Vidyamandir Classes Motion & Measurement

Motion & Measurement

BASIC

Measurement is made nearly all the times. A shopkeeper measures the amount of wheat he sells, a person at a petrol pump
measures the volume of petrol he filled in the car, and your mother checks your body temperature when you are unwell.

But what is measurement?

Measurement is the comparison of the unknown quantity with some fixed quantity of the same kind.
Quantities like length, weight (or mass), time temperature and speed that can be measured are physical quantities.
Long ago people used the foot, the foot step, the handspan or the arm (cubit) to measure length. But hand span, forearm -
length (cubit) and foot step cannot be used as standard units of measurement because their length is not the same for all the
persons. It varies from person to person .

Handspan Cubit Stride/Pace Foot span

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There was a need for units of measurement which could be uniformly used by everyone. Such a unit is called a standard
unit.
Till a few years ago, different countries had their own units of measurement. This was confusing and not encouraging for
business purposes.
In the year 1960, the general conference of weights are measures recommended that a common system should be used all over
the world. This system was called the SI system.

SI is the abbreviation of ‘System International and ‘Units’ in French.

In this system, the standard units of length, mass and time area.
Metre the standard unit of length (written as ‘m’).
Kilogram the standard unit of mass (written as ‘kg’).
Second the standard unit of time (written as ‘sec’).
A unit of measurement which has a fixed value, which does not change from person to person or place to place, is called a
standard unit of measurement.
Every measurement consists of a number and a unit. A measurement is not complete unless both, the number and the unit are
mentioned.
e.g., Length of cloths required is ‘2 metres’.
In everyday measurements, other systems are still in use, such as the
FPS system (foot, pound, second); the CGS (centimetre, gram, second) and the MKS system (metre. kilogram, second).
It is difficult to measure the length of a pencil in ‘metres’ and it is also difficult to measure, the distance between two far off
cities like Mumbai and Delhi in metres.

There are many units, but for our purposes, the order goes (from smallest to largest)

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Making calculations with very large or very small numbers become very difficult and therefore, important. So, for convenience,
 Multiples of standard units are used to make large measurements.
Example : ‘kilometre’
1 kilometre = 1000 m
 Fractions or sub multiples of standard units are used to make small measurements.
1
Example : ‘centi’ means ‘one hundred’ or
100
The length of a pencil can easily be measured in ‘cm’
1 metre = 100 centimetre
1
OR 1 cm = metre
100
Instead of measuring the distance between
Delhi and Mumbai as ________________ m,
We can measure it as ________________ km,
Some prefixes used for multiples and sub multiples of standard units are as follows:
Prefix Abbreviation Submultiple/Multiple
1
deci d Submultiple
10
1
centi c Submultiple
100
1
milli m Submultiple
1000
kilo k Multiple 1000
mega M Multiple 10,00,000

LENGTH
10 millimetres (mm) = 1 centimetre (cm)
100 centimetres (cm) = 1 metre (m)
1000 metres (m) = 1 kilometre (km)

MASS
100 milligram (mg) = 1 gram (g)
1000 grams (g) = 1 kilogram (kg)
100 kilograms (kg) = 1 qunital
10 quintals = 1 metricton

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TIME
60 seconds (s) = 1 minute (min)
60 minutes (min) = 1 hour
24 hours (h) = 1 day
365 days = 1 year
10 years = 1 decade
10 decade = 1 century = 100 years
10 centuries = 1 millenium
= 1000 years
Rules to be following in writing the symbols of units
 Symbols are not followed by a full stop.
 Symbols are not written in the plurals.
Example : 1 kg block and 10 block and not 10 kgs
In order to make accurate measurements we need to use appropriate instruments.
e,.g., To measure the accurate time taken in a race, we need a stop watch and not an ordinary watch.
 A physical balance can be used to measure light masses and an ordinary weighing scale can be used to measure the
amount of vegetables sold.
 A tailor needs to use a measuring tape but a maths students will require a scale to measure.
To measure the length of a line segment A, B, a ruler be used.
Some precuations needs to be taken while measuring length.
 Keep the ruler exactly along the length to be measured..
 Do not use worn out portions of the instrument. OR, use any other full mark on the ruler instead of the zero mark.
 Keep your eye vertically above the point where the measurement is to be taken.

