Physics: Measurements (Full Explanation )
Physics is a science based on experiments
and observations . In order to describe
these experiments correctly, we need to
measure quantities like length, mass,
time, temperature, current, etc. Without
proper measurements, physics would only
remain imagination and not a science.
Let’s go in detail.
🔹 1. What is Measurement?
Measurement is the process of finding
the value of a physical quantity by
comparing it with a standard unit.
For example:
●When we say a table is 2 meters long,
we are comparing the length of the
table with the standard unit “meter.”
●When we say a ball has a mass of 5
kilograms , we are comparing it with
the unit “kilogram.”
So, measurement always involves two
things:
1.A number (magnitude ) → e.g., 5, 2,
10
2. A unit (standard reference ) → e.g.,
meter (m), kilogram (kg), second
(s)
Together, they make sense. Just saying
"5" is meaningless, but "5 meters" gives
meaning.
🔹 2. Importance of Measurements in Physics
●Physics is an exact science → It needs
precise values to describe natural
phenomena.
●Without measurement, laws like
Newton’s laws, Ohm’s law, or
thermodynamics could not be written.
●Measurements allow scientists to
replicate experiments anywhere in the
world with the same results.
🔹 3. Physical Quantities
A physical quantity is anything that can
be measured.
Examples: length, mass, time, speed,
force, energy, etc.
They are of two types:
1.Base (Fundamental ) Quantities →
Cannot be defined in terms of other
quantities (e.g., length, mass, time).
2. Derived Quantities → Obtained
from base quantities (e.g., speed =
length/time, density = mass/volume).
🔹 4. Units of Measurement
To make measurements meaningful, we
use standard units.
(a ) SI Units
The System International (SI) is the
globally accepted system of units.
The seven base SI units are:
Quantity Uni Sy
t mb
ol
Length met m
er
Mass kilo kg
gra
Time sec s
ond
Electric am A
Current per
e
Tempera kel K
ture vin
Amount mol mo
of e l
substanc
Luminou can cd
s del
intensity a
From these base units, other derived units
are formed:
●Speed → m/s
●Force → Newton (N = kg·m/s²)
●Energy → Joule (J = N·m =
kg·m²/s²)
🔹 5. Methods of Measurement
There are two main methods:
1.Direct Measurement
○We use instruments that directly
give the value.
○Examples: Measuring length with
a ruler, mass with a balance, time
with a stopwatch.
2. Indirect Measurement
○When we cannot measure directly,
we calculate using a formula.
○Example: To measure the density
of a stone, we find its mass (with a
balance ) and its volume (by water
displacement ), then calculate using:
Density=MassVolume\text{Dens
ity} =
\frac{\text{Mass}}{\text{Volu
me}}Density=VolumeMass
🔹 6. Accuracy, Precision, and Errors
No measurement is 100% perfect.
●Accuracy → H ow close a
measurement is to the true value.
●Precision → H ow consistent repeated
measurements are, even if they are
wrong.
●Error → The difference between
measured and actual value.
Types of errors:
1.Systematic Error → Caused by faulty
instruments (e.g., a clock always 5
minutes fast ).
2. Random Error → Due to human
limitations, like reaction time.
3. Gross Error → Big mistakes like
reading the scale wrongly.
🔹 7. Significant Figures
To show how accurate a measurement is,
we use significant figures.
For example:
●2.5 m → 2 significant figures
●2.57 m → 3 significant figures
●0.00250 m → 3 significant figures
(leading zeros don’t count )
🔹 8. Measuring Instruments
Different quantities need different
instruments:
●L ength → Ruler, Vernier caliper,
Micrometer screw gauge.
●Time → Stopwatch, digital clock,
atomic clock.
●Mass → Beam balance, electronic
balance.
●Temperature → Thermometer,
thermocouple.
●Current & Voltage → Ammeter,
voltmeter, multimeter.
Some instruments are more precise
(Vernier caliper measures up to 0.01 cm,
micrometer up to 0.001 cm).
🔹 9. Standardization of Units
In the past, people used local units like
cubits, feet, hand spans, etc. These were
not reliable because they varied from
person to person.
Now, SI units are based on universal
constants:
●1 meter = distance light travels in
vacuum in 1/299,792,458 second.
●1 kilogram = defined using Planck’s
constant.
●1 second = based on vibrations of
cesium atoms.
This makes them reliable and the same all
over the world.
🔹 10. Applications of Measurements in Physics
●In mechanics → to measure speed,
force, work, power.
●In electricity → to measure current,
resistance, voltage.
●In astronomy → distances of stars
measured in light-years.
●In daily life → from cooking (grams,
liters) to construction (meters,
tons).
✨ Final Summary
Measurements are the backbone of
physics. They give exact meaning to
physical quantities by comparing them
with standard units. The SI system
provides universal standards.
Instruments like rulers, balances,
thermometers, and stopwatches allow us
to measure directly, while formulas help
in indirect measurements. Despite errors,
accuracy and precision can be improved
with better instruments and methods.
Without measurements, physics laws
would be meaningless and science would
not progress.
