Contextualization

The study of physical quantities is a fundamental concept for various everyday applications and for understanding the world around us. Physical quantities are quantities that can be measured and that describe the characteristics of bodies. They are present in our reality all the time, they are the ones that allow us to quantify and qualify physical phenomena.

Physical quantities can be classified into various categories, such as vector or scalar, fundamental or derived. In addition, unit systems, such as the International System of Units, were developed to standardize the measurements of these quantities, facilitating the communication of scientific and technical results around the world.

Importance

Physical quantities and their units play an essential role in many areas of science, technology, and everyday life. They provide the basis for the quantification and description of physical phenomena, from the atomic scale to the scale of the universe. They allow us to make predictions, estimates, and better understand the nature and phenomena that surround us.

For example, the distance between two points, the speed of a car, the amount of water in a bottle, the weight of an object. All of these are examples of physical quantities that are applied in our daily lives. Getting familiar with these concepts, understanding how they are applied, and knowing how to measure and calculate these quantities is fundamental for any physics student.

Practical Activity

Title: Physical Quantities in Everyday Life

Project Objective

To provide students with the opportunity to understand and apply in a practical way the theory about physical quantities. The project also aims to develop teamwork, research, analysis, and communication skills.

Detailed Project Description

Each group of students (3 to 5 participants) should select at least five different physical quantities (such as length, mass, velocity, time, acceleration, force, pressure, temperature, electric current) and carry out experiments to measure them. These experiments should be conducted using common everyday materials and should demonstrate the practical applications of the chosen physical quantities.

In addition, students should research and address the theoretical concepts behind these quantities and how they interrelate, with a special focus on the units used to measure them and their conversions.

Required Materials

The materials will vary depending on the chosen experiments, but in general, students may need:

• Rulers, tape measures
• Scales
• Stopwatches
• Thermometers
• Drawing and writing materials
• Other specific materials for each experiment

Step by Step

1. Form groups and choose the quantities: Each group must select at least five different physical quantities to be investigated.

2. Plan and conduct experiments: Each group must plan and conduct at least one experiment for each chosen physical quantity. The experiments should involve the direct or indirect measurement of these quantities.

3. Theoretical study: At the same time, students should research the chosen quantities, study the concepts involved, their applications, the units used, and the possible conversions between them.

4. Report elaboration: After completing the experiments and theoretical studies, students must write a report following the guidelines presented at the beginning of the project.

5. Presentation: Each group will make a presentation to the class, sharing the results of their experiments and their theoretical findings.

Project Deliverables

Each group must deliver the following:

• Written report: Containing the introduction (contextualization of the theme, relevance and real-world application, and the project's objective), development (theory, detailed description of the experiments, methodology, and results), and conclusions (summary of the main points, learnings, and conclusions about the project). Remember to also include the bibliography used.

• Presentation: A summary of the main points of the report, including the demonstration of the experiment results and a discussion of the studied physical quantities.

The reports and presentations will be evaluated taking into account not only the technical and scientific content but also the students' ability to communicate their ideas clearly and effectively, their creativity in planning and executing the experiments, and the quality of teamwork demonstrated.