Measurements and Units
Physics · 50 practice questions
Length, area and volume (metre rule, vernier calipers, micrometer screw-gauge, measuring cylinder); mass (unit, simple beam balance); time (unit, time-measuring devices); fundamental and derived physical quantities and their units; dimensions; limitations of experimental measurements (accuracy, estimation of errors, significant figures, standard form); measurement of position, distance and displacement, and frame of reference.
- Identify units of length, area, volume, mass and time.
- Use different measuring instruments (metre rule, vernier calipers, micrometer screw gauge, engineering calipers) and note their degree of accuracy.
- Relate fundamental quantities to their units and deduce units of derived quantities.
- Determine dimensions of physical quantities and use them to test the homogeneity of an equation.
- Estimate errors and express measurements in standard form.
- Use compass, protractor and Cartesian systems to locate positions and directions.
- Plot graphs and draw inferences from them.
Try a few questions
- Practice question 1
The measurement 0.00456, expressed in standard form, is
- A.4.56 x 10³
- B.456 x 10⁻⁵
- C.4.56 x 10⁻³
- D.4.56 x 10⁻²
Show the answer
C. 4.56 x 10⁻³
Moving the decimal point three places to the right gives 4.56 x 10⁻³.
- Practice question 2
The number of significant figures in a measurement reflects
- A.the precision with which that measurement was made
- B.the exact unit system used for that measurement
- C.whether the measurement is a fundamental or derived quantity
- D.the specific instrument brand used to take the measurement
Show the answer
A. the precision with which that measurement was made
More significant figures generally indicate a more precise underlying measurement.
- Practice question 3
A micrometer screw gauge is typically used to measure very small thicknesses or diameters, to a precision of about
- A.1cm
- B.1mm
- C.10cm
- D.0.01mm
Show the answer
D. 0.01mm
The micrometer's fine screw thread allows extremely small dimensions to be measured with high precision.
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