Fundamental and Derived Physical Quantities and Units

SI Base Quantities and Units

  • The fundamental units of measurement are categorized as base qualities used to define all other physical quantities. These include:

  • Time: Measured in seconds, represented by the symbol ss.

  • Length: Measured in meters, represented by the symbol mm.

  • Mass: Measured in kilograms, represented by the symbol kgkg.

  • Amount: Measured in moles, represented by the symbol molmol.

  • Electric Current: Measured in Ampalays, represented by the symbol AA.

  • Thermodynamic Temperature: Measured in Kelvin, represented by the symbol KK.

  • Luminous Intensity: Measured in Candellas, represented by the symbol cdcd.

Derived Mechanical Quantities and Units

Derived units are formed by powers, products, or quotients of the base units. The following are derived mechanical quantities:

  • Area: Calculated as length squared, expressed in square meters as m2m^2.

  • Volume: Calculated as length cubed, expressed in cubic meters as m3m^3.

  • Speed / Velocity: Defined as the rate of change of position, expressed in meters per second as m/sm/s.

  • Acceleration: Defined as the rate of change of velocity over time, expressed in meters per second squared as m/s2m/s^2.

  • Density: Defined as mass per unit volume, expressed in kilograms per cubic meter as kg/m3kg/m^3.

  • Momentum: Calculated as the product of mass and velocity, expressed in kilograms times meters per second as kgm/skg \cdot m/s.

  • Force: Defined by the interaction of mass and acceleration, expressed in kilograms times meters per second squared as kgm/s2kg \cdot m / s^2.

  • Pressure: Defined as force applied over a specific area, expressed in kilograms per meter per second squared as kg/(ms2)kg / (m \cdot s^2).

  • Energy: Represented as work done or capacity to do work, expressed in kilograms times square meters per second squared as kgm2/s2kg \cdot m^2 / s^2.

  • Power: Defined as the rate at which energy is transferred or converted, expressed in kilograms times square meters per second cubed as kgm2/s3kg \cdot m^2 / s^3.

Derived Electrical Quantities and Units

Electrical measurements are derived using a combination of mechanical base units and the unit for electric current:

  • Electric Charge: The physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force in an electromagnetic field, expressed in Ampere-seconds as AsA \cdot s.

  • Potential Difference: The work needed per unit of charge to move a charge between two points, expressed in kilograms times square meters per second cubed per Ampere as kgm2/(s3A)kg \cdot m^2 / (s^3 \cdot A).

  • Electrical Difference: A specific categorization of electrical measurement expressed in kilograms times meters squared per seconds cubed per Ampere as kgm2/s3Akg \cdot m^2/s^3 \cdot A.