UNITS AND DIMENSIONS PHYSICAL QUANTITIES All quantities that can be measured are called physical quantities. eg. time, length, mass, force, work done, etc. In physics we study about physical quantities and their inter relationships. MEASUREMENT Measurement is the comparison of a quantity with a standard of the same physical quantity. UNITS All physical quantities are measured wert. standard magnitude of the same physical quantity and these standards are called UNITS. eg. second, meter, kilogram, etc. So the four basic properties of units are:— lL. They must be well defined. 2. Theyshould be easily available and reproducible. 3. Theyshould be invariable e.g. step as a unit of length is not invariable. 4. They should beaccepted toall SET OF FUNDAMENTAL QUANTITIES Asset of physical quanties which are completely independent of cach other and all other physical quantities can be expressed in terms of these physical quantities is Called Set of Fundamental Quantities. Physical Quantity“ Units(SI) Units(CGs) Notations Mass kg (kilogram) g M Length m(meter) an L Time (second) s T Temperature K (kelvin) °c 8 Current A (ampere) A lorA Luminousintensity ed (candela) = ed Amountof substance mal - mai Physical Quantity Definition (SI Unit) : : . 1 Length (m) The distance travelled by ight in vacuum in 3595-455 second is called | metre. Mass (kg) The mass ofa cylinder made of platinum-iridium alloy kept at International Bureau of Weights and Measures is de- fined as | kilogram. Time(s) ‘The second is the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods ofthe radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the cesium- 133 atom. Electric Curent (A) ‘equal currents are maintained in the wo parallel infinitely ong wires of negligible cross-section, so that the force between them —is2* 107 newton permetre ofthe wites,thecurretin Wi any of the wires is called | Ampere. ‘Thermodynamic Temperature(K) The fraction = of the thermodynamic temperature of triple point of water i called | Kelvin Luminous intensity (cd) 1 candela isthe luminous intensity of a blackbody of lo. surface area Gop, 995" Placed at the temperature of freezing platinum and ata pressure of 101,325 Nim, in the direction perpendicular to its surface. ‘Amount of substance (mole) ‘The mole is the amount ofa substance that contains as many elementary entities as there are numbéfof atoms in 0.012 kg of carbon-12. There are two supplementary units too: 1. Planeangle (radian) ‘angle=are /radius Om fie 2. _ Solid Angle (steradian) DERIVED,PHYSICAL .QUANTITIES The physical quantities those can be expressed in terms of fundamental physical quantities are called derived physical quantities.eg. speed = distanceltime. DIMENSIONS AND DIMENSIONAL FORMULA All the physical quantities of interest can be derived from the base quantitics. DIMENSION ‘The power (exponent) of base quantity that enters into the expression of a physical quantity is called the dimension of the quantity in that base. ‘To make itclear, consider the physical quantity "force". Force = mass * acceleration length /time time = mass * length x (time)? So the dimensions of force are | in mass, | in length and~2 in time. Thus [Force] = MLT? = mass xSimilarly energy has dimensional formula given by [Energy ]= ML?T? ‘Le. energy has dimensions, | in mass, 2 in length and -2 in time. Such an expression fora physical quantity in terms of base quantities is called dimensional formula, DIMENSIONAL EQUATION ‘Whenever the dimension ofa physical quantity is equated with its dimensional formula, we get a dimen- sional equation. PRINCIPLE OF HOMOGENEITY According to this principle, we can multiply physical quantities with same or different dimensional formu lae at our convenience, however no such rule applies to addition and substraction, where only like physical quantites can only be added or substracted. e.g. If P+ Q => P & Q both represent same physical quantity. Mlustration = Calculate the dimensional formula of energy from the equation E =" seme. Sol. Dimensionally, E = mass * (velocity) Since > isa number ‘and has no dimensions LY or, [E] = M * (*) =MET?. Mustration : Kinetic energy of a particle moving along elliptical trajectory is given by K = as? where s is the distance travelled by the particle. Determine dimensions of a. Sol. K=as° (MLUT?) fal= ey [a] = M! 1° fa} = (MT) Mlustration : The position of a particle at time 1, is given by the equation, x(t) = a — e%), where v, isa constant and a> 0. The dimensions of v, & a are respectively. AMUT &T! (B)ML'T! &T (COMUT!