Position of Eye
Correct
Incorrect Incorrect

Pencil
Ruler

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The length of a curved line can be measured by using a thread and a scale. Make a knot at one end of the thread. Place the
knot a the beginning of the line (point A) and press it with your forefinger. Place a small portion of the thread exactly along
the line. Press the other end of the portion with year other hand at the point B. The thread between your two fingers now has
the same length as the position AB of the line. Now place the first finger at point B. Again place a small position of the thread
along the next portion of the line. In this way, trace the entire length of the curved line using the thread. Mark the thread where
it touches the end of the line. Now sketch out the thread on a metre scale and measure its marked portion the length of this
portion is the length of the curved line.

USING A DIVIDER
Open out a divider so that its legs are a small distance apart, for example 3 mm. place one of the legs at one end of
the line. Put the other leg on the line.
Take the divider along the line, and count the number of steps in which it covers the entire length of the line. If some
portion less than the distance between the two legs is left out, measure it separately by adjusting the distance
between the legs. The length of the curved line is obtained as follows:
Total length = (number of steps × Distance between legs of divider) + length of left over segment

The movement of an object is called motion.

 An object is said to be in motion (or moving) when its position changes with time.
 An object is in motion if its position changes with time (such as car-1) in relation to a stationary object such as a
building or a tree, and

 An object is at rest of its position does not change with time (such as car-2) in relation to a stationary object.
Figure

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When an object is stationary (not moving) it is said to be at rest.

The motion of all objects are not of the same type. Different objects show different types of motion or movements.

1. Translatory Motion
A car can move in a straight line, or along a curved path. The car moves as whole. All its parts move through the same
distance in the same interval of time. This type of motion is called translatory motion.
There are two kinds of translatory motion.

(a) Linear (Rectilinear Motion)

Motion in a straight line is called rectilinear motion.
For example,
 a car moving on a straight road,

 a bullet shot from a gun and

 an apple falling from a tree.

(b) Circular (Curvilinear Motion)

When an object moves along a circular path, it is called circular motion.
For example,
 The movement of moon around the earth is an example of circular motion.
 A car moving on a curved road
 A ball tied to a string and whirled around.
 The movement of artificial satellite around the earth is also circular motion.

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Earth and Moon

Sun and Planets

Circulart Track
Circulart Ride
 The movement of tip of the hand of a watch (or clock) on the dial is an example of circular motion.

2. Rotational Motion
When an object turns (or spins) about a fixed axis, it is called rotational motion.
In rotational motion, different parts of an object move through different distances in a given time.
e.g., spinning of a top.
The outer portions of the top move through a greater distance than the inner positions.
 The motion of the blades of a fan.
 Rotation of each over its axis.

The difference between circular motion and the rotational motion is that in circular motion an object as a whole travels along
a circular path but in rotational motion, the object spins on its axis.

3. Periodic Motion
If the same motion occurs again and again, it is used to be repetative motion.
Repetative motion that repeats itself at regular intervals of time is called periodic motion.
e.g., the motion of seconds hand of a watch is an example of periodic motion.
 The revolution of earth around the sun is a periodic motion.
 Even the rotation of earth on its axis is a periodic motion.

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 The revolution of moon around the earth is also a periodic motion.

 A pendulum undergoes periodic motion.
 When we strike the strings of a guitar they undergo fast periodic motion producing sound.
A pendulum consists of a small metal ball (called bob) suspended by a long thread from a rigid support, such that the
bob is free to swing back and forth.
Pendulum

Vibration motion or Oscillatory motion

Vibration motion or oscillatory motion is a special type of periodic motion shown by a pendulum, a swing, stretched
strings (of sitar or guitar) and stretched members (of table or dholak). It is a periodic motion in which the object
moves about a mean position.

