General Physics 1 (Module 5)
General Physics 1 (Module 5)
General Physics 1 (Module 5)
Uncertainty of Derived
Quantity
1. Estimate the uncertainty of a derived quantity from the estimated values and
uncertainties of directly measured quantities.
PRE TEST:
5. Multiplying width and length, and then height with the answer will give us the
Lesson
1 Measurement
Derived quantities, are defined in terms of the seven base quantities via a system of quantity
equations. The SI derived units for these derived quantities are obtained from these equations
and the seven SI base units.
Derived Quantities
Derived quantities are quantities that are calculated from two or more measurements.
Derived quantities cannot be measured directly. They can only be computed. Many derived
quantities are calculated in physical science. Three examples are area, volume, and density.
Calculating Area
The area of a surface is how much space it covers. It’s easy to calculate the area of a surface
if it has a regular shape, such as the blue rectangle in the sketch below. You simply substitute
measurements of the surface into the correct formula. To find the area of a rectangular
surface, use this formula:
Area (rectangular surface) = length × width (l × w)
https://flexbooks.ck12.org/cbook/ck-12-middle-school-physical-science-flexbook-
2.0/section/1.27/primary/lesson/calculating-derived-quantities-ms-ps
Calculating Density
Density is a quantity that expresses how much matter is packed into a given space. The
amount of matter is its mass, and the space it takes up is its volume. To calculate the density
of an object, then, you would use this formula:
The volume of the blue rectangular solid above is 150 cm3. If it has a mass of 300 g, what is
its density?
The density of the rectangular solid is:
Suppose you have two boxes that are the same size but one box is full of feathers and the
other box is full of books. Which box has greater density?
Both boxes have the same volume because they are the same size. However, the books have
greater mass than the feathers. Therefore, the box of books has greater density.
Units of Derived Quantities
A given derived quantity, such as area, is always expressed in the same type of units. For
example, area is always expressed in squared units, such as cm2 or m2. If you calculate area
and your answer isn’t in squared units, then you have made an error.
What units are used to express volume?
Volume is expressed in cubed units, such as cm3 or m3.
A certain derived quantity is expressed in the units kg/m3. Which derived quantity is it?
The derived quantity is density, which is mass (kg) divided by volume (m3).
Always round the experimental measurement or result to the same decimal place as the
uncertainty. It would be confusing (and perhaps dishonest) to suggest that you knew the
digit in the hundredths (or thousandths) place when you admit that you unsure of the tenths
place.
Wrong: 1.237 s ± 0.1 s
Correct: 1.2 s ± 0.1 s
If the ranges of two measured values don't overlap, the measurements are discrepant (the
two numbers don't agree). If the ranges overlap, the measurements are said to be consistent.
ACTIVITY:
1. The radius of a solid sphere is measured to be (6.5 ± 0.2) cm. Determine the volume of the
2. A resistor is marked as having a value of 5.9 Ω ± 2%. The power P dissipated in the resistor,
when connected in a simple electrical circuit, was to be calculated from the current in the
resistor, which measured as (1.40 ± 0.05) mA. What is the value of calculated P together with
3. A car accelerates uniformly from rest and travels a distance of (100 ± 1) m. If the acceleration
of the car is (6.5 ± 0.5) m/s2, what would be its final velocity, together with its associated