Applications of the Theory of Dimensional Analysis

December 7, 2009

To find the unit of a given physical quantity in a given system of units: By expressing a physical quantity in terms of basic quantities we find its dimensions. In the dimensional formula replacing M, L, T by the fundamental units of the required syste m, we get the unit of physical quantity. However, sometimes we assign a specific name to this unit. Example Force is numerically equal to the product of mass and acceleration i.e. Force = mass acceleration

Its unit in SI system will be Kgms^-2 which is given a specific name Newton (N). Similarly, its unit in CGS system will be gm cms^-2 which is called dyne. To find dimensions of physical constants or coefficients The dimensions of a physical quantity is unique because it is the nature of the physic al quantity and the nature does not change. If we write any formula or equation incorporating the given physical constant, we can find the dimensions of the required constant or co efficient. Example From Newtons law of Gravitation, the force exerted by one mass upon another is

To convert a physical quantity from one system of units to another This is based on the fact that for a given physical quantity, magnitude unit = constant So, when unit changes, magnitude will also change. Example 1. Convert one Newton into dyne

Sol. Dimensional formula for Newton = [ML/T] or 1 N = 1 Kg m/s and 1 m = 10cm 1N = (10 g) ( 10cm)/s = 10^5 g cm/s = 10^5 dyne To check the dimensional correctness of a given physical relation This is based on the principle that the dimensions of the terms on both sides of an equation must be same. This is known as the principle of homogeneity. If the dimensions of the terms on both sides are same, the equation is dimensionally correct, otherwise not. It is not necessary that a dimensionally correct equation is also physically correct but a physically correct equation has to be dimensionally correct. Consider the formula, T = 2 (1/g) But 1 kg = 10 g

where T is the time period of oscillation of a simple pendulum in a simple harmonic motion, l and g are the length of the pendulum and gravitational constants respectively. Check this formula, whether it is correct or not, using the concept of dimension.

Thus the above equation is dimensionally correct (homogeneous) and later you will come to know that it is physically also correct. Consider the formula

Check this formula, whether it is correct or not, using the concept of dimension.

Dimensionally

In this case also the formula is dimensionally correct but, you know that it is physically incorrect as the correct formula is given by

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Dimensions
October 26, 2009
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The unit of any derived quantity depends upon one or more fundamental units. This dependence can be expressed with the help of dimensions of that derived quantity. In other words, the dimensions of a physical quantity show how its unit is related to the fundamental units. To express dimensions, each fundamental unit is represented by a capital letter. Thus the unit of length is denoted by L, unit of mass by M, unit of time by T, unit of electric current by I, unit of temperature by K and unit of luminous intensity by C. Remember that speed will always remain distance covered per unit of time, whatever be the system of units, so the complex quantity speed can be expressed in terms of length L and time T. Now, we say that dimensional formula of speed is LT-1. We can relate the physical quantities to each other (usually we express complex quantities in terms of base quantities) by a system of dimensions. Dimension of a physical quantity are the powers to which the fundamental quantities must be raised to represent the given physical quantity.

Illustrations 1. Find the dimension of density. Sol. Density of a substance is defined to be the mass contained in unit volume of the substance. Hence, [density] =[Mass]/[volume] = M/L So, the dimensions of density are 1 in mass, 3 in length and 0 in time. Hence the dimensional formula of density is written as [ ]=ML^-3T^0 Important

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C t t ti ti ti i t it i i t ti i l Two physi l quantiti s can be equated, added (or subtracted) i and only i they have the same dimension. Why? [Veri y i two quantities which have di erent dimensions can be multiplied (or divided) or not.

Broadly speaking, dimension is the nature of a Physical quantity. Understanding of this nature helps us in many ways. Posted in Units, Measurements and Theory of Errors | No Comments

Order Of Magni ude

October 23, 2009

The order of magnitude of a number is the power of ten closest to the number. Following table gives us some of the commonly used prefi es for power of ten. Posi ive Powers of 10 S. No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 Prefi Yotta Zeeta Exa Peta Tera Giga Mega Kilo Hecto Deca Symbol Y Z E P T G M K H Da Multiplier Factor Power of 10 1024 24 1021 21 1018 18 15 10 15 1012 12 109 9 106 6 3 10 3 102 2 10 1

Negative Powers of 10 S. No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 Prefix Yocto Zepto Atto Femto Pico Nano Micro Milli Centi Deci

Symbol Y z a f p n m c d

Multiplier Factor Power of 10 10-24 -24 -21 10 -21 10-18 -18 10-15 -15 10-12 -12 -9 10 -9 10-6 -6 10-3 -3 10-2 -2 10-1 -1

Some Deri ed SI unit and t eir symbols Quantity Unit Symbol Ex ressed in base

Force Work Power Angular momentum Pressure Wavelength

Newton Joules Watt

N J W

units Kg-m/sec2 Kg-m2/sec2 Kg-m2/sec3 Kg m2 s-1 Kg m-1/s2 m

Pascal

Pa

The following conventions are adopted while writing a unit.

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Even if a unit is named after a person the unit is not written in capital letters. i.e. we write joules not Joules. For a unit named after a person the symbol is a capital letter e.g. J for joules and the rest of them are in lowercase letters e.g. s for seconds. The symbols of units do not have plural form i.e. 70 m not 70 ms or 10 N not 10 Ns. Not more than one solids is used i.e. all units of numerator is written together before the / sign and all in the denominator are written after that.

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i.e. It is 1 ms-2 or 1 m/s2 not 1m/s/s.

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Punctuation marks are not written after the unit e.g. 1 litre = 1000 cc not 1000 c.c.

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Fundamental Units
October 21, 2009

Introdu tion
Physics is that branch which deals with the study of nature and natural phenomenon. The word physics comes from the Greek word fusis meaning nature. In this unit we will discuss some of the important aspect of measurement in physics. We will also discuss why we need a unit to measure a physical quantity. In the measurement of any physical quantity, we require some reference standard. This reference standard of measurement is called a unit. These are independent quantities i.e. they do not need any other quantity to represent them. Let us consider three physical quantities mass, length and time. These quantities are independent of each other. So, three separate units are required for the measurement of these quantities. Thus, it becomes important to establish a system of units.

Measurement in Physi s
Fundamental Units

Measurement of a physical quantity involves:

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The standard or unit in which the quantity is being measured The numerical value representing the number of times the quantity contains that unit.

The physical quantities which do not depend upon other quantities are called fundamental quantities. In M.K.S. system the fundamental quantities are mass, length and time, while in more general Standard International (S.I.) system the Fundamental quantities are mass, length, time, temperature, luminous intensity, current and amount of substance. The units of fundamental quantities are called fundamental units and are discussed below. erived Units The units of physical quantities which may be derived from fundamental units are called derived units, for example: Unit of area: area = length breadth unit of area = unit of length unit of breadth = m m = m2 Unit of Velocity: velocity = Displacement/Time unit of velocity =Unit of Displacement/Unit of Time = m/s = ms -1 Hence m2 and ms-1 are derived units. Systems of Units : There are following principal system of units: 1. C.G.S System : length mass time centimetre (cm), gram (g) second (s).

2. F.P.S System : length mass time foot (ft), pound (lb), second (s).

3. M.K.S. System: length mass time metre (m), kilogram (kg), second (s).

4. S.I. System : It has SEVEN fundamental units. Length Mass Time Temperature Luminous intensity Electric current Amount of substance metre (m), kilogram (kg), second (s). kelvin (K), candela (cd), ampere (A), mole (mol).

In S.I. system there are two supplementary units. P P Radian (rad) : Unit of plane angle Steradian (st) : Unit of solid angle