When we hit the drum membrane When we play a guitar,

of drum vibrates producing sound. the string on it makes to and
fro motion and produces sound.

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Non-Periodic Motion
Repetitive motion which does not occur at regular intervals of time is known as non-periodic motion.
Example :
 Swinging of your arms while walking.
 A hammer being used to strike a nail.
 The beating of your heart.

4. More than One type of Motion at the same Time

An object can have more than one kind of motion at the same time.
 The earth rotates about its axis (rotational motion) and at the same time its revolution around the sun in a
circular path (translatory motion).
 The wheels of a bicycle rotate (rotational motion) and at the same time move forward in a straight or curved
path (translatory motion).
 A rolling ball undergoes both translatory motion and rotational motion.
 Sewing machine is wheel undergoes rotational motion, while the needle moves up and down. The motion of
both the wheel and the needle is periodic.

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SOLVED EXERCISE

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Quantity that can be measured is called
(a) physical quantity (b) unit
(c) measurement (d) motion
Ans.(a) Quantities that can be measured are known as physical quantities.
2. Choose the correct one.
(a) km > mm > cm > m (b) m < mm < cm > km
(c) km > m > cm > mm (d) mm > cm > m > km
Ans.(c) km > m > cm > mm
3. ______ is a rectilinear motion.
(a) The movement of air molecules (b) The up and down movement of lift
(c) Both (a) and (b) (d) Neither (a) nor (b)
Ans.(b) The up and down movement of lift is a rectilinear motion.
4. Instrument(s) used for measuring mass is(are)
(a) Spring balance (b) Beam balance
(c) Both (a) and (b) (d) Neither (a) nor (b)
Ans.(c) Both spring balance and beam balance are used for the measurement of mass.
5. CGS stands for
(a) centimetre, gram, second (b) centilitre, gram, second
(c) centimetre, gram, standard (d) only (a) and (b)
5.(a) C  centimetre G  gram S  second
6. The SI unit of mass is
(a) gram (b) kilogram (c) milligram (d) pound
Ans.(b) The SI unit of mass is kilogram (kg).
7. A person moves 100 m east, then 50 m west and finally 20 m south. How much distance he travelled?
(a) 120 m (b) 170 m (c) 100 m (d) 50 m
7.(b) Total distance travelled = 100 m + 50 m + 20 = 170 m
8. The SI unit of time is
(a) minute (b) second (c) hour (d) none of these
8.(b) The SI unit of time is second (s).
9. Which of the following is the fastest mode of transport?
(a) Bicycle (b) Car (c) Tonga (d) Aeroplane
Ans.(d) Air transport is the fastest.
10. Identify the water transport.
(a) Rafts (b) Sailing yacht (c) Ship (d) All of these
Ans.(d) Rafts, sailing yacht and ship are water transport.

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EXERCISE BASED ON CBSE

Multiple Choice Questions

1. A fixed quantity that is used as a standard of measurement is called
(a) distance (b) unit (c) weight (d) time
2. Distance between Delhi and Chennai can be measured in
(a) kilometres (b) metres (c) centimetres (d) millimetres
3. Identify the stationary objects.
(a) Tree (b) School building (c) Earth (d) Both (a) and (b)
4. Most accurate instrument used for measuring time is
(a) sundial (b) water clock (c) digital clock (d) pendulum
5. cannot be used as the unit of length for measurement.
(a) Fist (b) Foot (c) Cubit (d) Fathom
6. A striker hitting a coin on a carrom board has
(a) linear motion (b) periodic motion (c) circular motion (d) oscillatory motion
7. Length of a curved surface can be measured by using
(a) protractor (b) divider (c) thread (d) both (b) and (c)
8. SI unit of distance is
(a) kilometer (b) centimeter (c) meter (d) decimeter
9. Rulers, metre scales and measuring tapes are used to measure
(a) length (b) weight (c) mass (d) time
10. The length between the great toe and end point of the heel is
(a) foot (b) cubit (c) hand span (d) arm length

