M.E.

S INDIAN SCHOOL, DOHA -QATAR

Notes 2021- 2022

Section : Boys’/Girls’ Date: 26/04/2021

Class & Div : XI (All Divisions) Subject: Physics
Lesson /Topic : Units & measurement.
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MEASUREMENT

Measurement is the basis of all experiment and research. The quantities, which can be measured directly or
indirectly, are called physical quantities.
e.g. Length, mass, time, velocity, volume etc.
Units

In order to measure a physical quantity, its value is compared with the value of a standard of the same kind.
This standard is called unit.
e.g. metre is the unit of length, kilogram is the unit of mass, second is the unit of time.
Thus in the measurement of a physical quantity, two things are involved
– a number and a unit.
Physical quantity (Q) = Magnitude × Unit = n × u
Mass = 5 Kg
* 5 kg = 500 g
1
* n1u1 = n2u2 = constant  n α u

i.e., Larger the unit, smaller will be the magnitude.

Fundamental units:-

The physical quantities, which are independent of each other and cannot be expressed in terms of
other physical quantities. The units of fundamental quantities are called fundamental units.
e.g.
Sl No. Physical Quantity Units Symbol
1 Mass kilogram kg
2 Length metre m
3 Time second s

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Derived units:-

Physical quantities, which can be expressed in terms of fundamental quantities, are called derived quantities.
Velocity, acceleration, force etc.
e.g. Speed can be expressed in m/s.

System of Units:

Following systems of measurements are commonly in use,

(a) C.G.S system
*This system is based on centimeter as unit of length, the gram as the unit of mass
and the second as unit of time.
(b) F.P.S system
*In this system, the basic units are foot, pound and second.
(c) M.K.S system
*This system was based upon metre, kilogram and second as its fundamental
quantities.
S.I Units:- International Committee for Weights Measures adopted a system of units for all fundamental
physical quantities and is called International system of units or SI units.
*In SI system, there are seven Fundamental (basic) units and two Supplementary units.

Physical
No Unit Symbol
quantity
1 Length meter m
2 Mass kilogram kg
3 Time second S
4 Electric Current ampere A
5 Temperature kelvin K
Amount of
6 mole mol
substance
Luminous
7 candela Cd
intensity

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Supplementary units:

1 Plane angle radian rad

2 Solid angle Steradian Sr

DIMENSIONS
All physical quantities can be represented in terms of fundamental quantities – length, mass and time.
Dimensions of a physical quantity are the powers to which the fundamental units be raised in order to
represent that quantity.

Dimensions of physical quantities

Physical quantity Dimension SI unit

Length [L] m
Mass [M] Kg
Time [T] s

For e.g. we know, Area = length x breadth.

Here both length and breadth are measured with the help of unit of length (L). Thus dimensions of
area = L x L = L2. As the area is independent of mass and time, it is said to possess zero dimension in mass
[M°], zero dimension in time [T°]. Hence the dimensions of area can be represented by M0L2T0. Powers 0,
2, 0 of fundamental units are called the dimensions of area in mass, length and time respectively.

Dimensional equation

An equation obtained by equating a physical quantity with its dimensional formula is called the dimensional
equation of the physical quantity.
e.g. Dimensional equation of velocity is [V] = M0L1T–1.

distance
We know that velocity = L1 T −1 = [M]0 [L]1 [T] −1
time = =

[Velocity]
**Similarly Dimension of acceleration, [Acceleration] = [time]

[LT −1 ]
= [T]

∴ [Acceleration] = [M0 L1 T -2]

Note: Quantities such as number, angle and trigonometrical ratio are dimensionless.
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Dimensional Formula of Some Physical Quantities

S.N QUANTITY DEFINITION UNIT DIMENSION

1 Length or Distance Distance m [M0L1 T0 ]
2 Displacement distance m [M0L1 T0 ]
3 Velocity or speed distance displacement m -1 [M0 L T–1]
time (or) time s (or) ms
4 Acceleration velocity ms-2 (or)
time m/s2 [M0L1 T–2 ]
5 Acceleration due to acceleration m/s2 [M0L1 T–2 ]
gravity

6 Area Length × Breadth m2 [M0L2T0 ]

7 Volume Length × Breadth × Height m3 [M0L3T0 ]

8 Momentum(P) Mass x Velocity kg-m/s [M1L1T –1]

9 Density Mass Kg.m-3 (or)
Volume kg/m3 [M1L-3 T0]
10 Mass per unit length Mass Kg.m-1 (or) [M1L-1 T0]
Length kg/m

11 Force Mass × Acceleration N [M1 L 1T–2 ]

(or)
kg-m/s2
12 Force × Distance J [M 1L2T–2 ]
Work or Energy
13 Power Work W (or) [ML2T-3]
time J/s
14 Pressure (or) Stress Force Nm-2 [M1L-1T-2]
Area
15 Wavelength distance m [M0L1T0]
16 Time period time S [M0L0T1]
17 Frequency 1 Hz [M0L0T –1]
Time period

Quantities Having Same Dimensions.

