1.1.2—Physical quantities included within the syllabus
- Syllabus
- 9702–2028–2029
- Objective
- 1.1.2
- Level
- AS
Physical quantities are grouped by what they measure and how they combine
Base quantities such as mass, length and time are defined independently; derived quantities such as speed, force and energy are built from them by equations.
Identify the quantity before choosing a formula, then check whether it is scalar or vector and whether the units match the physical meaning.
Speed is distance divided by time, so its SI unit is m s⁻¹; acceleration adds another factor of s⁻¹.
A derived quantity is not less fundamental as a measurement; its unit reveals how the underlying quantities combine.
ConceptA-Level CAIE Physics AS