Learning Objectives

● Understand that all quantities consist of a numerical magnitude and a unit.

● Learn and recall the following base quantities and their units: mass (kg), length (m),
time (s), current (A), temperature (K), amount of substance (mol).
● Use prefixes to simplify numerical multiples of ten in the SI units.
● Use and describe the use of rules and measuring cylinders to determine a length or
a volume.
● Use and describe the use of Vernier caliper and micrometer gauge.
● Use and describe the use of clocks and devices for measuring an interval of time.
Determine an average value for a small distance and for a short interval of time by
measuring multiple times (including the period of a pendulum)
Task 1
Calculate the area of the classroom .

1.Measure the sides of the classroom.

2.Take repeated readings.
3.Represent the answer in mm2 and km2.
Task 2

Measure the height of the group members.

Record the reading in a table.
Convert the reading in millimeter and km.
 SI units
(Le Systeme International d’Unites)

Mass → kilogram

Time → second

Length → metre
 SI units
1 tonne = 1000kg = 103kg
(Le Systeme International d’Unites)

Mass → kilogram kg

Time → second

Length → metre
 SI units
1 tonne = 1000kg = 103kg
(Le Systeme International d’Unites)

Mass → kilogram kg 1 kilogram (1kg)

Time → second

Length → metre
 SI units
1 tonne = 1000kg = 103kg
(Le Systeme International d’Unites)

Mass → kilogram kg 1 kilogram (1kg)

Time → second 1 gram (g) = 1/1000kg = 10-3kg

Length → metre
 SI units
1 tonne = 1000kg = 103kg
(Le Systeme International d’Unites)

Mass → kilogram kg 1 kilogram (1kg)

Time → second 1 gram (g) = 1/1000kg = 10-3kg

Length → metre 1 milligram (mg) = 1/1 000g = 1/1 000 000kg = 10-6kg
 SI units
(Le Systeme International d’Unites)

Mass → kilogram

Time → second s

Length → metre
 SI units 1 millisecond (ms)

= 1/1000s = 10-3s
(Le Systeme International d’Unites)

Mass → kilogram

Time → second s

Length → metre
 SI units 1 millisecond (ms)

= 1/1000s = 10-3s
(Le Systeme International d’Unites)

Mass → kilogram 1 microsecond (µs)

= 1/1 000 000s = 10-6s

Time → second s

Length → metre
 SI units 1 millisecond (ms)

= 1/1000s = 10-3s
(Le Systeme International d’Unites)

Mass → kilogram 1 microsecond (µs)

= 1/1 000 000s = 10-6s

Time → second s

1 nanosecond (ns)

Length → metre = 1/1 000 000 000s = 10-9s

 SI units
(Le Systeme International d’Unites)
1 metre (m)

Mass → kilogram

Time → second

Length → metre m
 SI units 1 kilometre (km) = 1 000m = 103m

(Le Systeme International d’Unites)

1 metre (m)

Mass → kilogram

Time → second

Length → metre m
 SI units 1 kilometre (km) = 1 000m = 103m

(Le Systeme International d’Unites)

1 metre (m)

Mass → kilogram 1 centimetre (cm) = 1/100m = 10-2m

Time → second

Length → metre m
 SI units 1 kilometre (km) = 1 000m = 103m

(Le Systeme International d’Unites)

1 metre (m)

Mass → kilogram 1 centimetre (cm) = 1/100m = 10-2m

1 millimetre (cm) = 1/1000m = 10-3m

Time → second

Length → metre m
 SI units 1 kilometre (km) = 1 000m = 103m

(Le Systeme International d’Unites)

1 metre (m)

Mass → kilogram 1 centimetre (cm) = 1/100m = 10-2m

1 millimetre (mm) = 1/1000m = 10-3m

Time → second

1 micrometre (µm) = 1/1 000 000m = 10-6m

Length → metre m
 SI units 1 kilometre (km) = 1 000m = 103m

(Le Systeme International d’Unites)

1 metre (m)

Mass → kilogram 1 centimetre (cm) = 1/100m = 10-2m

1 millimetre (mm) = 1/1000m = 10-3m

Time → second

1 micrometre (µm) = 1/1 000 000m = 10-6m

Length → metre m
1 nanometre (nm) = 1/1 000 000 000m = 10-9m
 OK, so you think

SI units
you’ve got all this
‘unit’ stuff? What
units would be most
suitable for the
(Le Systeme International d’Unites) following?

