Units of Measurement | General Awareness for SSC CGL PDF Download

Measurement units are essential for representing physical quantities such as length, mass, temperature, and volume. They allow us to quantify and compare different magnitudes of these quantities. Various systems of measurement, including traditional units, the Metric System, the Imperial System, and US customary units, have evolved over time and are used to measure everything from the distance we travel to our body weight and the time we spend working or sleeping. In this article, we will delve into the Metric and Imperial systems and explore the different units used for measuring length, mass, time, temperature, and volume. By working through various examples, we aim to enhance understanding of these measurement concepts.

What are Units of Measurement?

Units of measurement are standard and various other units used to quantify physical quantities like length, mass, volume, current, and temperature. Historically, before precise measuring tools were available, people relied on informal methods such as using body parts—like hand span, foot span, arm span, cubit, and pace—to measure length. However, because these methods were inconsistent and inaccurate due to individual variations in body size, more accurate measurement systems were developed over time.
Today, standardized systems such as the Metric System (also known as the International System of Units, or SI units), the Imperial System, and US customary units provide more precise and reliable measurements.

Metric Units of Measurement

Metric units of measurement in mathematics are standardized units used to measure various quantities such as length, height, weight, area, and volume. They are based on the decimal system, which involves numbers in powers of 10. The contemporary version of these metric units is known as SI units, which are universally accepted. Each SI unit has a defined and universally recognized size. Below, we will present a table of some commonly used SI units.

SI Units of Measurement

SI units of measurement are units of the international system of units, also known as the metric system which is used across the world and each unit has a standard measure.

Unit of Measurement List

Imperial Units of Measurement

Imperial units of measurement are the units from the British Imperial System (System of Weights and Measures used in Great Britain). As we discussed the metric units, the imperial system uses different units to measure the physical quantities like length, mass, volume, and area. Let us go through imperial units of measurement in the table below:

Units of Measurement for Length

Length is a physical quantity that indicates how long an object is. Measuring length involves various aspects, such as the distance traveled or height. Units used to measure length fall into the same category and can be converted into each other because they have standard values. Below, we will explore the commonly used metric and imperial units for measuring length and how they relate to one another.

Units of Measurement for Mass

Mass is a physical quantity that tells how heavy or light an object is. It is also commonly called the weight of the object. The SI unit of mass is the kilogram (kg). The table below shows the different and commonly used units of measuring mass in the metric and imperial systems along with their conversions:

Please be aware that there are additional units of mass, such as tonnes, stone, micrograms, and imperial tons. The table provided above includes only the most commonly used units.

Units of Measurement for Volume

Volume, or capacity, measures the amount of space an object occupies or the total space available within it. The SI unit for volume is the liter (L). Additionally, volume can be expressed using cubic length units, such as cubic centimeters (cm³) and cubic meters (m³). Below, we will review some commonly used volume measurement units.

Units of Measurement for Temperature

Temperature is a physical quantity that indicates how hot or cold an object or the weather is. There are primarily three units for measuring temperature: Celsius, Kelvin, and Fahrenheit. Kelvin is the SI unit for temperature measurement. The table below displays the various temperature units and their conversions.

Generally, for the conversion of temperature, we use the formula C/5 = (F - 32) / 9 = (K - 273.15) / 5. This formula helps to express the temperature in different units.

Units of Measurement of Time

Time measures the duration required to complete a process or travel between locations, representing the continuous progression of events. We use several units to measure time: seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. The table below outlines these units and their relationships with one another.

These units of measurement of time are standard and are followed all across the world.

Units of Measurement Chart

Having covered the various units of measurement across different systems, let's summarize them in the chart below for a quick reference.

Key Points on Units of Measurement

Units of measurement are used to quantify physical properties such as length, mass, temperature, current, area, volume, and intensity. There are two primary systems for measurement: the metric system and the imperial system. Historically, measurements were made using body parts like hand span, arm span, and foot span.