Dimensional analysis;NOTES

What are Dimensions?

Dimensions of a physical quantity are the powers to which the fundamental quantities are raised to obtain that
quantity. These dimensions are independent of the numerical multiples and constants and all the quantities in
the world can be expressed as a function of the fundamental dimensions given as follows.

Dimensional Formula;

The expression showing the powers to which the fundamental units are to be raised to obtain one unit of a
derived quantity is called the dimensional formula of that quantity.
If Q is the unit of a derived quantity represented by Q = MaLbTc, then MaLbTcis called dimensional formula and
the exponents a, b and, c are called the dimensions.Ex.

Dimensional Formulae has the following advantages:

I)To check whether a formula is dimensionally correct or not
II)To convert units from one system to another
III)To derive relations between physical quantities based on their interdependence
IV)Dimensional Formulae explain how every physical quantity can be expressed in terms of fundamental
units

Besides having many advantages, dimensional formulae have some limitations too. They are as follows:

1. Dimensionless quantities cannot be determined by this method. Constant of proportionality cannot be

determined by this method. They can be found either by experiment (or) by theory.
2. This method is not applicable to trigonometric, logarithmic and exponential functions. 3. In the case of
physical quantities which are dependent upon more than three physical quantities, this method will be
difficult.
4. In some cases, the constant of proportionality also possesses dimensions. In such cases, we cannot use
this system.
5. If one side of the equation contains addition or subtraction of physical quantities, we cannot use this
method to derive the expression.

Dimensional Equations;
The equations obtained when we equal a physical quantity with its dimensional formulae are called
Dimensional Equations. The dimensional equation helps in expressing physical quantities in terms of the base
or fundamental quantities.
Suppose there’s a physical quantity Y which depends on base quantities M (mass), L (Length) and T (Time) and
their raised powers are a, b and c, then dimensional formulae of physical quantity [Q] can be expressed as
[Q] = [MaLbTc]
Examples; Dimensional equation of velocity ‘v’ is given as [v] = [M0LT-1]
Dimensional equation of energy ‘E’ is give as [E] = [ML2T-2]

Dimensional Constants;
The physical quantities which have dimensions and have a fixed value are called dimensional constants. e.g.:
Gravitational constant (G), Planck’s constant (h), Universal gas constant (R), Velocity of light in a vacuum (C),
etc.
Dimensionless quantities;
Dimensionless quantities are those which do not have dimensions but have a fixed value. ∙ Dimensionless
quantities without units: Pure numbers, π, e, sin θ, cos θ, tan θ etc. ∙ Dimensionless quantities with units:
Angular displacement – radian, Joule’s constant – joule/calorie, etc
Dimensional variables;
Dimensional variables are those physical quantities which have dimensions and do not have a fixed value. e.g.:
velocity, acceleration, force, work, power, etc.
Dimensionless variables;
Dimensionless variables are those physical quantities which do not have dimensions and do not have a fixed
value. For example Specific gravity, refractive index, the coefficient of friction, Poisson’s ratio, etc.

List of important dimensional formulae;

Physical quantity Unit Dimensiona
l formula

Acceleration or acceleration due ms–2 LT–2

to gravity

Angle (arc/radius) rad MoLoTo

Angular displacement rad MoloTo

Angular frequency (angular rads–1 T–1

displacement/time)

Angular impulse (torque x time) Nms ML2T–1

Angular momentum (Iω) kgm2s–1 ML2T–1

Angular velocity (angle/time) rads–1 T–1

Area (length x breadth) m2 L2

Boltzmann’s constant JK–1 ML2T–2K–1

Bulk modulus (VΔP/ΔV) Nm–2, Pa M1L–1T–2

Calorific value Jkg–1 L2T–2

Coefficient of linear or areal o

C–1 or K–1 K–1
or volume expansion

Coefficient of surface tension Nm–1 or Jm–2 MT–2

(force/length)

Coefficient of thermal conductivity Wm–1K–1 MLT–3k–1

Coefficient of viscosity (η= poise ML–1T–1

F/Adv/dx/)

Compressibility (1/bulk modulus) Pa–1, m2N–2 M–1LT2

Density (mass / volume) kgm–3 ML–3

Displacement, wavelength, m L
focal length

Electric capacitance farad M–1L–2T4I2

(charge/potential)

Electric conductance (1/resistance) Ohm–1 or mho M–1L–2T3I2

or siemen

Electric conductivity (1/resistivity) siemen/metre M–1L–3T3I2

or Sm–1

Electric charge or quantity of coulomb IT

electric charge (current x time)
 Electric current ampere I

Electric dipole moment Cm LTI

(charge x distance)

Electric field strength or NC–1, Vm–1 MLT–3I–1

Intensity of electric field
(force/charge)

Electric resistance (R = V/I) ohm ML2T–3I–2

Emf (or) electric potential volt ML2T–3I–1

(work/charge)

Energy (capacity to do work) joule ML2T–2

Energy density (energy/volume) Jm–3 ML–1T–2

Entropy (ΔQ/T) JK–1 ML2T–2K–1

Force (mass x acceleration) newton (N) MLT–2

Force constant or spring Nm–1 MT–2

constant (force/extension)

