Physics is the study of physical quantities and their relationships. Base quantities like length, mass, and time cannot be defined by other quantities, while derived quantities like area and velocity are derived from base quantities. Measurements have units and prefixes to describe very large or small values. Quantities can be scalar, having only magnitude, or vector, having both magnitude and direction. Careful measurement requires consistency, accuracy, and accounting for errors. The scientific method involves observation, hypothesis, experimentation, analysis, and conclusion to systematically investigate phenomena.

1. Chapter 1: Introduction to Physics
1. Physics – study of ____________________
2. System of unit used – __________ unit
3. Physical quantities – quantities that can be ____________________
a. Base quantities – physical quantities that cannot be defined in terms of other
quantities
Base Quantity Symbol SI Unit Symbol (SI Unit)
Length
Mass
Time
Temperature
Electric current
b. Derived quantities – physical quantities derived from combination of base
quantities (through multiplication or division or both)
Derived
Quantity
Symbol Relationship with Base Quantities Derived Unit SI Unit
Area
Volume
Density
Velocity
Acceleration
Force

2. Prefixes
Prefixes – used to _________________ the description of physical quantities (either very big
or very small)
Scientific notation / Standard form
1  A < 10, n is an integer
Examples:
1. Express 0.0042 kg in g
2. Express 5800 g in kg
3. Express 1.673 x 10-36 Tg in kg
4. Express 0.000006 Mm in cm
5. Express 570 000 cm in km
6. Express 7 500 000 m in km
7. Express 500 mm in m
8. Express 6.367 x 103 km in m
9. Express 6000 μs in ms
10. Express 900 MW in kW
11. Express 1.2 cm2 in m2
12. Express 2.5 m3 in cm3
13. Express 13.6 g cm-3 in kg m-3
14. Express 1.05 g cm-3 in kg m-3
15. Express 19 000 kg m-3 in g cm-3
16. Express 720 kg m-3 in g cm-3
17. Express 7853 m s-1 in km h-1
18. Express 235 m s-1 in km h-1
19. Express 60 km h-1 in m s-1
20. Express 100 km h-1 in m s-1
Prefix Symbol Value
piko
nano
micro
milli
centi
deci
kilo
mega
giga
A x 10n

3. Scalar and Vector Quantities
1. Scalar quantities – physical quantities that have ____________________ only
2. Vector quantities – physical quantities that have ____________________ and
____________________
Scalar Quantities Vector Quantities
Length Displacement
Time Momentum
Temperature Acceleration
Speed Velocity
Area Force
Volume
Density
Understanding Measurements
Common Measuring Instruments
Instrument Function Accuracy
Measuring tape Measure lengths of several metres (e.g. Distance in long
jump, javelin, shot-put, height of high jump)
1 cm
Metre rule Measure lengths of a few cm to a metre (e.g. Length of a
pencil, width of a book, height of a bag)
0.1 cm
Vernier
calliper
Measure lengths of less than 10 cm (e.g. thickness of a book,
width of a crack)
Measure internal or external diameters of round objects (e.g.
pipes, cylindrical containers)
0.01 cm
Micrometer
screw gauge
Measure very small length (thickness of a cardboard, a coin,
a key, diameter of a piece of wire)
0.001 cm

4. Consistency and Accuracy
1. ______________________ – the ability to measure a quantity with little or no
deviation among repeated measurements.
2. ______________________ – how close the measurement is to the actual value

5. Error in Measurement
Systematic Errors
Cumulative errors that can be corrected
(if the errors are known)
Result from ___________________ and
incorrect calibration of the measuring
instrument
___________________ - when measuring
instrument does not start from exactly zero
Random Errors
Arises from unknown and unpredictable
variations
Will produce a _________________ error
every time you repeat the experiment
Caused by factors beyond the control of the
observer
Factors:
o Human _____________________
(sight, touch)
o Lack of _____________________
(instrument)
o ___________________ errors
(changes in wind, temperature,
humidity, etc.)
o Wrong ___________________
(excessive pressure when turning a
micrometer screw gauge)
Parallax Errors
Error in reading an instrument as the
observer’s eye and the pointer are not in a
line perpendicular to the plane of the scale
To overcome,
o Position of eye must be in line with the
reading
o For instruments with a scale and pointer
(e.g. ammeter), useful to have a
________________ behind the pointer
so that the reflection of the pointer in the
mirror is right behind it

6. Scientific Method
2. ________________________________
 A suitable question is suggested after all the information has been gathered.
3. ________________________________
 Inference – an early conclusion that draw from an observation.
4. _______________________________________________
 Variables – a factor that affects the results of an experiment
 ________________________ - the factor that is purposely changed in an experiment.
 ________________________ - the factor that changes with the manipulated variable.
 ________________________ - the factor that are kept constant throughout an experiment.
5. ________________________________
 Show relationship between manipulated variable and responding variable.
 Must be tested to verify its validity.
6. ________________________________
 Experiments must be planned.
 Include selection of apparatus/materials, working procedures.
7. ________________________________
 Experiment data are collected and tabulated in a suitable form.
8. ________________________________
 By plotting a graph, followed by interpretation of the graph and the drawing of
conclusions.
9. ________________________________
 Complete report is written.
1. ________________________________
 Observations involve the uses of our senses such as seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and
touching.