PHYSICS & MEASUREMENTS

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. What is the unit vector perpendicular to the following vectors

2iˆ  2jˆ  kˆ and 6iˆ  3ˆj  2kˆ
ˆi  10 ˆj  18kˆ ˆi  10 ˆj  18kˆ ˆi  10 ˆj  18kˆ ˆi  10 ˆj  18kˆ
(a) 5 17
(b) 5 17
(c) 5 17
(d) 5 17
 
A B
Explanation: n̂   
(A  B)
ˆi ˆj kˆ
 
A  B  2 2 1  ˆi(4  3)  ˆj(4  6)  k(
ˆ 6  12)  i  10 ˆj  18kˆ
6 3 2
 
| A  B |  5 17
ˆi  10ˆj  18kˆ
n̂ 
5 17

 (c)

2. Figure shows ABCDEF as a regular hexagon. What is the value

of 
    
AB  AC  AD  AE  AF

E D

F C
O

A B

(a) 
AO (b) 
2AO

(c) 
4AO (d) 
6AO

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Explanation:
    
AB  AC  AD  AE  AF
              
 AB  (AB  BC)  (AB  BC  CD)  (AB  BC  CD  DE)  (AB  BC  CD  DE  EF)
 
 AB  DE ,  
BC  EF ,  
CD  FA

     

AB  AC  AD  AE  AF =     
5AB  4BC  3CD  2DE  EF
    
 3AB  3BC  3CD  3AD  6AO

 (d)

3. The sum of the magnitudes of two forces acting at point is

18 and the magnitude of their resultant is 12. If the resultant
is at 90° with the force of smaller magnitude, what are the,
magnitudes of forces
(a) 12, 5 (b) 14, 4
(c) 5, 13 (d) 10, 8
Explanation:
Let magnitude of force A is smaller than magnitude of force B
A  B  18
 12
A  B2  2AB cos 
2

tan90 
Bsin 
A  cos 
 A  Bcos   0  cos    BA
 A
A 2  B2  2AB     12
 B

A 2  B2  2A 2  12  B2  A 2  12

We get, A  5, B  13

 (c)

2
 1
4. Value of I   (2x  1)2 dx is
0

(a) 26 (b) 13
(c) 132 (d) 133
Explanation:
1
1 1
I   (2x  1)2 dx  (2x  1)2 
0
6 0

1 26 13
 27  1  
6 6 3

 (d)

dy
5. If y  sin3 (3x3 ),
dx
will be
(a) cos (3x) 3 3
(b) sin3 (9x 2 )

(c) 27x sin (3x )cos(3x )

2 2 3 3
(d) 3 sin2 (3x 3 )cos(3x 3 )

Explanation:
y  sin3 (3x 3 )

dy d{sin3 (3x 3 )} d{sin(3x 3 )} d{3x 3 }

  
dx sin(3x 3 ) d(3x 3 ) dx

 3 sin2 (3x 3 )  cos 3x 3  9x 2

 27x 2 sin2 (3x 3 )cos(3x 3 )

 (c)

6. The forces acting on a block placed on a smooth inclined

plane of angle  is as shown. Net force acting on the block
down the incline is
F
m

 mg

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 (a) mg sin   F cos  (b) mg sin   F cos 

(c) mg cos   F sin  (d) mg cos   F sin 

Explanation:
F sin 
F cos 
m
mg sin 
 mg cos 

Net force down the incline

= mg sin   F cos 

 (b)

7. Position time curve of a particle moving along x-axis is as

shown in x-t curve. The position of particle at t = 4s will be,
x (m)

60°
t(s)
4

(a) 4 3m (b) 2 3m

(c) 2m (d) 1 m

Explanation:
x
tan60 
t

x  4 3 m

 (a)

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8. Let A  A cos ˆi  A sin ˆj be any vector another vector 
B which is
perpendicular to A can be expressed as
(a) Bcos ˆi  B sin ˆj (b) B sin ˆi  B cos ˆj
(c) Bcos ˆi  B sin ˆj (d) B sin ˆi  Bcos ˆj
Explanation:

