Unit 1

Measurement

1st Year Physics

Instruments of Measurement

• Ruler/Meter stick

• Stop Clock

• Thermometer

• Scales

• Measuring Cylinder

• Opisometer

• Trundle wheel

• Callipers

Basics Units in Physics

Length

Measuring Length.

Using a Ruler/Metre RuleCan you spot any error being made in measuring this

wire?

Task: Use a ruler/meter rule to measure the length and breath of your copy in millimetres (mm)

Opisometer

Task: Use an Opisometer & Ruler to work out the length of a curved line to the nearest cm

Trundle Wheel.

Task: Use a Trundle Wheel to measure the length of the corridor to the nearest metre (m)

Vernier Calipers

Callipers

Task: Use a callipers or a vernier calipers to measure the outside and inside diameter of a beaker in mm

Mass

Measuring Mass with a Scales

Mass is the amount of matter in a substance. Unit: Kilogram (kg).

Task: Calculate the mass of the liquid in a beaker in grams (g)

Temperature

To measure Temperatures.

ThermometerThermometer

Unit: Degrees Celsius (oC)Unit: Degrees Celsius (oC)Task: Use Thermometer measure the temperature of a beaker of fresh tap water.

Area & Volume

Area is the amount of surface that covers an object.

Area = Length x BreadthArea = Length x Breadth

52 mm52 mm

36 mm36 mm

A = L x B

A = 52 mm x 36 mm

= 1,872 mm2

Task: Measure the length and breadth of your copy and calculate its area in mm2

Volume is the amount of space taken up by an

object.Volume = length x breadth x height.Volume = length x breadth x height.

V = L x B x H36 mm36 mm

52 mm52 mm

15 mm15 mm

V = 36mm x 52mm x 15mm

V = 28,080 mm3

Task: Measure the dimensions of a block of wood (or matchbox) and calculate its volume in mm3

Example to calculate the volume of a matchbox

To measure the volume of a liquid

Measuring

Cylinder

Measuring

Cylinder

Liquid Volume is measured in:Litres (l) or Millilitres (ml)

Liquid Volume is measured in:Litres (l) or Millilitres (ml)

Meniscus

Read from bottom of

the Meniscus

Read from bottom of

the Meniscus

To measure the volume of a small object

Finishing VolumeFinishing Volume

Starting VolumeStarting Volume

The Increase in Volume is 25 mlSo this must be the Volume of the Stone

The Increase in Volume is 25 mlSo this must be the Volume of the Stone

To measure the Volume of an Irregular Object using an

Overflow-Can

Overflow CanOverflow Can

Measuring CylinderMeasuring Cylinder

Task: Use an overflow-can and measuring cylinder to work out the volume of a stone in ml