PHYSICAL SCIENCE

MODULE

C0601

MEASUREMENT

NAME: CLASS:

Practical 15
Worksheet 40
Research 40
Neatness 5
TOTAL: 100

Hillcrest High School, Private Bag 1012, Hillcrest, 3650

All rights reserved. This module or portions thereof may not be reproduced
by any means without the school's permission.
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Objectives

On completion of this module you should be able to:

1. define: physical quantity; base unit; derived unit; scientific notation;

2. know and be able to apply the equations for calculating the areas and volumes of common
shapes;
3. understand the scientific importance of measurement and the scientific method;
4. rewrite numbers correctly using metric prefixes and scientific notation;
5. derive units from scientific formulae;
6. convert metric units.

Tasks

1. Study the theory section of this module before attempting the worksheet.
2. Complete the Practical section.
3. Complete the Worksheet section.
4. Carry out the research required in the Research section.

Resources and Supportive Material

1. Computer: MS Encarta 95 (CD)

MS Bookshelf 95 (CD)
The New Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia (CD)
The Way Things Work (CD)
Encyclopedia of Science (CD)

2. Videos: The Scientific Method

Powers of Ten
Measure for Measure

3. Texts: "The Use of the SI in Secondary Education", Metrication Department

"How Long? How Heavy? How Fast?", Augusta, P and Kluna, J.

4. You will also find that most Physics and Chemistry text books include a chapter or
reference section on measurement or units.

Guidelines

1. You have one week to complete this module.

2. Complete the Practical section using the spaces provided in this module.
3. Your Worksheet and Research are to be handed in together with your Module in a project
folder.
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1.1 MEASURING MATTER

Matter is anything that occupies space. Any of the physical properties of matter (e.g. length,
area, volume, mass, etc.) can be measured. To measure matter a measuring instrument is
required. We must also have a unit in which to express the result of the measurement. All
physical quantities have units. A physical quantity is therefore always expressed as a number
followed by a unit.

1.2 THE SI SYSTEM OF UNITS

There are seven base units in the SI System. All other units of measure can be derived from
them. The names of all units are treated as common nouns, regardless of whether they are
named after a scientist or not. Each unit also has its own symbol. When a unit has been
named after a scientist, e.g. Ampere and Kelvin, only the symbol of the unit is a capital letter.

Every physical quantity also has its own symbol. For simplicity, symbols of physical quantities
are used when writing scientific equations. There should never be any confusion as to whether
a symbol represents a physical quantity or the unit of a physical quantity, because the symbol
of a unit is never used on its own - it is always preceded by a number.

Table1.1: Base Units of the SI System

PHYSICAL QUANTITY SYMBO BASE UNIT SYMBOL

L
length l, s or d metre m
time t second s
mass m kilogram kg
current strength I ampere A
temperature T kelvin K
luminous intensity I candela cd
quantity of substance n mole mol

1.3 DERIVED UNITS

Derived units are formed by multiplying and dividing SI units according to the definitions of
the quantities. There are hundreds of derived units, and seventeen of these have their own
name and symbol. For example, the kg.m.s-2 is also called the newton, symbol N.

Example: Determine the derived SI unit for speed.

Answer: speed = distance

time
[speed] = [distance] where the square brackets [ ] mean "the unit of".
[time]
[speed] = m = m/s = m.s-1
s

1.4 SYMBOLS FOR UNITS

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The rules for the construction of symbols for SI units are as follows:

1. Always leave a space between the number and the symbol of the unit.
Example: 120 m.s-1; 20 C

2. Symbols are never followed by an abbreviation full-stop, but can be followed by a full-
stop at the end of a sentence.

3. Upper- and lower-case letters are not interchangeable, as they have different meanings.
Example: 25 MJ 25 mJ; they differ by a factor of 109.

4. Either a unit must be written out in full with due attention to correct spelling and no
capitalisation, or it must be written in symbol form. Never mix the full and symbol
forms of units.
Example: newton metre or N.m, but never newton.m, Newton metre, etc.

5. Do not invent your own symbols for units, and never use abbreviations.
Examples: The symbol for the second is s, not sec.
The symbol for the hour is h, not hr.
The symbol for the year is a, not yr.

