm

(Note: The greek letter ρ is used to mean density)

• The volume can be determined in a couple of ways:

Regular shapes (e.g. cubes, spheres, cylinders):

• The volume can then be calculated using an appropriate equation:

• The volume can be found using a Eureka can:

• Fill the Eureka can with water

• Alternatively, the object can be placed in a measuring cylinder containing a known

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