Base Quantity and Derived Quantity

1. Quality refers to a characteristic of a phenomenon or matter that can be described - for

examples: inverted or upright; virtual or real; the colours of red, orange, yellow, green, blue,
indigo or violet; opaque or transparent; sweet, salty, sour or bitter; etc.


2. Quantity:
Quantity refers to a characteristic of a phenomenon or matter that can be quantified. To
quantify means to measure and give it anumerical value with a unit of measurement.

A unit of measurement indicates the size of that unit based on a given measurement
standard and together with the numerical value, they express the size of the physical
quantity.


Examples of physical quantities:
o Mass, weight
o Length, area, volume
o Time
o Temperature
o Electric current, voltage, resistance, charge
o Number of particles in a matter
o Brightness of light
o Angle (of reflection, refraction)

In the past, for the same physical quantity, different units of measurement were used
depending on the cultural backgrounds of the users. For examples:
o For mass: kilograms, tonnes, pounds, ounces, grams
o For length: inches, feet, millimeters, centimeter, metres, etc.
o For time: seconds, minutes, hours, days, etc.
o For temperature: Celsius (or Centigrades), Fahrenheits,Kelvins
This has caused difficulty in comparison and communication.

To overcome the difficulty, the SI (International System of Units) has chosen
and standardized the units of measurement for all physical quantities and, these chosen
units of measurement are known as the SI units.

SI has recognized some physical quantities as base quantities and others as derived
quantities. What are their differences?


Base Quantities & Base Units


1. Base quantities are physical quantities that are not derived in terms ofother physical
quantities. The following physical quantities, units and symbols are chosen by the SI
(International System of Units) as base quantities, base units and unit symbols:


Base Quantity (Symbol) Base Unit (Symbol)
Length (l) metre (m)
Mass (m) kilogram (kg)
Time (t) second (s)
Electric current (I) ampere (A)
Temperature (T) Kelvin (K)
(2006 P1 Q1 Pg. 48)
2. The SI has defined the seven base units: kilogram, metre, second, Kelvin, ampere, mole and
candela

Derived Quantities & Derived Units

1. Derived quantities are physical quantities which are derived from thebase quantities by
multiplication or division or both. For example, speed is a derived quantity of length (distance
travelled) over time.


2. Derived units are units of measurements (for derived quantities) which arederived from
base units of the component base quantities by multiplication or division or both. In the case
of derived quantity speed, its derived unit is metre/time (with unit symbol, m/s).

3. Some derived units have been given special names. For examples:

Derived Quantity (Symbol) Formula Derived Unit (Special Name)
Force (F) Mass x Acceleration kg x m s^-2 (Newton, N)
Pressure (P) Force/Area kg m s^-2/m^2 (pascal, Pa)
Frequency (f) 1/Period 1/s = s^-1 (hertz, Hz)
Work (W) Force x Displacemt N x m (joule, J)
Power (P) Work/Time J/s (watt, W)
Electric charge (Q) Current x Time A x s (coulomb, C)

(2011 P1 Q3 at pg. 280 - Weight being a measure of gravitational force is a derived quantity)

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Segment Review Questions:

A) Base Quantity and Derived Quantity

1. What is a base quantity? Name 5 base quantities.

2. Define derived quantity. And, state 5 derived quantities.

3. State two main advantages of standardisation of all units of measurement for physical
quantities.

4. Give the name and symbol of the SI unit of measurement for each of the following physical
quantities:
a. Length
b. Mass
c. Time
d. Temperature
e. Current
f. Force
g. Energy
h. Power

5. Some derived quantities have been given special names by SI(International System of
Units). State these derived quantities (that you know of) and their special names.