1.5 METRIC PREFIXES

Metric prefixes were introduced to PREFIX MULTIPLE SYMBOL

avoid having to write several zeros as
exa- 1018 E
place holders in very large or very small
numbers. By attaching any one of the peta- 1015 P
metric prefixes to an SI unit, a multiple tera- 1012 T
or submultiple of that unit is obtained. giga- 109 G
mega- 106 M
The symbol of a metric prefix is never kilo- 103 k
separated from the symbol of the unit hekto- 102 h
which follows. deka- 101 da
PREFIX SUBMULTIPLE SYMBOL
For example, the kilogram is written in deci- 10-1 d
symbol form as kg. This two-letter centi- 10-2 c
symbol is treated as a single "variable" milli- 10-3 m
in calculations, so kg-1 means (kg)-1, not micro- 10-6
k.g-1.
nano- 10-9 n
pico- 10-12 p
femto- 10-15 f
atto- 10-18 a

Table 1.2: Metric Prefixes

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1.6 THE DECIMAL COMMA

The SI System uses a decimal comma, never a decimal point. The point is used to represent
multiplication. The multiplication point is an essential component of most derived units when
written in symbol form, because without it there can be confusion between the symbol of a
metric prefix and the symbol of a unit. Metric prefixes are never separated from the symbol
of the unit by a point, but symbols of different units always are, especially if division is being
indicated by negative exponents.

Examples: mm is the symbol for the millimetre, where the first "m" is the symbol for the
metric prefix "milli-". The second "m" is the symbol for the "metre".

m.m means "metre metre" which is the same as the square metre (m2)

1.7 SCIENTIFIC NOTATION

Scientific notation offers an alternative method of writing very large or very small numbers.
In scientific notation, a number is written as a number between 1 and 10 (the abscissa)
multiplied by a power of ten.

Example: 12 400 000 J = 1,24 107 J

1.8 CONVERTING UNITS

When doing calculations it is always necessary to express similar physical quantities in the
same units. If most of the dimensions in a problem are given in metres and some are in
millimetres, then you will have to convert the latter to metres.

Example: Convert 1 200 mm to metres.

Answer: 1 200 mm = 1,2 m

1.9 USING YOUR CALCULATOR

When using your calculator, remember the following:

1. Never write down all the digits that appear in a calculator display unless there are just one
or two of them.

2. Remember that your calculator display always needs interpretation. It does not show the
decimal or power of ten correctly.
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1.10 MEASUREMENT OF AREA

1. The derived SI unit for area is the square metre (symbol m2).

2. Because you are dealing with an area and not a length, always remember to square the
conversion from decimetres to metres, centimetres to metres and millimetres to metres
when converting area units:

1 m2 = 10 dm 10 dm = 100 dm2
1 m2 = 100 cm 100 cm = 10 000 cm2
1 m2 = 1 000 mm 1 000 mm = 1 000 000 mm2

3. The areas of the following two-dimensional figures are calculated according to the
following formulae:

Square: A = l2 Circle: A = r2

Rectangle: A = l b Triangle: A = bh

4. An approximation for is 22, but rather use the -button on your calculator if it has one.
7

1.11 MEASUREMENT OF VOLUME

1. The volume of an object is the amount of space that it occupies.

2. The derived SI unit for volume is the cubic metre (symbol m3).

3. Because you are dealing with a volume and not a length, always remember to cube the
conversion from decimetres to metres, centimetres to metres and millimetres to metres
when converting volume units:

1 m3 = 10 dm 10 dm 10 dm = 1 000 dm3 = 103 dm3

1 m3 = 100 cm 100 cm 100 cm = 1 000 000 cm3 = 106 cm3
1 m3 = 1 000 mm 1 000 mm 1 000 mm = 1 000 000 000 mm3 = 109 mm3

4. The volumes of the following three-dimensional figures are calculated according to the
following formulae:

Cube: V = l3 Sphere: V = 4r3

3

Cylinder: V = r2h
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Rectangular Box: V = l b h

5. The volume of a liquid may also be measured in millilitres or litres. These are related to
the base units of the SI system as follows:

1 ml = 1 cm3

1l = 1 000 ml = 1 000 cm3 = 1 dm3

6. The volume of an irregularly shaped object may be found by determining the amount of
liquid (usually water) it displaces when completely submerged.

1.12 MEASUREMENT OF MASS

1. Scientists do not yet know what causes mass, but all objects possessing this property are
able to attract one another.

2. The SI unit for mass is the kilogram (symbol kg).

3. To measure the mass of an object we make use of the fact that all objects possessing mass
are attracted towards the earth. The greater the mass of the object, the greater is this force
of attraction between the object and the earth. If two objects have the same mass and are
placed on the pans of a balance, the earth will exert an equal force of attraction on each
mass and they will therefore balance one another.

4. The mass of an object is measured using an instrument called a massmeter. The object's
mass is balanced using a standard mass piece. Because the measurement of mass involves
a balancing process, a massmeter is also called a mass balance.