Frequency (1/period) Hz T–1

Gravitational potential (work/mass) Jkg–1 L2T–2

Heat (energy) J or calorie ML2T–2

Illumination (Illuminance) lux MT–3

(lumen/metre2)

Impulse (force x time) Ns or kgms–1 MLT–1

Inductance (L) (L = henry (H) ML2T–2I–2

Energy/current2) or
coefficient of self-induction

Intensity of gravitational Nkg–1 L1T–2

field (F/m)

Intensity of magnetization (I) Am–1 L–1I

Joule’s constant or Jcal–1 MoLoTo

mechanical equivalent of
heat

Latent heat (Q = mL) Jkg–1 MoL2T–2

Linear density (mass per kgm–1 ML–1

unit length)

Luminous flux lumen or (Js–1) ML2T–3

Magnetic dipole moment Am2 L2I

Magnetic flux (magnetic weber (Wb) ML2T–2I–1

induction x area)

Magnetic induction (B =F /I l) NI–1m–1 or T MT–2I–1

Magnetic pole strength Am LI

(unit: ampere–meter)
Modulus of elasticity (stress/strain) Nm–2, Pa ML–1T–2

Moment of inertia (mass x radius2) kgm2 ML2

Momentum (mass x velocity) kgms–1 MLT–1

Planck’s constant Js ML2T–1

(energy/frequency)

Poisson’s ratio (lateral –– MoLoTo

strain/longitudinal strain)

Power (work/time) Js–1 or watt (W) ML2T–3

Pressure (force/area) Nm–2 or Pa ML–1T–2

Pressure head m MoLTo

Radioactivity disintegrations MoLoT–1

per second

Ratio of specific heats –– MoLoTo

Refractive index(=c/v) –– MoLoTo

Resistivity or specific resistance Ωm ML3T–3I–2

Specific conductance or siemen/metre M–1L–3T3I2

conductivity (1/specific or Sm–1
resistance)

Specific entropy (1/entropy) KJ–1 M–1L–2T2k

Specific gravity (density of the –– MoLoTo

substance/density of water at
40C)

Specific heat (Q = msΔt) Jkg–1K–1 MoL2T–2K–1

Specific volume (1/density) m3kg–1 M–1L3

Speed (distance/time) ms–1 LT–1

Stefan’s constant Wm–2K–4 MLoT–3k–4

(heat energy
/area x time x temperature4 ).

Strain (change in –– MoLoTo

dimension/original dimension)

Stress (restoring force/area) Nm–2 or Pa ML–1T–2

Surface energy density Jm–2 MT–2

(energy/area)

Temperature o
C or K MoLoTok

Temperature gradient o
Cm–1 MoL–1Tok
(change in temperature /distance)

Thermal capacity (mass x Jθ–1 ML2T–2k–1

specific heat)
 Time period second T

Torque or moment of force (force Nm ML2T–2

x distance)

Universal gas constant Jmol–1K–1 ML2T–2k–1

(work/temperature)

Universal gravitational constant Nm2kg–2 M–1L3T–2

(G =Fr2/m1m2)

Velocity (displacement/time) ms–1 LT–1

Velocity gradient (dv/dx) s–1 T–1

Volume (length x breadth x height) m3 L3

Water equivalent kg MLoTo

Work (force x displacement) J ML2T–2

Applications of Dimensional Analysis The Dimensional formulas are used to:

1. To Convert the units of a physical quantity from one system to another system.
2. To check the dimensional consistency or the correctness of a physical equation.
3. To derive a relationship between physical quantities.

To Convert the units of a physical quantity from one system to another system; A physical quantity Q has
dimensions a, b and c in length (L), mass (M) and time (T), respectively and n1 is its numerical value in a
system in which the fundamental units are L1, M1 and T1 and n2 is the numerical value in another system in
which the fundamental units are L2, M2 and T2, respectively then

Deducing the Relation among Physical Quantities;

Dimensional analysis is also used to deduce the relation between two or more physical quantities. If we know
the degree of dependence of a physical quantity on another, that is the degree to which one quantity changes
with the change in another, we can use the principle of consistency of two expressions to find the equation
relating these two quantities. This can be understood more easily through the following illustration.
Ex. Derive the formula for centripetal force F acting on a particle moving in a uniform circle.
As we know, the centripetal force acting on a particle moving in a uniform circle depends on its mass m,
velocity v and the radius r of the circle. Hence, we can write
Hence,
F = ma vbrc
Writing the dimensions of these quantities,

As per the principle of homogeneity, we can write,

a = 1, b + c = 1 and b = 2
Solving the above three equations we get, a = 1, b = 2 and c = -1.
Hence, the centripetal force F can be represented as,

Checking the Dimensional Consistency of equations; Principle of homogeneity of dimensions; It states that a
physical equation will be dimensionally correct if the dimensions of all the terms occurring on both sides of the
equation are the same that is only those physical quantities can be added compared are subtracted which
have the same dimensions.

To check the correctness of a physical equation we make use of principle of homogeneity of dimensions if the
dimensions of all the terms on both the sides of the equation are the same then the equation is dimensionally
correct. Ex.

Let us consider the equation given below,

The dimensions of the LHS and the RHS are calculated

As we can see the dimensions of the LHS and the RHS are the same, hence, the equation is consistent.

Ex.2 Find the dimensions of a & b.

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