Measurement is the process of assigning a numerical value to a physical quantity, such as length, mass, or time, by comparing it to a standard unit. It's the foundation of science and engineering.
The simplest way to measure length is with a ruler or measuring tape. We use these tools to find the distance between two points.
For highly precise measurements, scientists and engineers use tools like micrometers, calipers, and even laser distance meters.
Length is the measurement of the distance between two points. It is a fundamental physical quantity.
The base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI) is the meter ($m$).
Other commonly used units of length include inches, feet, yards, and miles.
The metric system is a decimal-based system of measurement. All units are related by factors of $10$.
| Prefix | Symbol | Factor | Power of 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mega | M | 1,000,000 | $10^6$ |
| Kilo | k | 1,000 | $10^3$ |
| Hecto | h | 100 | $10^2$ |
| Deca | da | 10 | $10^1$ |
| Base Unit | - | 1 | $10^0$ |
| Deci | d | 0.1 | $10^{-1}$ |
| Centi | c | 0.01 | $10^{-2}$ |
| Milli | m | 0.001 | $10^{-3}$ |
| Micro | μ | 0.000001 | $10^{-6}$ |
Volume is the amount of three-dimensional space an object occupies.
The base unit of volume in the SI is the cubic meter ($m^3$). However, the liter ($L$) is also very common.
Common units for liquid volume include milliliters ($mL$), gallons, and quarts.
The volume of a rectangular prism is given by the formula:
The volume of a cylinder is given by the formula:
The volume of a sphere is given by the formula:
The volume of a cone is given by the formula:
Units for volume are usually "cubed" units, such as cubic centimeters ($cm^3$) or cubic inches ($in^3$).
The relationship between volume units is not a simple factor of $10$. For example, $1 \, \text{L} = 1000 \, \text{mL} = 1000 \, \text{cm}^3$.
Significant figures are the digits in a number that carry meaningful information about its precision. They are crucial for scientific accuracy.
Scientific notation is a way to express very large or very small numbers using powers of $10$.
Example: $3,000,000$ is written as $3 \times 10^6$.
Measurement is a powerful tool for understanding the physical world. By mastering units, formulas, and conversions, you can accurately describe the size and shape of any object.
Thank you!