Units & Dimensions

LECTURE 1
 Namo Kaul Yrs teaching experience

Certified by the Indian Association

Teacher & Mentor to
BEST Teaching & Pedagogy 50,000+ Students of Physics Teachers for securing
National TCON’ 18 highest aggregate percentage
 Telegram
APP

tinyurl.com/jeelivechat
 unacademy.com/plus

Tests
Quizzes
Doubt Sessions
More Personalized
JEELIVE
Units & Dimensions
Types of Quantities?
 Types of Quantities?

Physical Quantity Non -Physical Quantity

A Quantity that cannot
A Quantity that can be
be measured is called
measured is called as
as
Physical Quantity.
Non- Physical Quantity.

Length, Mass, Velocity,

Building, Bus, Room,
Temperature, Area,
Road, Mumbai Etc…
Volume, Density Etc…

Measurable Quantities Non-Measurable Quantities

How are physical quantities classified?
How are physical quantities
classified?
Fundamental Quantity

A physical quantity which does not depend on any

other physical quantity for its measurement.

Derived Quantity

The physical quantities which are expressed in

terms of more than one fundamental quantities.
What are Fundamental Quantities?
 What are Fundamental Quantities?

There are 7 fundamental quantities

Fundamental Quantity S.I Unit Symbol
Length Meter m
Mass Kilogram kg
Time Second s
Temperature Kelvin K
Electric current Ampere A
Luminous intensity Candela Cd
Amount of substance Mole mol

*** Candela is Measure of intensity or brightness of Light.

What are Fundamental Quantities?

There 2 supplementary quantities

Supplementary
S.I unit Symbol
Quantity
Plane angle Radian rad
Solid angle Steradian sr
 Angle inscribed by surface at point is called solid
Solid Angle
angle.
 The Derived Quantities

The Physical quantities that depend upon other physical quantity for its
measurement are known as derived quantities.

The measurement of derived quantities directly depends

upon other quantities. So in order to measure the derive
quantity, one must measure the quantities that it depends
upon.

*** Except 7 fundamental quantities, all other quantities are derived

quantities.
 The Derived Quantities

Velocity (m/s) ⇒ displacement

Velocity =
time

Acceleration (m/s2) Velocity

⇒ Acceleration =
time

Work (kg-m2/s2) or ⇒ Work = Force x displacement

Joule

Pressure ( kg m–1 s–2) or Force

⇒ Pressure =
Pascal Area
What are units and system of units?
What are units and system of units?

UNIT AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A UNIT

Unit of a physical quantity is a standard used for the
measurement of that physical quantity.

SYSTEM OF UNITS
A set or collection of Fundamental & Derived Unit
is called as system of unit.
 System of Units

CGS Unit
Length Mass Time
Centimeter Gram Second
cm g s
 System of Units

MKS Unit
Length Mass Time
Meter Kilogram Second
m kg s
 System of Units

FPS Unit
Length Mass Time
Foot Pound Second
ft p s
 SI Units:
International System
Of Units

Luminous
intensity
Candela (Cd)
Amount of
Current
substance
Ampere (A)
Mole (mol)

SI units
Temperature Length
Kelvin (K) Meter (m)

Mass Time
Kilogram (kg) Second(s)
What are dimensions and their symbol?
What are dimensions and their symbol?

Dimension

Power to which fundamental quantity must be raised in

order to obtain the unit of the given quantity.

Symbol for Dimensions General Form

[LMT] or [MLT ]

[LMTKA] or [MLTKA]
What are dimensions and their symbol?

Symbol for Dimensions

Fundamental Quantity Dimension Representation

Length [M0L1T0] L
Mass [M1L0T0] M
Time [M0L0T1] T
Temperature [M0L0T0K1A0] K
Electric current [M0L0T0K0A1] A/I

*** Luminous Intensity - C

*** Amount of Substance - mol
How to find dimensions of derived quantities?
How to find dimensions of derived quantities?

Dimension of Speed

Speed = Distance
Step 1 Time
Speed = [M0L1T0]
Step 2 [M0L0T1]

Step 3 Speed = [M0L1T–1]

How to find dimensions of derived quantities?

Dimension of Temperature Gradient

Temp Gradient = Temp

Step 1 Distance
Temp Gradient = [M0L0T0K1]
Step 2 [M0L1T0K0]

Step 3 Temp Gradient = [M0 L–1T0K1]

Question Find the dimensions of Area

A. [M0 L2 T0]
B. [MLT2]
C. [M0L0T1]
D. NONE OF THESE B

L
Question Find the dimensions of Area.