Subjective Type
11. What do you mean by physical quantities?
12. Define measurement.
13. Define standard unit.
14. Write the names of the different types of motion with examples.
15. How can we make accurate measurements?
16. Define motion.
17. What do you mean by one light year?
18. Write the names of different types of motion exerted by the Earth.
19. What is the full form of SI system?
20. Classify the following objects in the groups of stationary objects and objects in motion : Earth, tree, flying aeroplane,
electric pole and crawling ants.
21. Differentiate between revolution and rotation.

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22. Write the rules that are followed in writing the symbols of units.
23. Distinguish between fundamental and derived units of measurement.
24. What is the need to know the distances?
25. Distinguish between revolutionary motion and rotatory motion.
26. The distance between two places is 51.25 m. Convert it into km, dm, cm and mm.
27. How can you say whether an object is in motion or in rest?
28. What are the rules that should be followed to make the accurate measurement with scale?
29. What is the need of units of measurement?
30. Write the need of standard units.
31. Illustrate with an example that a body can have different types of motion at same time.
32. Why don't we use same SI unit for measuring the lengths of different objects or the distances between various
objects?
33. How can you say that an oscillatory motion is a periodic motion?
34. Why is it necessary to measure at least three times and then to take the average measurement?
35. Why the trees near the track appears to move whereas co-passengers appears to be stationary in a moving train?

NSO EXERCISE

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
I. The error in measurement of length can be caused by positioning of length can be caused by positioning
the eyeincorrectly.
II. The SI unit of length is metre and 1 m = 1000 cm.
III. The smallest length that could be measured by different devices may be different.
(a) I only (b) III only (c) I and II only (d) I and III only
2. To measure the length of a pencil by a broken scale, One end of the pencil reads 4 cm. The other end reads 13.8 cm.
The length of the pencil is:
(a) 9.2 cm (b) 9.8 cm (c) 13.8 cm (d) 13.4 cm
3. A boy starts running from a certain point P and goes round a circle of radius a and reaches Q, exactly at the other
side of the point P . The distance covered by the boy would be:
(a) a (b) 2a (c) 2a (d) 2 / a
4. Which of the following statements are incorrect?
(i) A bag placed below the seat of a moving bus is in motion with respect to the floor of the bus.
(ii) While. measuring length of an object using a metre scale, use the zero-mark even if the ends are worn out.
(iii) Blinking of eyes is an example of periodic motion.
(iv) If a body as a whole moves around in a circular path, the motion is known as revolution.
(a) (i), (ii) and (iv) only (b) (i), (ii) and (iii) only
(c) (ii), (iii) and (iv) only (d) (i), (iii) and (iv) only

