Assignment-I

Metrology and Measurements

Unit
Unit of a physical quantity is defined as the established standard used for
comparison of the given physical quantity. The units in which fundamental
quantities are measured are called as measured units and units in which derived
quantities are measured are called as derived units.
SI Units
The International System of Units (SI) is the metric system used in science,
industry, and medicine. The SI unit is a scientific method of expressing the
magnitudes or quantities of important natural phenomena.

Need of SI System
The SI system is important in science and technology because it provides a
consistent and coherent system of units for all physical quantities, derived from a
few base units. We need SI unit for any physical/non-physical quantity simply in
order to perfectly measure that quantity. Without an SI unit there can be variations
on the calculation of the specific quantity. In simple words SI unit enables us to
calculate easily by being a constant term of measurement throughout the world.
Without the SI unit there would be confusion as to which unit (of measurement)
is to be taken to measure a certain quantity.
SI unit system is superior when compared to other system of units. SI units have
special features like permanence and reproducibility. SI standards do not vary
with time as they are based on the properties of atoms. SI units are coherent
system of units, in which the units of derived quantities are obtained as multiples
or submultiples of certain basic units.
 Basic Units of SI System
There are 7 basic units in SI system. These are:
 the kilogram (kg), for mass.
 the second (s), for time.
 the kelvin (K), for temperature.
 the ampere (A), for electric current.
 the mole (mol), for the amount of a substance.
 the candela (cd), for luminous intensity.
 the meter (m), for distance.

Mass
Mass is the quantity of matter contained in a body. It is independent of
temperature and pressure. It does not vary form place to place. SI unit of mass is
kilogram. Kilogram is equal to the mass of the international prototype of the
kilogram (a platinum – iridium alloy cylinder) kept at the international bureau of
weights and measures at Sevres, Paris, France.

Time
SI unit of time is second. One standard second is defined as the time taken for 9
192 631 770 periods of the radiation corresponding to unperturbed transition
between hyperfine levels of the ground state of caesium – 133 atom.

Temperature
SI unit of temperature is kelvin. One kelvin is defined as the fixed numerical
value of the Boltzmann constant k to be 1.380 649 ×10 −23 when expressed in the
unit J K−1, which is equal to kg m2 s−2 K−1. The temperature 0 K is commonly
referred to as "absolute zero."
Electric Current
SI unit for electric current is ampere. Ampere is defined as the constant current
which, flowing through two straight parallel infinitely long conductors of
negligible cross-section, and placed in vacuum 1m apart, would produce between
the conductors a force of 2 x 10-7 newton per unit length of the conductors.

Mole
Mole is defined as the amount of substance which contains as many elementary
entities as there are atoms in 0.012 kg of carbon-12.

Intensity of light
The SI unit of intensity of light is candela. Candela is defined as the luminous
intensity in a given direction due to a source, which emits monochromatic
radiation of frequency 540 x 1012 Hz and of which the radiant intensity in that
direction is (1/683) watt per steradian.

Distance
The SI unit of distance is meter. One standard meter is equal to 1 650 763.73
wavelength of the orange – red light emitted by the individual atoms of krypton
– 86 in a krypton discharge lamp.

Rules and conventions for writing SI units and symbols

 The units named after scientist s are not written with a capital initial
letter.
 The symbols of the units named after the scientist should be written by
capital letter.
 Small letters are used as symbols for units not derived from a proper
name.
 No full stop or other punctuation marks should be used within or at the
end of symbols.
 The symbols of the units should not take plural form.
 When temperature is expressed in kelvin, the degree sign is omitted.
  Use of solidus is recommended only for indicating a division of one letter
unit symbol by another unit symbol. Not more than one solidus is used
at a time.
 Some space is always to be left between the number and the symbol of
the unit and also between the symbols for compound units such as force,
momentum, etc.
 Only accepted symbols must be used.
 Numeric value of any physical quantity should be expressed in scientific
notation.

Done by
Taarun Srinivas
Mechatronics 3rd year
17130012