Step 1 Area = Length x Breadth

B

Step 2 SI Unit = m x m = m2

Step 3 Dimension = [M0 L2 T0] L

Question Find the dimensions of Volume
A. [M0 L3 T2]
B. [M2 L2 T0]
C. [M0 L3 T0]
D. [M0 L3 T-1]
h

l
Question Find the dimensions of Volume.

Volume = Length x Breadth x

Step 1 Height h
Step 2 SI Unit = m x m x m = m3 l

Step 3 Dimension = [M0 L3 T0]

Question Find the dimension of Density

A. [M1 L–3 T0]

B. [M0 L–1 T1]

C. [M-1 L–3 T0]

D. [M1 L3 T0]
Question Find the dimension of Density.

Density (ρ) = Mass

Step 1 Volume

Density (ρ) = [M1 L0 T0]

Step 2 [M0 L3 T0]

Step 3 Density (ρ) = [M1 L–3 T0]

Question Find the dimension of Momentum
A. [M-1 L0 T0]
B. [M0 L–1 T2]
C. [M-2 L–3 T0]
D. [M1 L1 T-1]
How to find dimensions of derived quantities?
Find the dimension of Momentum.

Momentum (p) = Mass x Velocity = Distance

Step 1 Velocity Time

Momentum (p) = [M1L0T0] = [M0 L1 T0]

Step 2 [M0L1T–1] [M0 L0 T1]

Step 3 Momentum (p) = [M1 L1 T–1]

 Find the dimensions of Force.
Question
A. [M-1 L0 T0]

B. [M0 L–1 T2]

C. [M-2 L–3 T0]

D. [M1 L1 T-2]
Find the dimensions of Force

Force = Mass × acceleration v2 – v1

= m × a a =
t

Dimensions of Mass = [M1 L0 T0] [M0 L1 T –

1]
=
[M0 L0 T1]
Dimensions of Acceleration = [M0 L1 T–2]

∴ Dimensions of Force = [M1 L0 T0] [M0 L1 T–2]

Dimensions of Force = [M1 L1 T–2]

Question Find the dimensions of Gravitational Constant
[M1 L–3 T0]
A.
[M-1 L3 T-2]
[M1 L1 T-2]
[M1 L3 T0]
Question Find the dimensions of Gravitational Constant

Formula of gravitational force,

Gm1m2
F =
r2
Fr2
∴ G =
m1m2

Where G Universal constant of gravitation

m1,m Masses
2
r Distance between the two masses
Dimensions of Force = [M1 L1 T–
2]

Dimensions of Length = [M0 L1 T0]

Dimensions of r2 = [M0 L2 T0]

Dimensions of Mass = [M1 L0 T0]

[M1 L1 T– [M0 L2 T0]

Dimensions of G
2]
∴ =
[M2 L0 T0]

[M1 L3 T–
= 2]
[M L0 T0]
2

Dimensions of G = [M–1 L3 T–
2]
Question Find the dimensions of CHARGE

A. [M L T A ]
0 0 1 1

[M0 L0 T1 A-1]
[M-1 L1 T2 A1]
None of these
Find the dimensions of CHARGE.

Q = Current × time

Q = I × t

Dimensions of Current (I) = [M0 L0 T0 A1]

Dimensions of Time (t) = [M0 L0

T1]
∴ Dimensions of Q = [M0 L0 T0 A1] [M0 L0 T1]

Dimensions of Q = [M0 L0 T1 A1]

Question Find the dimensions of Potential

[M0 L0 T1 A1]
A.
[M1 L2 T-3 A-1]
[M-1 L1 T-1 A1]
None of these

E= q × V
Find the dimensions of Potential
Energy (U) = charge (Q) × potential (V)

∴ V = U
Q

Dimensions of U = [M1 L2 T–2]

Dimensions of Q = [M0 L0 T1 A1]

[M1 L2 T–2]
∴ Dimensions of V =
[M0 L0 T1 A1]

Dimensions of V = [M1 L2 T–3 A–1]

Question Find the dimensions of Resistance

A. [M L T A ]
1 0 1 1

[M1 L2 T-3 A-1]

[M1 L2 T-3 A-2]
None of these

V= I × R
Find the dimensions of Resistance
By Ohm’s Law,

Potential
Resistance =
Current
V
R =
I

Dimensions of V = [M1 L2 T–3 A–1]

Dimensions of I = A1

[M1 L2 T–3 A–1]

∴ Dimensions of R =
[M0 L0 T0 A1]

Dimensions of R = [M1 L2 T–3 A–2]

Question Q. Of the following quantities, which one has dimension different from
the remaining two?

A. Energy per unit volume

B. Force per unit area

C. Angular momentum per unit mass

D. All A,B,C are same

Question Of the following quantities, which one has dimension different from the
remaining two?