&T! (D)M'L'T! <? Sot. [Vo = [x] [a] ¢ (a) (y= ML = MT! MPL! Mustration : The distance covered by a particle in time tis going by x = a + bt + ct + dt! ; find the dimensions ofa, b, cand d.Sol. The equation contains five terms. All of them should have the same dimensions, Since [x] = length, each of the remaining four must have the dimension of length. Thus, or fb] = orc] = and [dt] =L or dj = LT# USES OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS @ —_ TOCONVERT UNITS OF A PHYSICAL QUANTITY FROM ONE SYSTEM OF UNITS TO ANOTHER: It is based on the fact that, Numerical value * unit = constant Soon changing unit, numerical value will also gets changed. Ifn, and n, are the numerical values of a given physical quantity and u, and u, be the units respectively in two different’systems of units, then nu, =u, Mlustration Young's modulus’of steel is 19.* 10! N/m?. Express it in dyne/em?. Here dyne isthe CGS unit of force. Sol. The unit of Young's modulus is N/m? , vos of ee This suggest that it has dimensions Of T55tan ce)? * F 2 Thus, (¥] = ] _ MIT”. ML*T?. Nim? is in Sl units, So, 1 N/m? = (1 kg)(Imy! (1s)? and 1 dyne/em? = (Igi{lemy" (Isy? IN/m? Ikg) (1m)! (1s)? 1 $0, Tayne/em? ( Ig (2) (#) = 1000 * Tog x1 = 10 or, — 1 Ni? = 10 dynefem? or, 19 x 10! Nim? = 19 x 10!' dyne/m?. Mlustration : The dimensional formula for viscosity of fluids is, n-MILIT! Find how many poise (CGS unit of viscosity) is equal to | poiseuille (SI unit of viscosity).Mlustratio: @ n=M LT 1.CGS units = gem's! I Sl units = kgm! s! = 1000 g (100 cemy! 5" = gem! s! Thus, | Poiseuilli = 10 poise A calorie is a unit of heat or energy and it equals about 4.2 J, where 1J = I kg mr'/s?. Suppose we employ a system of units in which the unit of mass equals akg, the unit of length equals B metre, the unit of time is ysecond. Show that a calorie has a magnitude 4.2 a'B*y in terms of the new units. Teal = 4.2 kg m' New system n,=? ysecond Dimensional formula of energy. is [ML’T#} Comparing with [M*L'T], we find that a = J, b = 2, ¢=-2 Tel] -ol taal oom TOCHECK THE SIONAL CORRECTNESS OFA GIVEN PHYSICAL RELATION: Itis based on principle of homogeneity, which states that a given physical relation is dimensionally cor- rect if the dimensions of the various terms on cither side of the relation are the same. (i) Powers are dimensionless sin®, *,,cos6, log® gives dimensionless value and in above expression 0 is dimensionless (ii) We can add or subtract quantity having same dimensions. Mlustration : Let us check the dimensional correctness of the relation v = u + at. Here ‘w'represents the initial velocity, ‘represents the final velocity ‘athe uniform acceleration and ‘t’ the time. Dimensional formula of ‘u’is [(M'LT'] Dimensional formula of 'v’ is [(M'LT"] Dimensional formula of ‘at’ is [M°LT?][T] = [M°LT']Here dimensions of every term in the given physical relation are the same, hence the given physi- cal relation is dimensionally correct. Mlustration : Let us check the dimensional correctness of the relation 1 x=u+ sar 2 Here ‘represents the initial velocity. ‘a’ the uniform acceleration, 'x' the displacement and ‘1 the time. Sol. fx} =L ._ length [ut] = velocity * time = TE x time = L time bel L G 2 is a number hence dimentionless) = [at"] = accelecration * (time)? rele lengthlin € img)? = time “timer time ftimey’ = Thus, the equation is correct as far as the dimensions are concerned. (II) ~=TOESTABLISH A RELATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT PHYSICAL QUANTITIES : If we know the various factors on which a physical quantity dépends, then we can find a relation among different factors by using principle ofhomogencity. Mlustration : Let us‘find an expression for the time period t of a simple pendulum. The time period t may depend.upon (i) mass m of the bob of the pendulum, (ii) length € of pendulum, (iti) acceleration due to gravity g at the place where the pendulum is suspended. Sol Let (i) 1m" ftce ii) tx g* Combining all the three factors, we get to m*eg® or t= Km*?"g* where K is a dimensionless constant of proportionality. Writing down the dimensions on