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5. Match column I (types of motion) with column II (example) and select the correct option from the given codes.
Column I Column II
P. Rotatory (i) Motion of pendulum of a clock
Q. Oscillatory (ii) Motion of a ceiling fan
R. Circular (iii) Motion of a rocket in space
S. Curvilinear (iv) Motion of the tip of minute hand of a wrist watch
(a) P-(iv) Q-(i) R-(iii) S-(ii) (b) P-(i) Q-(iv) R-(iii) S-(ii)
(c) P-(ii) Q-(i) R-(iv) S-(iii) (d) P-(iii) Q-(ii) R-(i) S-(iv)
6. Which of the following conversions is(are) incorrect?
(i) 10 decades = 1 century (ii) 100 centuries = 1 millennium
(iii) 100 inches = 2.54 metres (iv) 100 millimetres = 10 centimetres
(a) (ii) only (b) (iv) only (c) (i) and (ii) only (d) (iii) and (iv) only
7. Which of the following statements is(are) correct?
I. The error in measurement of length can be caused by positioning the eye incorrectly.
II. The SI unit of length is metre and 1 m = 1000 cm.
III. The smallest length that could be measured by different devices may be different.
(a) I only (b) III only (c) I and II only (d) I and III only
8. Submultiple micro is equal to:
(a) 1/1000000 (b) 1/100000 (c) 1/10000000 (d) 1/1000
9. Which of the following unit conversions is wrong?
(a) 1 km = 109 |xm (b) 1 cm = 103 mm (c) 1 mg = 103 ng (d) 1 kg = 106 mg
10. Match column I with column II and select the correct option from the given codes.
Column I Column II
P. Distance (i) m/s
Q. Speed (ii) s
R. Volume (iii) m
S. Time period (iv) m3
T. Density (v) kg/m3
(= mass ÷ volume)
(a) P-(i), Q-(ii), R-(iii), S-(iv), T-(v) (b) P-tfv), Q-(iii), R-(ii), S-(v), T-(i)
(c) P-(iii), Q-(i), R-(iv), S-(ii), T-(v) (d) P-(Hi),Q-(i), R-(ii), S-(iv), T-(v)
11. Which of the following statements is false?
(a) Measuring tape is not suitable to measure the girth of a tree
(b) A suitable measuring device is must to measure the length of an object
(c) In ancient India, small length measurements used were an angul or a mutthi
(d) Electric trains, monorail, supersonic aeroplanes and spacecrafts are some of the 20th century contributions

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SOLUTIONS TO EXERCISE BASED ON CBSE

Multiple Choice Answer

1.(b) Unit is a fixed quantity that is used as a standard of measurement.
2.(a) Distance between two cities or states can be measured in kilometres.
3.(d) Tree and school building are stationary objects as they make no movement.
4.(c) Digital clock gives the most accurate time.
5.(a) Fist cannot be used as the unit of length for measurement.
6.(a) It is linear motion as the coin moves in a straight line.
7.(d) Length of a curved surface can be measured by using either divider or thread.
8.(c) SI unit of distance is meter.
9.(a) These are used to measure length.
10.(a)

Subjective Type Answer

11. The quantities that can be measured are known as physical quantities, e.g., length, mass, time, etc.
12. Measurement: The comparison of an unknown quantity with some known quantity of the same kind is known as
measurement.
13. Standard unit : A unit of measurement whose quantity remains the same and which is uniformly used by everyone is
known as standard unit, e.g., metre (m).
14. The different types of motion are
Circular motion : A ball tied to a string and whirled around.
Oscillatory motion : Motion of a pendulum. Translational motion : A car moving in a straight line, or along a curved
path.
15. We can make accurate measurements by correctly using standard and appropriate methods of measurement.
16. Motion is defined as the change of position of an object with respect to time.
17. One light year is defined as the total distance travelled by the light in one year.
18. (i) Revolution (when Earth revolves around the sun).
(ii) Rotation (when Earth moves on its own axis passing through itself).
19. The full form of SI system is the International System of Units. Also, it is the abbreviation of 'Systeme International
d'Unites' in French.
20. Stationary objects Objects in motion
Tree Earth
Electric pole Flying aeroplane Crawling ants

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21. The differences between revolution and rotation are as follows :

Revolution : If the body as a whole moves around in a circular path, the motion is known as revolution.
e.g., motion of the moon around the Earth, motion of the Earth around the Sun, etc.

Rotation : The motion of an object where it moves around an axis and its different parts move through
different distances in a given time is called rotational motion.
e.g., a spinning top, motion of the Earth on its own axis, etc.