A. Energy per unit volume

B. Force per unit area
C. Angular momentum per unit mass
D. All A,B,C are same

[energy per unit volume] M1L2T–2

= = M1L–1T–2
L3
[force per unit area] M1L1T–2
= = M1L–1T–2
L2
[angular momentum per unit mass] = ML2T–1 / = L2T–1
M1
How are Dimensions useful in
Physics?
How are dimensions useful in Physics?

Principle of homogeneity:

⇒ Two quantities in addition or subtraction should have same

dimension.

⇒ Quantities on either side of an expression (equation) should have the same

dimension

⇒ Using this principle we can check the correctness of the physical equation
How is Dimensional Analysis used?
How is dimensional analysis used?

Let us perform dimensional analysis on equation

v = u + at
How is dimensional analysis used?

Equation : v = u + at

L.H.S. R.H.S.

Step-1 Dimension of ‘v’ Dimension of ‘u +at’

Step-2 [M0L1T–1] [M0L1T–1] + [M0L1T–2] [M0L0T1]

Step-3 [M0L1T–1] [M0L1T–1] + [M0L1T–1]

∴ The given physical equation is dimensionally correct

How is dimensional analysis used?
Let us perform dimensional analysis on equation

v2 = u2 + 2as
How is dimensional analysis used?
Equation : v2 = u2 + 2as

L.H.S.

Dimensions of Velocity (v) = [M0 L1 T–1]

∴ Dimensions of v2 = [M0 L1 T–1] [M0 L1 T–1]

= [M0 L2 T–2]
How is dimensional analysis used?
Equation : v2 = u2 + 2as

R.H.S.

Dimensions of u2 = [M0 L2 T–2]

Dimensions of a × s = [M0 L1 T–2] [M0 L1 T0]

= [M0 L2 T–2]

∴ The given physical equation is dimensionally correct

Question The relation between velocity and time of a particle is given
B
v =A + + Ct2
t

The units of A, B and C will be

A B C

A m m/s m/s2

B m/s m m/s3

C m/s2 m/s3 m/s4

D m/s m/s2 m/s3

The relation between velocity and time of a particle is given
B
v =A+ + Ct
t 2

The units of A, B and C will be

Solution:

b) By the principle of homogeneity unit of A, B and ct2 must be of v.

t
v = A i.e A = m/s
B ⇒
v = B = m
t
v = Ct ⇒ C = m/s3
2
How is dimensional analysis used?
How is dimensional analysis used?

Uses of dimensional analysis

To find conversion factor between the units of the same

physical quantity in two different systems of units
Question Find conversion factor between SI unit of Force and CGS unit of Force

Force
SI unit : Newton
CGS unit : Dyne
Q. Find conversion factor between SI unit of Force and CGS unit of Force

Let 1 Newton = X Dyne

Force
The dimensions of force = [M1 L1 T–2] SI unit : Newton
CGS unit : Dyne
∴ Equation in dimensional form

1 M 1L1 T–2 = x M21 L21 T–2

1 1 1 2

M11 L11 T1–2 M1

1
L
1
T
–2
∴ x = =
M2 L12 T12
M21 L2 1T2 –2
Q. Find conversion factor between SI unit of Force and CGS unit of Force

In SI system, In CGS system,

1 1 –2
m kg s
∴ x = cm g s
L m L cm
1 1
M kg M g cm g
= 102 103 (1)–
T s T s cm g 2
∴ x = 105

∴ 1 Newton = 105 dyne

Q. Find conversion factor between SI unit of Energy and CGS unit of
Energy
Force
SI unit : Joule
CGS unit : Erg
Q. Find conversion factor between SI unit of Energy and CGS unit of
Energy
Let 1 Joule = X erg
Force
The dimensions of energy = [M1 L2 SI unit : Joule
CGS unit : Erg
T–2]
∴ Equation in dimensional form
– –
M1 L21 = x M2 L22
2 2
T1 T2 –
M11 L21 2
∴ x = T1
–
M21 L22
2
T2 –
1 2
M L T 2
=
M1 L1 T1
2 2 2
Q. Find conversion factor between SI unit of Energy and CGS unit of
Energy
In SI system, In CGS system,

–
L m L cm m
2
k
1
s 2
M k M g ∴ x = cm g s
T g
s T s
2 1
cm g
= 102 cm 103 g (1)–
2

∴ x = 107

∴ 1 = 107erg
Joule
 11th Grade
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday

Subjects Timings
Physics 7 PM
Chemistry 8 PM
Mathematics 9 PM
 12th Grade
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Subjects Timings
Physics 7 PM
Chemistry 8 PM
Mathematics 9 PM