1. A quantity that is measurable is called a physical quantity.

2. Physical quantities are categorized into base quantities and derived quantities.
3. Base quantities are physical quantities that cannot be defined in terms of other
physical quantities.
4. ive base units and their corresponding physical quantities.
Base quantities symbol !" base units symbol
#ength l metre m
$ass m %ilogram %g
&ime t second s
'lectric current I ampere A
&emperature T %elvin (
). *erived quantities are physical quantities derived from base quantities by
multiplication or division or both. &he unit for a derived quantity is %no+n as a
derived unit.
,. !cientific notation is based on po+er of the base number 1-. .!tandard form/
A 0 1-
n
1. A prefi0 is a group of letters placed at the beginning of a +ord to modify its meaning.
&he !" allo+s others units to be created from standard of base units by using prefi0es2
+hich act as multipliers.
3. A scalar quantity is a quantity +hich has only magnitude or size.
4. A vector quantity has both magnitude and direction.
1-. $easurements are trials to determine the true value of a particular physical quantity.
&he difference bet+een the true value of a quantity and the value obtained in
measurement is the error.
11. !ystematic errors are cumulative errors that can be compensated for2 if the errors are
%no+n. !ystematic errors result from5
6 an incorrect position of the zero point
6 an incorrect calibration of the measuring instrument.
12. 7andom errors arise from un%no+ns and unpredictable variations in condition2 and
+ill produce a different error every time you repeat the e0periment. &hat may vary from
observation to observation. &hey may due to 5
6 personal error such as human limitations of sight and touch.
6 lac% of sensitivity. +hen that is an insignificant or small change2 an instrument may not
be able to respond to it or indicate it.
6 natural errors such as changes in +ind2 temperature2 humidity +hile the e0periment is in
progress.
6 the use of +rong technique of measurement such as applying e0cessive pressure +hen
turning a scre+ gauge.
13. A paralla0 error is an error in reading instrument because the observer8s eye and
pointer are not in line perpendicular to the plane of the scale.
14. &he consistency of a measuring instrument is its ability it register the same reading
+hen a measurement is repeated.
1). Accuracy is the degree to +hich a measurement represent the actual value. An
accurate instrument is able to give readings close to or almost equal to the actual value of
a quantity.
1,. &he sensitivity of a measuring instrument is its ability to detect quic%ly a small
change in the value of a measurement.