Let B  B ˆi  B ˆj  B kˆ is perpendicular to A
x j z

  
A . B0

 A x B x  A y B y  A zB z  0

 (b)

9. Of the following quantities, which one has dimensions

different from the remaining three?
(a) energy per unit volume
(b) force per unit area
(c) product of voltage and charge per unit volume
(d) angular momentum per unit mass
Explanation:
2 2
[energy per unit volume] = MLLT  ML T 3
1 2

= ML–1T –2
2
[force per unit area]= MLT
L 2

[product of voltage and charge per unit volume] = ML–1T–2

[angular momentum per unit mass]= ML2 T–1 L. M–1 = L2T–
1

 (d)

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10. When 2.0347 is added to 15.7, the sum is
(a) 17.7347 (b) 17.734
(c) 17.73 (d) 17.7
Explanation:
Since, the least number of places after decimal is 1, the final
result will have same. On rounding off 17.7347 to one place
after decimal it becomes 17.7
 (d)

11. A body travels uniformly a distance of 13.8  0.2 m in a time

 4.0  0.3  s. The velocity of the body within error limits is
(a) 3.45  0.2 ms 1
(b) 3.45  0.3 ms
1

(c) 3.45  0.4 ms 1

(d) 3.45  0.5 ms
1

Explanation:
Here S  13.8  0.2  cm ; t   4.0  0.3  s

 V
13.8
4.0
 3.45 ms1

Also, V
V
 S t 
 
 0.2 0.3 
       0.0895
 S t   13.8 4.0 

 V   0.3 (rounding off to one place of decimal)

V   3.45  0.3  ms1

 (b)

12. The length and breadth of a metal sheet are 3.124 m and
3.002 m respectively. The area of this sheet up to four correct
significant figures is
(a) 9.376 m2 (b) 9.378 m2
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 (c) 9.379 m2 (d) 9.388 m2
Explanation:
Given length (l) = 3.124 m and breadth (b) = 3.002 m.
We know that area of the sheet
 A   l  b  3.124  3.002  9.378248m .
2

Since both length and breadth have four significant figures,

therefore area of the sheet after rounding off to four
significant figures is 9.378 m2
 (b)

13. The value of universal gravitation constant G = 6.67  10-11

N m2 kg-2. The value of G in units of g-1 cm3 s-2 is
(a) 6.67  10-8 (b) 6.67  10-7
(c) 6.67  10-9 (d) 6.67  10-10
Explanation:
G =6.67  10-11 Nm2 kg-2
= 6.67  10-11 (kg ms-2)  (m2)  (kg)-2
= 6.67  10-11 [ (1000 g )  (100 cm)  s-2]  (100 cm)2
(1000 g)-2
= 6.67  10-11 105 10410-6 g-1 cm3 s-2
= 6.67  10-8 g-1 cm3 s-2
 (a)

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14. If energy (E), momentum (P) and force (F) are chosen as
fundamental units. The dimensions of mass in new system is
(a) E -1 P3 (b) E -1 P2
(c) E -2 P2 (d) none of these
Explanation:
The dimensions of E, P and F in terms of M, L and T are
[E] = ML2T-2
[P] = MLT-1
[F] = MLT-2
Let [M]= EaPb FC
or [M] = (ML2T-2)a (MLT-1)b (MLT-2)C
Equating the powers of M, L and T, we have a = -1, b = 2
and c = 0
Hence [M] = E-1 P2
 (b)

 n1
15. Number of particles is given by n  D nx 2
 x1
crossing a unit area
2

perpendicular to X-axis in unit time, where n and n are 1 2

number of particles per unit volume for the value of x meant

to x and x . Find dimensions of D called as diffusion constant
2 1

(a) M LT 0
(b)
2
MLT 0 2 4

(b) M LT 0
(d)
3
M LT0 2 1

Explanation: (d)
[n] = Number of particles crossing a unit area in unit time
= [L T ]
2 1

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 n2   n1  number of particles per unit volume = [L–3]

