Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

Chapter
1

In the quest to understand nature, scientists

use physical quantities to describe the
world around us.

Physical Quantities, Units and

Measurement
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Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

Learning outcomes

Physical quantities
Units
Units conversion
Scientific notation
Order of magnitude
Dimensions
Significant numbers

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Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1.1 Physical Quantities

A physical quantity is one that can be measured
and consists of a magnitude and unit.
Measuring length

70

km/h
SI units
are
common
today
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4.5 m

Vehicles
Not
Exceeding
1500 kg In
Unladen
Weight

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Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1.1 Physical Quantities

Are classified into two types:

Base quantities
Derived quantities

Base quantity
fundamental physical
quantitiesupon which
other physical
quantities, cannot be
defined in terms of
other physical
quantities.
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Derived quantity
physical quantities which
are derived from the base
quantities by
multiplication or division
or both

Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1.2 Units
To measure a physical quantity, a standard size of that
quantity is required. This standard size is known as the
unit for that particular physical quantity.

MKS
Metric
system
Units
system

CGS

Non-Metric
system

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British
system

Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1.2 Units
SI Units International System of Units
Base Quantities

Name of Unit

Symbol of Unit

length

metre

mass

kilogram

kg

time

second

electric current

ampere

temperature

kelvin

amount of substance

mole

mol

luminous intensity

candela

cd

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Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1.2 Units
Derived
Quantity

Relation with Base and

Derived Quantities

area

length width

volume

length width
height

density

mass volume

speed

distance time

acceleration
force

change in velocity
time
mass acceleration

pressure

force area

pascal
(Pa)

work

force distance

joule (J)

power

work time

watt (W)

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Unit

Special
Name

newton
(N)

Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1.2 Units
Example of derived quantity: area
Defining equation: area = length width
In terms of units:

Units of area = m m = m2

Defining equation: volume = length width height

In terms of units:

Units of volume = m m m = m2

Defining equation: density = mass volume

In terms of units:

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Units of density = kg / m3 = kg m3

Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1.3 Unit Conversion

Conversion of units is the conversion between

different units of measurement for the same
quantity, typically through multiplicative
conversion factors.

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Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1.4 Scientific Notation

M x 10n
M is the coefficient 1<M<10
10 is the base
n is the exponent or power of 10
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Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1.5 Order of Magnitude

The order of magnitude is the approximation of
the value in power of 10
Prefix

Abbreviation

Power

nano

109

micro

106

milli

103

centi

102

deci

101

kilo

103

mega

106

giga

109

The diameter of this atom

is about 1 1010 m.
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Chapter

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Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

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Units and dimensions (SB p. 9)

Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1.6 Dimensions
Dimension relationship between physical quantity
and basic quantities

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Chapter

Contoh Soal

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1. Tentukan dimensi dan satuannya dalam SI untuk besaran turunan berikut :

a. Gaya
b. Berat Jenis
c. Tekanan
d. Usaha
e. Daya
Jawab :
a. Gaya

berat
b. Berat Jenis = volume

= massa x percepatan
=M
x LT -2
= MLT -2 satuan kgms-2

c. Tekanan =

gaya
luas

MLT -2
=
L2

Gaya
MLT -2
Volume =
L3

= MLT-2 (L-3)
= ML-2T-2 satuan kgm-2s-2
= ML -1T -2 satuan kgm-1s-2

d. Usaha = gaya x jarak = MLT -2 x L = ML 2 T -2 satuan kgm2s-2

e. Daya =

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usaha
waktu

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ML 2 T -2
T

= ML 2 T -3 satuan kgm-2s-3

1.1

Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

2. Buktikan besaran-besaran berikut adalah identik :

a. Energi Potensial dan Energi Kinetik
b. Usaha/Energi dan Kalor
Jawab :
a. Energi Potensial : Ep = mgh
Energi potensial = massa x gravitasi x tinggi
= M x LT-2 x L = ML2T-2
Energi Kinetik : Ek
Energi Kinetik

= mv2
= x massa x kecepatan2
= M x (LT-1) 2
= ML2T-2

Keduanya (Ep dan Ek) mempunyai dimensi yang sama keduanya identik

b. Usaha = ML2T-2
Energi = ML2T-2
Kalor = 0.24 x energi = ML2T-2
Ketiganya memiliki dimensi yang sama identik
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1.1

Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1.7 Significant Numbers

1.
2.

3.

4.

5.

Jumlah angka/digit yang diketahui dan dapat dipastikan (selain angka nol yang
dipakai untuk menetapkan koma) disebut Angka Signifikan (Angka Penting).
Aturan angka signifikan :
Semua angka bukan nol merupakan angka signifikan.
Angka-angka nol yang terletak diantara angka bukan nol merupakan angka
signifikan. Contoh : 1208 memiliki empat angka signifikan. 2,0067 memiliki lima
angka signifikan.
Semua angka nol yang digunakan hanya untuk tempat titik desimal bukan
merupakan angka penting. Contoh : 0,0024 memiliki dua angka penting, yakni 2
dan 4
Semua angka nol yang terletak pada deretan terakhir dari angka-angka yang
ditulis di belakang koma desimal merupakan angka penting. Contoh 1 :
0,003200 memiliki empat angka penting, yaitu 3, 2 dan dua angka nol setelah
angka 32. Contoh 2 : 0,005070 memiliki empat angka penting yakni 5,0,7,0.
Contoh 3 : 20,0 memiliki dua angka penting yakni 2
Semua angka sebelum orde (pada notasi ilmiah) termasuk angka penting.
Contoh : 3,2 x 105 memiliki dua angka penting, yakni 3 dan 2. 4,50 x 103 memiliki
tiga angka penting, yakni 4, 5 dan 0

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Chapter

Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1. A physical quantity is a quantity that can be

measured and consists of a numerical magnitude
and a unit.
2. The physical quantities can be classified into
base quantities and derived quantities.
3. There are seven base quantities: length, mass,
time, current, temperature, amount of substance
and luminous intensity.
4. Prefixes are used to denote very big or very small
numbers.
5. Dimension relationship between physical
quantity and basic quantities
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