(1) [M0L0T–1] Frequency, angular frequency, angular velocity, velocity gradient and decay constant
(2) [M1L2T–2] Work, internal energy, potential energy, kinetic energy, torque, moment of force
(3) [M1L –1T–2] Pressure, stress, Young’s modulus, bulk modulus, modulus of rigidity, energy density
(4) [M1L1T–1] Momentum, impulse
(5) [M0L1T–2] Acceleration due to gravity, gravitational field intensity
(6) [M1L1T–2] Thrust, force, weight, energy gradient

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(7) [M1L2T–1] Angular momentum and Planck’s constant
(8) [M1L0T–2] Surface tension, Surface energy (energy per unit area) etc.,
Dimensional and Non dimensional constants
Dimensional constants:- There are certain quantities which have dimensions but they have a constant value.
e.g. speed of light, C= [LT-1]
but value of C= 3x 108m/s
e.g. Gravitational constant (G)

We have, F=G  G=

[G] = [M-1L3T-2]
Non dimensional constants:
There are certain quantities its values are constant and it do not have dimensions.
e.g: ‘π ’ Its value is 22/7 = 3.14 but have no dimensions

Principle of homogeneity:-

An equation representing a physical quantity will be correct if the dimensions of each term on both sides of
the equation are the same. This is called the principle of homogeneity of dimensions.
Mathematically [LHS] = [RHS]
(Or)
 Dimensionally similar quantities can only be added / subtracted.
e.g : 5 meter + 6 kg = [L] + [M] = ? (Cannot be added)

Applications of dimensional analysis:-

I. To check the correctness of an equation:-
An equation is correct only if the dimensions of each term on either side of the equation are equal.
E.g. 1. Check the accuracy of the equation v = u + a t.
Taking dimensions on both sides [LT-1] = [LT-1] +[ L1 T-2][T]
[LT-1] = [LT-1] + [LT-1]
 the equation is dimensionally correct.
2. Check the accuracy of the equation S= u t + ½ at2
Ans: S = u t + ½ a t2
Taking dimensions on both sides [L] = [LT-1][T] + [ L1 T-2][T]2 = [L]+[L]
i.e. ., [L] = [L]
According to principle of homogeneity, the equation is dimensionally correct.
3. Check the accuracy of the equation v2 = u2 + 2 a S
Taking dimensions on both sides [LT-1]2 = [LT-1]2 + [LT-2] [L]

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 [L2 T]-2 = [L2 T]-2

II. To derive the correct relationship between physical quantities.

Dimensions can be used to derive the relation between physical quantities.

E.g:1. To derive an expression for period of oscillation of a simple pendulum. The period of oscillation (T)
of a simple pendulum may depend on length of the pendulum (l), mass of bob (m) and the acceleration due
to gravity (g).
Then Tα ma l b
gc  T = k m a l b gc ------------(i)
Taking dimensions on both sides,
[T] = K [M]a [L]b [LT-2]c = K [M]a [L]b+c [T]-2c
By equating dimensions of M, L & T we will get,
[M]0 [L]0 [T]1 = K [M]a [L]b+c [T]-2c
a=0 ; b+c = 0 & -2c =1
 a=0, b= ½ & c= - ½ | b+c = 0  b+ (- ½ ) = 0  b = ½

eqn.(i)  T = k m a l b gc = k m 0 l ½
g-½ = √

The value of constant k cannot be found by dimensional method. The value of k is found to be 2 using
some other methods like conducting experiment.

T = 2π √

2.The centripetal force (F) acting on a stone may depend upon mass of the stone(m), linear velocity(v) &
m v2
radius of the circular orbit(r).Using the method of dimension show that centripetal force F = r .

