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1. Physical quantities and units

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4 topics · 12 learning objectives

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  1. 1.1 Physical quantities

    1. • understand that all physical quantities consist of a numerical magnitude and a unit

    2. • make reasonable estimates of physical quantities included within the syllabus

  2. 1.2 SI units

    1. • recall the following SI base quantities and their units: mass (kg), length (m), time (s), current (A), temperature (K)

    2. • express derived units as products or quotients of the SI base units and use the derived units for quantities listed in this syllabus as appropriate

    3. • use SI base units to check the homogeneity of physical equations

    4. • recall and use the following prefixes and their symbols to indicate decimal submultiples or multiples of both base and derived units: pico (p), nano (n), micro (μ), milli (m), centi (c), deci (d), kilo (k), mega (M), giga (G), tera (T)

  3. 1.3 Errors and uncertainties

    1. • understand and explain the effects of systematic errors (including zero errors) and random errors in measurements

    2. • understand the distinction between precision and accuracy

    3. • assess the uncertainty in a derived quantity by simple addition of absolute or percentage uncertainties

  4. 1.4 Scalars and vectors

    1. 1.4.1The difference between scalar and vector quantities and give examples of

      • understand the difference between scalar and vector quantities and give examples of scalar and vector quantities included in the syllabus

    2. 1.4.2Add and subtract coplanar vectors

      • add and subtract coplanar vectors

    3. 1.4.3A vector as two perpendicular components

      • represent a vector as two perpendicular components