1. Physics is the study of matter and energy, including topics like general physics, thermal physics, light and waves, and electricity and magnetism. 2. There are 7 base quantities in physics that all other quantities can be derived from, each with their own base SI units. Instruments are used to measure lengths, diameters, and thicknesses with varying precision. 3. Common instruments for measuring length include meter sticks, tapes, calipers, micrometers, and vernier calipers. Time intervals are measured using clocks, stopwatches, and the period of a pendulum's swing. Care must be taken to avoid errors in measurements.