Understanding SI Units

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Physics › Understanding SI Units

Questions 1 - 10
1

The fastest time to finish a driving race was . What was the average speed for the car during the race?

Explanation

This is a straightforward problem, but requires a number of unit conversions. To find the speed, we will need to determine the change in distance per unit time:

While we are given distance and time, we need to convert it to meters per second. A distance of is converted to meters with the relation .

Time requires several step-wise conversion. First, convert the hours to minutes.

Find the total number of minutes and convert it to seconds.

Finally, find the total number of seconds.

Use the final distance and final time to calculate the speed in meters per second.

2

Which of the following describes a Newton?

Explanation

A Newton is a unit of force. Remember Newton's second law: .

If you solve this equation purely in terms of units, you can find the equivalent unit for force.

Replace force with Newtons, mass with kilograms, and acceleration with meters per square-second.

Using dimensional analysis, we can find the equivalent units of virtually any measurement.

3

Which of the following is not an SI unit?

Calorie

Joule

Watt

Coulomb

Tesla

Explanation

A calorie is a metric measurement of energy. The standard SI unit for energy is a Joule.

Watts are the SI units for power and teslas are the SI unit for magnetic strength.

4

What are the SI units for temperature?

Explanation

All physics calculations require the use of proper standard units, known as SI units. When working with temperature, physics calculations require the use of the absolute temperature, given in the units of Kelvin. Kelvin use absolute zero as their initial reference, whereas degrees Celsius use the freezing point of water. Since absolute zero is equal to approximately , the conversion from Celsius to Kelvin is simply to add .

Degrees Fahrenheit are a relatively non-standard unit for measuring temperature, and require a more complicated conversion.

refers to the equilibrium constant for chemical reactions. Though this value is dependent on temperature, it is not a unit of measurement and is not used in physics calculations.

can refer to a few different things in physics, but is never used as a unit of measurement. This variable generally refers to Coulomb's constant in calculations with electric fields, but can also be used for the dielectric constant of a material or Boltzmann's constant.

5

What are the SI units for length?

Meters

Distance

Displacement

Kilometers

Centimeters

Explanation

All physics calculations require the use of proper standard units, known as SI units. It is important to convert all terms to SI units before proceeding to use any formulae.

Distance and displacement are quantifications of length. The SI unit for length is meters; thus any calculation requiring a distance or displacement term must use meters for this variable.

One kilometer is equivalent to one thousand meters. One hundred centimeters are equivalent to one meter.

6

Which of these is not an SI unit?

Inches

Meters

Seconds

Ohms

Amperes

Explanation

Inches are a measure of length, but the SI unit for length is meters.

Seconds are the SI units for time, Amperes are the SI units for electrical current, and Ohms are the SI units for resistance.

7

Which of these is not an SI unit?

Degree Celsius

Ampere

Ohm

Farad

Watt

Explanation

Degrees Celsius is a measure of temperature, but the SI unit for temperature is Kelvin.

Amperes are the SI unit for current, Ohms are the SI unit for resistance, Farads are the SI unit for capacitance, and watts are the SI unit for power.

8

Which of the following is the correct SI unit for distance?

Meter

Kilometer

Mile

Inch

Foot

Explanation

First, when thinking about SI you should usually start with the metric system -- this leaves us with meter and kilometer. The correct SI unit for distance is the meter -- displacement is in meters, velocity is in meters per second, etc.

9

Which of these is not an SI unit?

Kilometer

Second

Farad

Tesla

Ohm

Explanation

While a kilometer is a metric unit of distance, the correct SI unit for distance is the meter. When making calculations with length, it is necessary to convert kilometers to meters.

Seconds are the SI unit for time. Ohms are the SI unit for electrical resistance. Farads are the SI unit for capacitance. Teslas are the SI unit for magnetic field strength.

10

Which of these is not an SI unit?

Gallon

Weber

Watt

Coulomb

Meter

Explanation

Gallons are a measure of volume, but the SI units for volume are liters.

Webers are the SI unit for magnetic flux, watts are the SI unit for power, Coulombs are the SI unit for charge, and meters are the SI unit for length.

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