[x 2 ]  [x1 ] = positions
 D  [n]n x n x   
L2T 1   [L]
2 1

[L3 ]
= L T
2 1

2 1

16. If the dimensions of length are expressed as G c h ; where G,c x y z

and h are the universal gravitational constant, speed of light

and Planck's constant respectively, then
(a) x  21 , y  21 (b) x  21 , z  21
(c) 1
y ,z
2
3
2
(d) None of these
Explanation: (b)
Length Gxcyhz
L= [M L T ] [LT ] [ML T ]
1 3 2 x 1 y 2 1 z

By comparing the power of M, L and T in both sides we get

 x  z  0 , 3x  y  2z  1 and 2x  y  z  0

By solving above three equations we get

1 3 1
x  ,y   ,z 
2 2 2

17. A highly rigid cubical block A of small mass M and side L is

fixed rigidly onto another cubical block B of the same
dimensions and of low modulus of rigidity  such that the
lower face of A completely covers the upper face of B . The
lower face of B is rigidly held on a horizontal surface. A small
force F is applied perpendicular to one of the side faces of A
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 . After the force is withdrawn block A executes small
oscillations. The time period of which is given by
M
(a) 2
L
(b) 2
L
M

(c) 2
ML

(d) 2
M
L

Explanation: (d)
By substituting the dimensions of mass [M], length [L] and
coefficient of rigidity ML1T2  we get T  2
M
L
is the right
formula for time period of oscillations

18. If the constant of gravitation (G) , Planck's constant (h) and the
velocity of light (c) be chosen as fundamental units. The
dimension of the radius of gyration is
(a) h c G1/ 2
(b) h c G
3/2 1/2 1/ 2 3/ 2 1/2

(c) h c G1/2
(d) h c G
3/2 1/2 1/2 3/2 1/2

Explanation: (a)
Let radius of gyration [k]  [h] [c] [G] x y z

By substituting the dimension of [k]  [L]

[h]  [ML2T 1 ],[c]  [LT 1 ],[G]  [M1L3 T 2 ]

and by comparing the power of both sides

We can get x  1 / 2, y  3 / 2, z  1 / 2
So, dimension of radius of gyration are [h] [c] 1/2 3/2
[G]1/2

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 Z
  k
19. In the relation P

e P is pressure, Z is the distance, k is
Boltzmann constant and  is the temperature. The
dimensional formula of  will be
(a) [M L T ]
0 2 0
(b) [M L T ] 1 2 1

(c) [M L T ]
1 0
(d) [M L T ]
1 0 2 1

Explanation: (a)
In given equation, kz should be dimensionless
k [ML2T 2K 1  K]
  [ ]   [MLT 2 ]
z [L]

    [MLT 2 ]
and P

 []    
p [ML1 2
T ]
 [M0L2 T0 ] .
 

20. Column I Column II

(i) Curie (A) MLT 2

(ii) Light year (B) M

(iii) Dielectric strength (C) Dimensionless
(iv) Atomic weight (D) T
(v) Decibel (E) ML T
2 2

(F) MT 3

(G) T 1

(H) L
(I) MLT I
 3 1

(J) LT
1

Choose the correct match

(a) (i) G, (ii) H, (iii) C, (iv) B, (v) C
(b) (i) D, (ii) H, (iii) I, (iv) B, (v) G

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 (c) (i) G, (ii) H, (iii) I, (iv) B, (v) G
(d) None of the above
Explanation: (a)

21. A wire has a mass 0.3  0.003 g , radius 0.5  0.005 mm and length
6  0.06 cm . The maximum percentage error in the measurement

of its density is
(a) 1 (b) 2
(c) 3 (d) 4
Explanation: (d)
 Density,  
M M

V r L 2

 M r L
  2 
 M r L
0.003 0.005 0.06
  2 
0.3 0.5 6

 0.01  0.02  0.01  0.04

 Percentage error 


 100  0.04  100  4%

22. The dimensions of h/e (h = Planck’s constant and

e = electronic charge) are same as that of:
(A) magnetic flux (B) electric flux
(C) electric field (D) magnetic field
Explanation: (A)
Electric potential V  ddt ...(1)

(Faraday’s law)
and eV  h (photo-electric effect)

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 or V   he   ...(2)
 

From Eqs. (1) and (2) we can see that magnetic flux ( ) and
h
e
have the same dimensions.

