Physical quantity
Physical Quantity
A Physical Quantity (pronunciation: /ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈkwɒntɪti/) is a property of a phenomenon, body, or substance, that can be quantified by measurement. A physical quantity can be expressed as the combination of a magnitude and a unit.
Etymology
The term "Physical Quantity" is derived from the Latin physica, meaning "natural science" and the Latin quantitas, meaning "how much".
Types of Physical Quantities
Physical quantities are broadly classified into two types: Scalar quantities and Vector quantities. Scalar quantities have only magnitude, while vector quantities have both magnitude and direction.
Scalar Quantities
Scalar quantities are those physical quantities that can be described by a single element of a number field such as a real number, often accompanied by units of measurement. Examples of scalar quantities include mass, temperature, and volume.
Vector Quantities
Vector quantities are those physical quantities that have both magnitude and direction. Examples of vector quantities include force, velocity, and acceleration.
Related Terms
- Dimensional analysis: A method used in physics to check the validity of equations and derive relationships between physical quantities.
- International System of Units: The modern form of the metric system, it is the most widely used system of measurement for physical quantities.
- Quantity calculus: A method used to derive units of measurement and their relationships.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Physical quantity
- Wikipedia's article - Physical quantity
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