Physics · Glossary

What is Physical quantity and unit?

Also known as: physical quantity · unit

Definition 1.1 University Physics — Year 1 · Chapter 1 — Units, Dimensions, and Measurement

A physical quantity is a property that can be measured: a length, a duration, a mass, a current. Measuring it means comparing it with a reference quantity of the same kind, the unit: the result is a number times a unit, =1.257m\ell = 1.257\,\mathrm{m}. The number alone means nothing; the unit alone measures nothing.

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