E2
23. 0
has the dimensions (E = electric field, 0  permeability
of free space)
(A) [M L T A ] (B) [MLT ]
2 3 –2 2 –4

(C) [ML T ] 3
(D) [M L TA
–2 –1 2 –2
]

Explanation: [B]
 E2   0E2   energy / volume 
   2 
 0   0 0   (1/ speed of light) 
 energy(speed)2 
 
 volume 
 ML2 T 2L2 T 2 
 3   [MLT ]
–4

 L 

INTEGER TYPE QUESTIONS

24. The 10th term from the end in the AP 5, 8, 11, …… is 95
then the number of terms in the AP are
Explanation:
If the number of terms in the A.P. are n, then 10th term from
the end will be (n  9)th term from starting.
 5  (n  10)  3  95  n  40

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25. sin 20 sin 70   cos 20  cos 70 
Explanation:
sin 20 sin 70   cos 20 cos 70    cos(70  20 )  0

26. If a  2iˆ  3ˆj  4kˆ and b  4iˆ  3ˆj  2kˆ , find the angle between a and b .
Explanation:
We have a . b  ab cos 
 
or, cos  
a.b
ab

where,  is the angle between a and b .


Now, a . b  a b  a b  a b
x x y y z z

= 2  4 + 3  3 + 4  2 = 25

   
27. If A  2iˆ  3ˆj  7k,ˆ 
B  ˆi  2kˆ and C  ˆj  k,
ˆ find A . (B  C).

Explanation:
 
B  C  (iˆ  2k)
ˆ  ( ˆj  k)
ˆ

 ˆi  ( ˆj  k)
ˆ  2kˆ  ( ˆj  k)
ˆ

 ˆi  ˆj  ˆi  kˆ  2kˆ  ˆj  2kˆ  kˆ

 kˆ  ˆj  2iˆ  0  2iˆ  ˆj  kˆ
  
A . (B  C)  (2iˆ  3ˆj  7k).(
ˆ 2iˆ  ˆj  k)
ˆ

 (2)( 2)  ( 3)(1)  (7)(1)  0

28. Two full turns of the circular scale of a screw gauge cover a
distance of 1 mm on its main scale. The total number of
divisions on circular scale is 50. Further, it is found that
screw gauge has a zero error of – 0.03 mm. While measuring

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 the diameter of a thin wire, a student notes the main scale
reading of 3 mm and the number of circular scale divisions
in line with the main scale as 35. The diameter of the wire is
(a) 3.67 mm (b) 3.38 mm
(c) 3.32 mm (d) 3.73 mm
Explanation:
Least count = 0.5mm
50
 0.01mm

Zero error = – 0.03 mm (Given)

Measured diameter = 3 mm + 35 × 0.01 mm = 3.35 mm
Correct diameter = 3.35 – (–0.03 mm) = 3.38 mm

29. A body of mass m = 3.513 kg is moving along the x-axis

with a speed of 5.00 ms–1. The magnitude of momentum is
recorded as
Explanation:
p = mv = 3.513 × 5.00 = 17.565 kg ms–1
Since, the result cannot have more than three significant
figures
p = 17.6 kg ms–1

30. The heat dissipated in a resistance can be obtained by the

measurement of resistance, the current and time. If the
maximum error in the measurement of these quantities is 1%,
2% and 1% respectively, what is the maximum error in
determination of the dissipated heat?

15
Explanation:
Heat produced H is given by
I2Rt
H= J

 HH  2 I I  RR  tt  JJ

For maximum percentage error,
H I R t J
100  2 100  100 + 100  100
H I R t J

= 2 ×2% + 1% + 1% + 0% = 6%

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