Fundamental Physical Quantities or Basic Physical Quantities

By Santosh Chaudhary M.Sc (Physics)

Nalanda Open University

Fundamental physical quantities are those physical quantities that cannot be expressed in terms of other quantities. These are  also called as basic or independent physical quantities. There are seven fundamental physical quantities. Now let us understand the seven fundamental quantities.

While dealing with mechanical energy we come across a number of physical quantities which depend basically on mass, length and time. Mass, length and time are independent quantities, these are called fundamental or Basic quantities.

Similarly we come across a number of quantities that in addition to mass, length and time depend upon a fourth quantity called temperature. Temperature is also a fundamental physical quantity.

While dealing with electrical phenomena we come across a number of physical quantities in addition to the above four quantities depend upon a fifth quantity electric current. Electric current is also a fundamental physical quantity.

While dealing with light energy we encounter with luminous intensity as sixth independent physical quantity. Luminous intensity is also a fundamental physical quantity.

While dealing with chemical composition we come across with seventh independent physical quantity called as amount of substance. Amount of substance (also called as chemical amount) is a quantity defined by standards to measures the size a group of individual elementary entities, such as atoms, molecules and electrons, along with other particles.

Thus we have found seven fundamental physical quantities.

1. Mass

2. Length

3. Time

4. Temperature

5. Electric Current

6. Luminous Intensity

7. Amount of Substance