Taking Measurements: Understanding Fundamental SI Units in Physics

Measurements in Science

Measurements are an everyday part of a science class Every physical property can be measured!

To get the most accurate measurement, it is fundamental to choose: The proper measurement instrument The proper unit of measurement - and its proper multiple/ submultiple!

Identifying Measurement Instruments

What is this? Come have a closer look!

What is this? Come have a closer look! It's a metre! In particular, it is the first sample of a metre ever created! It's the unit of measurement of LENGTH. It is stored in Paris, France, since the 18th century

Instruments for Measuring Length

Nowadays, we have multiple instruments to measure lengths ...

• Roll meter, for long distances
• Laser meter, for long distances and high precision

Ruler, for medium sizes

Micrometre, for veeery small stuff

Caliper, for small sizes

Understanding Mass Measurement

Ok, that was easy .... What about this?

Ok, that was easy .... What about this? It's the sample of a kilogram! The unit of measurement of MASS. It was used on beam balances

Modern Mass Measurement Tools

Nowadays, we have multiple instruments measure mass ...

Compression balance

Digital/electronic scale

Platform balance

Spring balance

Temperature Measurement Devices

Let's try to make it harder ... what are these?

Let's try to make it harder ... what are these? Thermometres! Used to measure TEMPERATURE. On the right, we have a DIGITAL thermometre, whereas on the left ther is an ANALOGIC thermometre. Note that any instrument can be found either in a digital or analogic version!

Time Measurement Instruments

for?

Sand watch

Sun watch

What are these instruments made

Modern Time Measurement Tools

Some more modern instrument to measure time ...

Analogue stopwatch

Watch

Instrument Features: Sensitivity and Range

SENSITIVITY IT CAN BE DESCRIBED AS THE SMALLEST VARIATION OF THE MEASURE THAT AN INSTRUMENT CAN DETECT AND DISPLAY

When choosing an instrument, it is fundamental to know its main 2 features

RANGE THE VALUES BETWEEN THE MINIMUM MEASURABLE VALUE AND THE MAXIMUM VALUE THAT CAN BE MEASURED

Standard International System Base Units

Length, mass, temperature, time ... they are all special units of measurement! They are 4 of the 7 Standard International System base units In italian, it's referred to as «Sistema Internazionale»

The SI was invented by the universal scientific community to find a common language to speak in order to share all the knowledge and information These are the SI base units you can't miss!

Key SI Base Units