Final answer:
Fundamental or base quantities are independent and measured with fundamental units, while derived quantities and units are algebraic combinations of the base ones and represent concepts such as area and speed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The differences between fundamental quantities (or base quantities) and derived quantities are central concepts in physics. Fundamental quantities, such as length, mass, time, electric current, temperature, amount of substance, and luminous intensity, are defined solely by the procedures used to measure them and are independent of other quantities. These are measured in fundamental or base units (e.g., meter, kilogram, second). Derived quantities, like area, speed, and electric charge, are defined as algebraic combinations of the base quantities.For example, area is calculated as the product of two lengths and is represented in derived units like square meters (m2). Speed is calculated as length divided by time and represented in meters per second (m/s). Since derived units and quantities rely on the precision of base units and quantities, the latter are chosen based on their ability to be measured accurately. This foundational structure of base and derived units facilitates consistency and ease of conversion across the scientific community.