Dimensions & Dimensional Analysis – DPP

1. Calculate the dimensions of the following quantities:

(a)Volume (b)Speed (c)Acceleration (d)Density

2. Pick out the units that have a different dimension to the other three:

(a)kg m2 s−2 (b)g mm2 s−2 (c)kg2 m s−2 (d) mgcm2 s−2

3. Considering X and Y as Measures of distances find the dimensional formula of k in y = x + ½kx3

4. Hooke’s law states that the force, F, in a spring extended by a length x is given by F = − kx. From
Newton’s second law F = ma, where m is the mass and a is the acceleration, choose the
dimension of the spring constant k:
(a)MT− 2 (b)MT2 (c)ML−2T−2 (d)ML2T2
5. Check that the dimensions of each side of the equations below agree:
(a)The volume V of a cylinder of radius r and height h: V = πr2h.
(b)v = u + at for an object with initial speed u, (constant) acceleration a and final speed v after a
time t.
(c)E = mc2, where E is energy, m is mass and c is the speed of light.
(d)c = λν, where c is the speed of light, λ is the wavelength and ν is the frequency.
6. If the number of radioactive atoms is found to be given as a function of time t by:
N(t) = N0 exp (−kt) - where N0 is the number of atoms at time t = 0, what is the dimension of k?
(a)LT (b)log (T) (c)T (d)T−1
7. Determine the dimensions of the expressions below:
(a)In a Young’s slits experiment the angle 𝜃 of constructive interference is related to the
wavelength λ of the light, the spacing of the slits d and the order number n by dsin ( θ ) = nλ.
Show that this is dimensionally correct.
(b)The Boltzmann distribution in thermodynamics involves the
factor exp (−E/(kT)) where E represents energy, T is the temperature and k is Boltzmann’s
constant. Find the dimensions of k.
8. Use dimensional analysis to see which of the following expressions is allowed if P is a
pressure, t is a time, m is a mass, r is a distance, v is a velocity and T is a temperature:
(a) log ( Pt/mr ) (b) log ( Prt2 /m ) (c) log (Pr2/mt2) (d) log (Pr/mtT)
9. Newton’s law of gravity states that the gravitational force between two masses, m1 and m2,
separated by a distance r is given by F = Gm1m2 ⁄ r2. What are the dimensions of G?
(a)M−1L3T−2 (b)M2L−2 (c)MLT−2 (d)M−1 L−3 T2
10. The coefficient of thermal expansion, α, of a metal bar of length ℓ whose length expands by Δℓ
when its temperature increases by ΔT is given by Δℓ = α ℓ ΔT. What are the dimensions of α?
(a)K−1 (b)L2T−1 (c)L2T−1 (d)L−2K−1
11. The position of a mass at the end of a spring is found as a function of time to be Asin(ωt). What
are the dimensions of A and ω?
(a)L & T (b)L & Dimensionless (c)sin (L) & T−1 (d)L & T−1
12. Find the Dimensional Formula for the following: G, S,k, 𝜂, Q,V,C,R
𝑚1 𝑚2 𝜌𝑟𝑔ℎ 𝐴(𝜃2 −𝜃1 )𝑡 𝑣2 − 𝑣1
A)F= G 𝑟2
B) S = 2
𝐶)Q=k 𝑑
D)F= - 𝜂A 𝑥
2 − 𝑥1

E) Q=It F)Q=CV G) V=IR I) U=VIt

13. The distance covered by a particle in time t is given by x=a+bt+ct 2 + dt 3

Find the dimensions of a,b,c and d.
14. If the centripetal force is of the form 𝑚𝑎 𝑣 𝑏 𝑟 𝑐 , Find the values of a,b and c
15. When a solid sphere moves through a liquid, the liquid opposes the motion with a force F. The
magnitude of F depends on the co-efficient of viscosity η of the liquid, the radius r of the sphere
and the speed v of the sphere. Derive the Formula for F using method of dimensions.
16. The heat produced in a wire carrying an electric current depends on the current, the resistance
and the time. Assuming that dependence is of the product of powers type, derive the relation
between the quantities using dimensional analysis. Also find the Dimensional formula of
Resistance. Heat is a form of Energy.
17. Find the dimensions of
A) Angular speed ω B)Angular acceleration 𝛼 C)Torque Γ D)Moment of Inertia I
Given
𝜃2 −𝜃1 ω −ω
ω= 𝑡2 −𝑡1
; 𝛼 = 𝑡2 −𝑡 1; Γ=Fr and I=m𝑟 2
2 1
18. Find the dimensions of
A. Electric Field E B. Magnetic Field B C. Magnetic Permeability 𝜇𝑜
Given
𝑜 𝜇 𝐼
F=qE ; F=qvB; B=2𝜋𝑎 Where F is force, q is charge, v is speed, I is current and a is distance.
19. Find the Dimensions of
A. electric dipole moment p B.Magnetic dipole moment M
Given
P=q.d ; M=IA
Where d is the distance, A is the Area, q is the charge and I is the current
20. Find the dimensions of Planck’s Constant h from the equation E=h𝜈 where E is Energy and 𝜈 is
frequency.
21. Take Force, Length and Time to be the Fundamental Quantities and Find the Dimensions of
A. Density B. Pressure C. Momentum D. Energy
22. Find the dimensions of
A) Specific Heat Capacity B) The coefficient of Linear Expansion 𝛼 C) The gas constant R
Given Q=mc(𝑇2 − 𝑇1) ; 𝑙𝑡 = 𝑙0 [1 + 𝛼(𝑇2 − 𝑇1) ] ;PV=nrT
23. Express the power of a 100 watt bulb in CGS unit
24. The surface tension of water is 72 dyne/cm. Convert it into SI units.
25. The Kinetic Energy of a rotating body depends on its moment of inertia I and its angular speed ω.
Assuming the relation to be K=k𝐼 𝑎 ω𝑏 where k is a dimensionless constant.Find a and b.
26. Theory of relativity states that mass ‘m’ can be converted into energy ‘E’ such that E is
proportional to certain powers of m and the speed of light c. Using Dimensional Analysis find the
relation between the quantities.
27. Let I be the current through a conductor of resistance R having a potential difference V across its
ends. According to Ohms Law, product of 2 of these quantities equals the third. Obtain Ohm’s
Law using Dimensional Analysis.
28. Dimensional Formula of R = M𝐿2 𝐼 −2 𝑇 −3; Dimensional Formula of V = M𝐿2 𝐼 −1 𝑇 −3
29. The frequency of vibration of a string depends on the length L between the nodes, the tension F
in the string, and its mass per unit length m. Derive the expression for its frequency using
dimensional analysis
30. Check the equations for Dimensional Correctness
2𝑆 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑃 𝜋𝑃𝑟 4 𝑡 1 𝑚𝑔𝑙
A) h = 𝜌𝑟𝑔
B) v=√𝜌 C) V= 8𝜂𝑙
D) ν = 2𝜋 √ 𝐼
Where h=height, S= surface tension, 𝜌=density, P=Pressure, V = Volume, 𝜂 = coefficient of
viscosity, ν = frequency and I = Moment of Inertia