Base quantities, derived quantities and dimensions

The notion of physical dimension of a physical quantity was introduced by Fourier in 1822.[1] By convention, physical quantities are organized in
a dimensional system built upon base quantities, each of which is regarded as having its own dimension. The seven base quantities of the
International System of Quantities (ISQ) and their corresponding SI units are listed in the following table. Other conventions may have a
different number of fundamental units (e.g. the CGS and MKS systems of units).
International System of Units base quantities
Name Symbol for quantity Symbol for dimension SI base unit Symbol for unit
Length l, x, r, etc. L meter m
Time t T second s
Mass m M kilogram kg
Electric current I, i I ampere A
Thermodynamic temperature T θ kelvin K
Amount of substance n N mole mol
Luminous intensity Iv J candela cd
All other quantities are derived quantities since their dimensions are derived from those of base quantities by multiplication and division. For
example, the physical quantity velocity is derived from base quantities length and time and has dimension L/T. Some derived physical quantities
have dimension 1 and are said to be dimensionless quantities.
Further information: dimensional analysis
Extensive and intensive quantities
A quantity is called:
• extensive when its magnitude is additive for subsystems (volume, mass, etc.)
• intensive when the magnitude is independent of the extent of the system (temperature, pressure, etc.)
Some physical quantities are prefixed in order to further qualify their meaning:
• specific is added to refer to a quantity which is expressed per unit mass (such as specific heat capacity)
• molar is added to refer to a quantity which is expressed per unit amount of substance (such as molar volume
• There are also physical quantities that can be classified as neither extensive nor intensive, for example angular momentum, area, force,
length, and time.