Profile
Settings
Refer your friends
Sign out
Numbers and standard units express an amount of substance for the quantity of any given substance. A number alone is not sufficient to express the quantities. Units must be attached to the numbers. A unit is a standard used to measure a quantity of the same kind. A metre is a unit used to measure the lengths of given objects. The two popular systems of units are the CGS system and the SI system. Let us learn about units of measurement.
Units of measurement
A unit of measurement is a fixed magnitude or measure of a particular quantity utilised as a standard for measuring the same quantity. The agreement with law helps in the establishment of various physical units. A multiple of some measurement unit could be used to express any other quantity of that type.
For example, lengths of given objects are physical quantiles. A metre is a unit of measurement denoting a specific length.
The method to establish how small or large a physical quantity is by comparing it with fundamental standard reference quantities of the same kind is known as measurement.
It is hard to express a physical quantity alone with a number and no unit. It leads to ambiguity and confusion.
For example:
Suppose we say that the lengths of given objects A and B are 10 and 20, respectively. Without the unit, we will assume object B has more length, as 20 is the higher number. However, if the length of object A is measured in kilometres and the length of object B is measured in metres, then object A has more length than object B. Hence, to avoid ambiguity and confusion, standard units are quite helpful.
Let us learn about the various kinds of measuring units.
The types of measuring units
The units used for expressing the measurement of an object or the amount of substance are of various types, based on the physical quantity they measure.
Following are the various types of units of measurement.
Units for measuring lengths of given objects
The length of an object is the dimension or measure of the longest side of that object.
The size of an object from one to another can be determined with the help of length.
The various units used to measure length are millimetres, metres, feet, inches, yards, and kilometres.
The unit foot measures the length of given objects which are small.
The unit yard is more significant than a foot and is used chiefly to measure football fields.
The unit kilometre measures length over long distances, such as the roads.
Units for measuring weights of given objects
The weight of an object measures the force that acts upon that object to the gravitational pull. The standard units used to measure weight are gram, ounce, ton, pounds, and kilograms.
Kilograms and pounds are generally used for measuring the body weight of humans or other animals.
The unit ton measures heavy objects, primarily used in industries.
Everyday needs like vegetables and other groceries are measured using the unit gram.
Things sold in smaller quantities, like medicines, are measured in millimetres.
One kilogram is equal to exactly 1000 grams, and 1 gram is made up of 1000 milligrams.
The convergence from one unit to another for weights of given objects can be calculated with the help of the above-given formulas.
Units of measurement for time
Time is a period. The basic unit of time is the second; however, many more units measure time. The units of time used in a standard clock are seconds, minutes, and hours. A day comprises 24 hours, and each hour consists of 60 minutes.
Each of these minutes comprises 60 seconds. There are even smaller units of time, like milliseconds and microseconds, used in car races and athletics.
The units for measuring more extended periods are months, years, and decades.
Let us learn about various systems of units.
System of units
The SI and the CGS are the two most popular systems of units.
While the mechanics of both systems are the same, they differ in 3 basic units.
Conclusion
Units are the standard of measurement that help express substance amount. Units measure the length of given objects, weights of given objects, and amount of the substance. Various unit types measure length, weight, and time.
Two standard systems of units are CGS and SI systems. The basic units in the SI system are metres, kilograms, and seconds, and for the CGS system, they are centimetres, grams, and seconds.
