LIMITATIONS OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

1. In Mechanics the formula for a physical quantity

depending on more than three physical quantities cannot be
derived. It can only be checked.

2.This method can be used only if the dependency is of

multiplication type.

3.The formulae containing exponential, trigonometrical and

logarithmic functions cannot be derived using this method.

4.Formulae containing more than one term which are added

or subtracted like s= ut + (½)at2 also cannot be derived.
LIMITATIONS OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

5.The relation derived from this method gives no information

about the dimensionless constants.

6.If dimensions are given, physical quantity may not be

unique as many physical quantities have the same
dimensions.

7.It gives no information whether a physical quantity is a

scalar or a vector.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES OR DIGITS
Significant Figures or Digits

• Significant figures in a measured value of a physical quantity

tell the number of digits in which we have confidence.

• Larger the number of significant figures obtained in a

measurement, greater is its accuracy and vice versa.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES OR DIGITS
Rules to find out the number of significant figures
RULE - 1
All the non-zero digits are significant
1936

RULE - 2
All the zeros between two non-zero digits are significant.
10508

RULE - 3
All the zeros to left of first non-zero digit are not significant.
00108
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES OR DIGITS
Rules to find out the number of significant figures
RULE - 4
If the number is less than 1, zeros on right of decimal point
but to the left of the first non-zero digit are not significant.
0.002308
RULE - 5
The trailing zeros (zeros to the right of the last non-zero digit)
in a number with a decimal point are significant.
1.580
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES OR DIGITS
Rules to find out the number of significant figures
RULE - 6
The trailing zeros in a number without a decimal point may
not be significant.
7800

RULE - 7

The trailing zeros in a number without a decimal point will be

significant if there’s a unit with the numerical value.
7800m
 ROUNDING OFF
To represent the result of any computation containing more
than one uncertain digit, it is rounded off to appropriate
number of significant figures.

RULE - 1 : If the digit to be rounded off is more than

5, then preceding digit is increased by one.

RULE - 2 : If the digit to be rounded off is less than 5,

then the preceding digit is left unchanged.

RULE - 3 : If the digit to be rounded off is 5 then the

preceding digit is increased by one if it is
odd and is left unchanged if it is even.
 EXAMPLES

Ex. Round off to Four Significant Digits :

(a) 7.1082
(b) 65.837
(c) 33.1251
(d) 33.1351
(e) 33.125
(f) 33.135
(g) 33.1250
(f) 33.1350
RULES FOR ARITHMETIC OPERATORS

RULE - FOR ADDITION OR SUBTRACTION

In addition or subtraction the number of decimal places in

the result should be equal to the number of decimal places
of that term in the operation which contain lesser number of
decimal places.

51.49 + 7.200 =
12.587 – 12.5 =
34.663 – 2.41 =
RULES FOR ARITHMETIC OPERATORS

RULE - FOR MULTIPLICATION OR DIVISION

In multiplication or division, the number of SF in the product

or quotient is same as the smallest number of SF in any of
the factors.

2.0 x 42 =
8.50 x 2.000 =
1.100 x 200 =
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES IN EXPONENTIAL FORM

RULE – EXPONENTIAL FORM

When the number is expressed in exponential form, the

exponential term does not affect the number of S.F.

For example :

x = 65.4 = 6.54 × 101.

 ORDER OF MAGNITUDE
Order of magnitude of a quantity is the power of 10 required
to represent that quantity in exponential form. This power is
determined after rounding off the value of the quantity
properly.

The order of magnitude of following is :

4900 = 4.9 x 104

50000 = 5 x 104

51000 = 5.1 x 104

0.0810 = 8.10 x 10-2

 EXAMPLES

Ex. Write the order of magnitude of:

(a) G = 6.67 x 10-11

(b) k = 9 x 109
(c) c = 3 x 108
(d) e = 1.6 x 10-19
(e) 2
(f) 9
(g) 0.02
(f) 0.09