Let F α ma vb rc  F= k ma vb rc ----------(i)
Taking dimensions on both sides,
[M LT-2] = K [M]a [LT-1]b [L]c = K [M]a [L]b+c [T]-b
[M LT-2] = K [Ma Lb+c T-b ]
By equating dimensions of M, L & T we will get,
[M]1 = [M]a  a = 1; [T]-2 = [T]-b  -b = -2  b=2
& [L]1 = [L]b+c  b+c = 1  2+c = 1  c = 1-2 = -1.
Substituting the values of a, b & c in eqn. (i) we get,
m v2
F= k ma vb rc = k m1 v2 r -1 F= r

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3. The frequency of vibration of a string depends of on, (i) tension in the string (ii) mass per unit length of

K
string, (iii) vibrating length of the string. Establish dimensionally the relation for frequency  = l √

Ans: Let  α Fa mb l c = k Fa mb l c
Taking dimensions on both sides,
[T-1] = [MLT-2]a [ML-1]b [L]c
By equating dimensions of M, L & T we will get,
 a= ½ ; b= - ½ & c= -1
Substituting the values of a, b & c in eqn (i)

K
 = k Fa mb l c = k F½ m - ½ l -1   = l √

III. To find the dimensions of constants.

a
4.The Vander Wall relation between the pressure, volume and temperature of a gas is ( P + v2 ) (v - b) = RT

[P-Pressure & V- volume]; Where a and b are constants. Determine the dimensions of a and b.
Ans: By the principle of homogeneity,
 Dimensionally similar quantities can only be added/subtracted.
a
 The dimensions of [ v2] must be the same as that of pressure while that of [b] must be the same as

that of [volume].
Dimensional formula for pressure = [ML–1T–2] and volume = [L3]
∴ dimension of [a] = dimension of [P v2 ] = [ML–1T–2] × [L6] = [ML5T–2]
and [b] = [L3]
Thus the dimensions of a and b are [ML5T –2] and [L3] respectively.
Q2. v = a t2 + bt + c. find out dimension of a,b and c. Find the dimension of constants a,b and c.
( Where v-velocity and t-time).

Ans: [a] = [ ] = [ ] = [LT-3] ;

[ b] = [ ] =[ ] = [LT-2]

[C] = [V] = [LT-1]

b
Home Work : . v = at + t+c Find the dimension of constants a,b and c.

| Hint: [a] =[ LT-2] ; [b] = [L] & [c] = [T]

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IV. To Convert one system of units into another.

We have, n1u1 = n2 u2 | 5kg = 5000g

Where n1=5, u1 = kg.
n1 [ M1a L1b T1c ] = n2 [ M2a L2b T2c ]
 n2 = [ ]a [ ]b [ ]C

1. Convert 1 newton into dyne.

[ Newton and dynes are the units of force in S.I and C.G.S respectively]
Ans: Dimensional formula of force is = [F] = [ M1L1 T-2 ]
n1u1 = n2 u2
1 (newton) = n2 (dyne) | n1 = 1
1 [ M11 L11 T1-2 ] = n2 [ M21 L21 T2-2]
n2 = [ ]1 [ ]1 [ ]-2

(Where M1= 1kg , L1 = 1m, T1 = 1 s and M2= 1g , L2 = 1cm, T2 = 1 s )

n2 = [ ]1 [ ]1 [ ]-2

n2 = [ ]1 [ ]1 [ ]-2

n2 = [1000][100][1] = 105
1N = 105 dyne.
1. Convert 1 joule into erg.
[joule and erg are the units of Energy in S.I and C.G.S respectively]
Ans: Dimensional formula of Energy is = [E] = [ M1L2 T-2 ]
n1u1 = n2 u2
1 (joule) = n2 (erg) | n1 = 1
1 2 -2 1 2 -2
1 [ M1 L1 T1 ] = n2 [ M2 L2 T2 ]
n2 = [ ]1 [ ]2 [ ]-2

(Where M1= 1kg , L1 = 1m, T1 = 1 s and M2= 1g , L2 = 1cm, T2 = 1 s )

n2 = [ ]1 [ ]2 [ ]-2

n2 = [ ]1 [ ]2 [ ]-2

n2 = [1000][10000][1] = 107
1J = 107erg.

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Home Works :

1. Convert 1 dyne into newton.

2. Convert 1 erg into joule.

LIMITATIONS OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS:-

1) This method gives us no information about dimensionless constants.

2) We cannot use this method if the physical quantity depends on more than three other physical quantities.
3) This method cannot be used if the left hand side of the equation contains more than one term.
4) Often it is difficult to guess the parameters on which the physical quantity depends.

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