Physical quantities & measurement

Notes

What you need to know

• Describe the use of rulers and measuring cylinders to find a length or a volume
• Describe how to measure a variety of time intervals using clocks and digital timers
• Determine an average value for a small distance or time interval by measuring multiples (including the period of a pendulum)
• Understand that a scalar quantity has magnitude only and a vector quantity has magnitude and direction
• Know the scalar quantities: distance, speed, time, mass, energy and temperature
• Know the vector quantities: force, weight, velocity, acceleration, momentum, electric field strength and gravitational field strength
• Determine, by calculation or graphically, the resultant of two vectors at right angles (forces or velocities only)

Syllabus subtopics

• Measuring length and volume
• Measuring time intervals
• Scalars and vectors
• Resultant of perpendicular vectors