There are two main types of mass meters in school laboratories:

(a) the Triple Beam Balance; and

(b) the Direct Reading Balance, also called a lever or Butchard Balance.

5. Mass and weight are not the same. The following table summarises some of the major
differences between the two:
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Table 1.3: Differences Between Mass and Weight

COMPARISON MASS WEIGHT

Constant? Yes - it is a property of the No - it varies with location
body and height above the earth's
surface
Unit? kilogram newton
Direction? No Yes - towards the centre of
the earth (or planet)
How Measured? Mass balance Newton spring scale

6. There is a mathematical relationship between mass and weight. The numerical value of an
object's weight is approximately ten times that of its mass. This approximation is used to
calibrate a newton spring scale to read masses in grams or kilograms. The exact value
depends on your location on the earth's surface. Remember, though, that the units of mass
and weight also differ.
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PRACTICAL

1. Determine the approximate volume of the large aluminium or wood block by completing
the following:

Length = __________ cm

Breadth = __________ cm

Height = __________ cm

Volume = l b h = __________ cm __________ cm __________ cm

= __________ cm3 [5]

2. Suggest two reasons why your answer in (1) above is only approximate:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________ [4]

3. How many rectangular surfaces does a rectangular block have? _________________ [1]

4. Determine the total surface area of the block by first calculating the surface area of each of
the differently sized surfaces. Show all your working by writing down your equations and
showing your substitutions and units.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________ [3]

5. Find the volume of one of the irregularly shaped objects provided. Describe how you did
this.

________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________ [2]

TOTAL = [15]
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WORKSHEET

1. Rewrite each of the following physical quantities correctly:

(a) 45 Kg
(b) 300 Newtons
(c) A speed of 60 kmh-1
(d) 600 K
(e) 25 secs [5]

2. Express the following lengths in metres:

(a) 120 cm (f) 675 km

(b) 15 cm (g) 14,5 m
(c) 210 mm (h) 0,36 cm
(d) 5 mm (i) 7,58 mm
(e) 47 dm (j) 1,8 km [10]

3. Calculate the areas of the following figures. Give you answers in square metres (m2).
Hint: Convert all dimensions to metres before doing any calculations.

(a) (d)
10 cm 4 cm
2m
50 mm

(b) (e)
50 m
3m
100 m

(c) (f) 3m

4 cm 1m

0,5 m
4 cm
1m [25]

4. Calculate the volumes of the following solids. Give all your answers in cubic metres (m3).

(a) A cube with sides 3 cm.

(b) A rectangular box with dimensions 2 m 50 cm 70 mm.

(c) A cylinder with a diameter of 14 cm and a height of 1,1 m.

(d) A sphere with a radius of 1 m.

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(e) A sphere with a diameter of 14 cm.

(f) A hemisphere with a radius of 7 cm. [25]

5. Express the following masses in kilograms:

(a) 120 g (d) 76 cg

(b) 0,45 mg (e) 3 200 g
(c) 0,75 tonnes (0,75 t) [5]

6. An astronaut has a mass of 80 kg.

(a) What is his approximate weight on the earth? [2]

(b) What is his weight on the way to the moon? [1]

(c) How does his weight on the moon compare with his weight on the earth? [2]

(d) What is his mass on the moon? [2]

(e) Does the mass of his spacecraft remain constant? Explain your answer. [3]

TOTAL = 80 2 = [40]
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RESEARCH

Select one of the following topics for research and report your choice to your teacher for
verification. Your research should be summarised in the form of a report of about 750 words.
It should preferably be type-written using a word processor. If you down-load information
from a multimedia Encyclopedia, ensure that you edit the contents thoroughly, and do not
forget to de-Americanise your document by running it through an English (UK) spelling
checker!

Remember to title your report and record your word count. Also ensure that you record the
details of all your reference materials in a bibliography as follows: Author (Surname and
Initial). "Title", Publisher, Year.

1. Research the Origins of the SI System.

2. Research Ancient Units of Measurement.

3. Research The Life and Work of ... a scientist after whom a unit of measurement has
been named.

________________________________________________________________________

Bibliography

Augusta, P and Kluna, J. "How Long? How Heavy? How Fast?", Hamlyn, 1988

Hartmann-Petersen, P. and Pigford, J.N. "Dictionary of Science", Edward Arnold, 1991

"The Use of the SI in Secondary Education", M 36(4), Metrication Department, SABS

McCoubrey, Arthur O. "Metric System", The Academic American Encyclopedia (Electronic

Version), Copyright 1993 Grolier, Inc., Danbury, CT.