either side of equation (i), we get ET] = [MY[LY[LT?]" = [MELT *, Comparing dimensions, a = 0,b+¢=0,-2e=1 -12,b=12 a=0,c t From equation (i) t= Km"? or v=K(4) Mlustration : When a solid sphere moves through a liquid, the liquid opposes the motion with a force F. The magnitude of F depends on the coefficient of viscosity 17 of the liquid, the radius r of the sphere and the speed v ofthe sphere. Assuming that Fis proportional to different powers of these quantities, guess a formula for F using the method of dimensions.Sol. Suppose the formula is F = k rp v ? Ly Then, MLT? = [ML" T1]*L* (¢) =MiLatbee pane Equating the exponents of M, L and T from both sides, a=l -atb+ce=1 -a-c Solving these, a = 1, b= Lande = 1 Thus, the formula for F is F = knrv. Mustration = If P is the pressure of a gas and pis its density, then find the dimension of velocity in terms of P. and p. (A) PI2p 2 (B) Pi2p!2 (© P2927 @) Pp"? [Sol. va P* gh v= kPt ph (LT"] = [ML"'T7]* [ML-4]* (Comparing dimensions) 1 1 =4, p=-4 = pig a-> 2 = MW Lee), UNITS AND DIMENSIONS OF SOME PHYSICAL QUANTITIES ‘Quantity ‘S1 Unit Dimensional Formula Density, kg/m’ Force Newton (N) Work Joule (JX=N-m) Energy Joule() Power Watt (W)(=I/s) Momentum kg-m/s Gravitational constant Nem’ikg? Angular velocity radian/s Angular acceleration radian/s* Angularmomentum kg-m'/s MLYT Moment of inertia kgm ML? Torque Nem ML? ‘Angular frequency radians T! Frequency Hertz (Hz) qT Period s T Surface Tension Nim Mr Coefficient of viscosity Nesim? MALT Win? MTTemperature Specific heat capacity Stefan’s constant Heat ‘Thermal conductivity Current density Electrical conductivity Electric dipole moment Electric field Potential (voltage) Electric flux Capacitance Electromotive force Resistance Permittivity of space Permeability of space Magnetic field Magnetic flux Magnetic dipole moment Inductance kelvin(K) Ikg-K) Wwi(m'-K') J Wwim-K) Aim 1/Q-m{=mbo/m) cm Vim(=NIC) volt(V)(=9C) Vem farad (F) volt(V) ohm (2) C/N-w (=F/m) NAP Tesla (T) (= Whim’) Weber (Wb) New Henry (H) kK LyTK MIT’KS MLYT? MUT’K ve PTYML) ur MLIT" MLYIT? MLYIT? PTL? MLYIT? MLYFT? PT/Mv MLUPT? MAT? MLYAT? I? MLYET? LIMITATIONS OF DIMENSIONAL*ANALYSIS (i) Dimension does not depend.on the magnitude. Duc to this reason the equation x = ut + at? is also dimensionally correct. Thus, a dimensionally correct equation need not be actually correct. (ii) Thenumerical constants having no dimensions connot be deduced by the method of dimensions. (iii) This method is applicable only if relation is of product type. It fails in the case of exponential and trigonometric relations. SI Prefixes ; The magnitudes of physical quantites vary over a wide range. The mass ofan electron is 9.1 « 10" kg and that of our earth is about 6 « 10 kg. Standard prefixes for certain power of 10. Table shows these prefixes : Power of 10 12 9 6 REP EQREE Symbol sr gO 43 m +4 micro i -9 nano n -12 pico P -15 fernto f ORDER-OF MAGNITUDE CALCULATIONS If value of phycal quantity P satisfy 0.5x10*

a=1 Matching dimensions of L => 2a+b=0 => b=-2 Matching dimensions of T => -2a~b+e=-2=>e=~2 <: [surface tension] = EV2T? Given that In (a/pB) = az/K,,0 where p is pressure, zis distance, K, is Boltzmann constant and 0 is temperature, the dimensions of B are (useful formula Energy = Ky x tempefature) (A) L°M? T° (B)L'M*"T? (C*) L? M°T?. (D) Ls M' T? als) "pb [az] =[k,0) Also a] =[pB] (PBz)=[kg8) 9) MET?K™ =Se MET KK ie Boy mer -Y The S]and CGS units of energy are joule and erg respectively. How many ergs are equal to one joule? Dimensionally, Energy = mass * (velocity? Thus, | joule =(1 kg) (1 m)?(1 8)? and I erg = (1 g) (1 em} (1s)? vest (8) a) (2) _ (10008) ( 1000cm “ig Tom ) = 1000 x 10000 = 107, So | joule 107 erg.12 Q6 ‘Young's modulus of steel is 1910! N/m?. Express it in dyne/cm?, Here dyne is the CGS unit of force. ‘The unit of Young's modulus is N/m?_ . . . Force This suggests that it has dimensions of (7-24) - F 2 Tos. v1-[ | wR ML IT, Nis isin Slunits. So, 1 Nim? = (Ikg) (Im)! (1s)? = (1g) (lem (1s)? (“#)-(72) () 1 = 1000 * 795 «1 = 10 or, 1 Nis? = 10 dyne/em? or, 19 * 10! Nim? = 19 10" dyne/em? Ifvelcoity, ime and force were chosen as basic quantities, find the dimensions of mass. Dimensionally, Force = mass * acceleration’ where P is pressure, x is distance and tis time are => Pbx=a- => [Pbx]=[a]=[T?]