Physical quantities and measurement techniques Flashcards
How can you measure a variety of lengths with precision?
Use measuring tools like tapes, rulers, and micrometers, ensuring accurate readings on an analogue micrometer scale.
How do you measure the volume of a liquid?
Use a measuring cylinder and read the liquid level at eye level to avoid parallax errors.
How can you determine the volume of an irregular solid?
Submerge the solid in a liquid in a measuring cylinder and calculate the volume based on water displacement.
How do you measure time intervals?
Use clocks or digital timers for precise time measurements.
How can you find the average value for small distances or short time intervals?
Measure multiples, like repeated distances or oscillations, and calculate the average.
What is the definition of a scalar quantity?
A scalar quantity has only magnitude (size) and no direction.
What is the definition of a vector quantity?
A vector quantity has both magnitude and direction.
Give examples of scalar quantities.
Distance, speed, time, mass, energy, and temperature.
Give examples of vector quantities.
Displacement, force, weight, velocity, acceleration, momentum, electric field strength, and gravitational field strength.
How can you calculate the resultant of two vectors at right angles?
Use Pythagoras’ theorem or draw a scale vector diagram to calculate the resultant.
What should you ensure when using a micrometer to measure small distances?
Read both the main scale and the thimble scale correctly for accurate measurements.
Why is eye level important when using a measuring cylinder?
It prevents parallax errors and ensures accurate liquid volume readings.
How do you measure the period of a pendulum?
Measure the time for multiple oscillations, then divide by the number of oscillations to find the period.
What is displacement?
Displacement is the shortest straight-line distance between two points in a specific direction.
How are scalar and vector quantities different?
Scalars have magnitude only, while vectors have both magnitude and direction.