22. The following rules are followed in writting the symbols of units.
(i) Symbols for units of quantities are written with a small letter. e.g., m, kg etc.
(ii) Symbols for units derived from the names of scientists are written in capital letters, e.g., °C or K.
(iii) Symbols are not followed by a full stop, e.g., we write 'kg' not 'kg.'
(iv) Symbols are not used in the plural, e.g., we write '10 cm' not '10 ems'.
23. Fundamental units: Seven basic units for physical quantities are known as fundamental units, e.g.,
Quantity Unit Symbol
Length metre m
Mass kilogram kg
Time second s
Temperature kelvin K
Electric current ampere A
Amount of substance mole mol
Luminous intensity candela cd
Derived units : The units which are derived from the fundamental units are known as derived units. e.g., unit of area
(m) is derived from the unit of lenght (m). So, unit of area is a derived unit.
24. (i) It helps in determining which mode of transport we should use to go from one place to another.
(ii) The knowledge of the distance between various objects helps us in determining the size of various objects
around us.
(iii) The knowledge of the distance between various places helps us in determining the time taken to travel to
these places.
25. Revolutionary motion : When an object as a whole moves on a circular path, its motion is called revolutionary motion.
Rotatory Motion : When an object undergoes translational motion in such a way that its parts cover different
distances in a given time, it is said to have rotatory motion.
26. Distance covered is 51.25 m.
In km : 51.25 × 0.001 = 0.05125 km
In dm : 51.25 x 100 = 5125 dm
In cm : 51.25 x 100 = 5125 cm
In mm : 51.25 x 1000 = 51250 mm
27. Any object which changes its position with respect to time in relation to a stationary object is said to be in motion,
e.g., a moving car.
Any object which does not change its position with respect to time in relation to a stationary object is said to be at
rest, e.g., trees.

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28. While measuring length,

(a) the ruler should be placed exactly along the length.
(b) the position of the observer's eye should be exactly above the point where the measurement is to be made.
(c) the zero-mark shouldn't be used if the ends are worn out. Any other full mark should be used.
29. Without units, much of our work would be meaningless. We need to express our thoughts clearly and units give
meaning to the numbers we calculate. Units are essential part of measurement.
30. The use of body parts for making measurement is not convenient as they vary from person to person. So, we need SI
units
(a) to measure the quantities accurately
(b) to convey measurements to other people in such a way that they understand or for the sake of uniformity.
31. An object can have more than one kind of motion at the same time, e.g., the wheels of a bicycle rotate and at the
same time move forward in a straight or curved path. Thus, they have rotatory motion and translational motion at
the same time.
32. Because making calculations with very large or very small numbers becomes very difficult and cannot be
expressed conveniently. So, multiples of standard units are used for large measurements and fractions of standard
units are used for small measurements.
33. An oscillatory motion involves the to and fro motion of an object about its mean position. It always repeats itself
after a fixed interval of time. Thus, an oscillatory motion is always a periodic motion.
34. There is always a chance of making a mistake while measuring something. Thus, to make our calculation errorless,
it is better to make three measurements and then, calculate the average of the three.
35. The position of the trees with respect to us is changing in a moving train, hence appears to be moving.
However, the position of co-passengers with respect to us is not changing. Hence, appears to be at rest.

SOLUTIONS TO NSO EXERCISE

Multiple Choice Answers

1.(d) The SI unit of length is meter and 1 m = 100 cm.
2.(b) Initial reading = 4 cm Final reading = 13.8 cm
So, the length of the pencil
= final reading - initial reading = 13.8 cm - 4 cm = 9.8 cm
3.(a) Distance covered by the boy
= Half of circumference of the circle

1
  2a  a
2
4.(b) (i) A bag placed below the seat of a moving bus is in rest with respect to the floor of the bus.
(ii) If ends of scale are worn out, we cannot measure the length of the object because it gives wrong measurement.
(iii) Blinking of eyes is an example of random motion.

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5.(c) P — (ii); Q — (i); R — (iv); S — (iii)

6.(a) 1 millennium = 1000 years = 10 centuries
7.(d) The SI unit of length is meter and 1 m = 100 cm.
8.(a) The submultiple one micro is equal to 106 or 1/1000000.
9.(b) 1 cm = 10–2 m = 10 × 10–3 m = 10 mm

Distance (m)
10.(c) Speed (m / s) 
Time(s)

Mass (kg)
Density(kg / m3 ) 
Volume (m3 )

11.(a) The girth of a tree can be measured by using measuring tape.

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MOTION AND MEASUREMENT

Concept Map

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