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The wikipedia says

A physical quantity is a physical property of a phenomenon, body, or substance, that can be quantified by measurement.

Formally, the International Vocabulary of Metrology, 3rd edition (VIM3) defines quantity as:

Property of a phenomenon, body, or substance, where the property has a magnitude that can be expressed as a number and a reference.

So a quantity that can be measured and expressed as a number is a "PHYSICAL" quantity. Which properties characterize a "NONPHYSICAL" quantity?

Color is a non-physical quantity. right? what else are? What are some non-physical quantities?

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@David Zaslavsky: This was a genuine question. I'll have to teach this in school tomorrow. I'm expecting an answer. – claws Aug 1 '12 at 19:21
The issue is that you're asking "What are some non-physical quantities?" That's something that's just looking for a list, not asking a definite, answerable question. List questions aren't appropriate for Stack Exchange sites. – David Zaslavsky♦ Aug 1 '12 at 19:51
@DavidZaslavsky: If I don't know what those quantities are? Is it wrong to ask? If my students ask me to give some examples of non-physical quantities. What would I say? – claws Aug 1 '12 at 20:01
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@claws: Non physical quantities: the number "pi" (mathematical), "the price of corn yesterday in Bulgaria" (economic), "The chance a person will succeed in business" (social). – Ron Maimon Aug 2 '12 at 1:08
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@RonMaimon: The price of corn yesterday in Bulgaira would be number. What is the problem with it? – claws Aug 2 '12 at 4:19
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closed as not constructive by David Zaslavsky♦ Aug 1 '12 at 18:46

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