Time for an
The mass of a
athlete to
shoe =
race =

The length of
The mass of a
a bacterium
boat =
=
 OK, so you think

SI units
you’ve got all this
‘unit’ stuff? What
units would be most
suitable for the
(Le Systeme International d’Unites) following?

Time for an
The mass of a
athlete to
shoe =
race =
kilogram
second

The length of
The mass of a
a bacterium
boat =
=
tonne
micrometre
Significant
figures
Scientific notataion
Scientific notation is a way to express very large or
very small numbers in a more concise form. It
involves writing a number as a value between 1
and 10 (the "coefficient") multiplied by a power of
10 (the "exponent"). This format simplifies
calculations and makes it easier to represent
extremely large or small values.
Let’s have a think
now about what
we might use to Measuring
measure length
and time.
Let’s have a think
now about what
we might use to Measuring
measure length
and time. LENGTH
Let’s have a think
now about what
we might use to Measuring
measure length
and time. LENGTH

Ruler
Let’s have a think
now about what
we might use to Measuring
measure length
and time. LENGTH

Tape
measure
Let’s have a think
now about what
we might use to Measuring
measure length
and time. LENGTH

Calipers
Let’s have a think
now about what
we might use to Measuring
measure length
and time. LENGTH

Vernier
Calipers
 Let’s have a think
now about what
we might use to Measuring
measure length
and time. LENGTH

Vernier
Calipers

Measurement using the

Vernier scale = 1.16cm

Gap being
measured
Let’s have a think
now about what
we might use to Measuring
measure length
and time. TIME
 Let’s have a think
now about what
we might use to Measuring
measure length
and time. TIME

Stopwatch

Analogue Digital
 Let’s have a think
now about what
we might use to Measuring
measure length
and time. TIME

Stopwatch Stopclock

Analogue Digital Analogue Digital

 Let’s have a think
now about what
we might use to Measuring
measure length
and time. TIME
Measuring a
pendulum swing

B C
A
 Let’s have a think
now about what
we might use to Measuring
measure length
and time. TIME
Measuring a
pendulum swing

One complete swing

=
A→B→A→C→A

B C
A
 Let’s have a think
now about what
we might use to Measuring
measure length
and time. TIME
Measuring a
pendulum swing How can we measure
the time taken for one
complete swing of the
pendulum (= Period)?
One complete swing
=
A→B→A→C→A

B C
A
 Let’s have a think
now about what
we might use to Measuring
measure length
and time. TIME
Measuring a
pendulum swing How can we measure
the time taken for one
complete swing of the
pendulum (= Period)?
One complete swing Measure the time for
= 25 swings and divide
A→B→A→C→A
the result by 25

B C
A
 Let’s have a think
now about what
we might use to Measuring
measure length
and time. TIME
Measuring a
pendulum swing How can we measure
the time taken for one
complete swing of the
pendulum (= Period)?
One complete swing Measure the time for
= 25 swings and divide
A→B→A→C→A
the result by 25

Eg. Time for 25

B C swings = 46 seconds.
A
Time for 1 swing =
46/25 = 1.84 seconds
Reference

https://www.savemyexams.com/igcse/physics/
cie/23/revision-notes/1-motion-forces-and-
energy/1-1-physical-quantities-and-
measurement-techniques/1-1-1-measurement/

https://igcsepro.org/igcse-physics-physical-
quantities-measurement-techniques/