DAILY DOSE: SIMPLIFIED LEARNING MATERIAL 2021-22

CLASS: 11th
SUBJECT: PHYSICS
UNIT NO. & NAME: [1] PHYSICAL WORLD
AND MEASUREMENT
CHAPTER NO. & NAME: [2] UNITS AND
MEASUREMENTS
TOPIC: DIMENSIONS OF PHYSICAL QUANTITIES

ASSIGNMENT NO: 20 DATE:03.06.2021

DATE: 03.06.2021
INTRODUCTION

We have already learnt about fundamental and derived units of various physical
quantities. Now we will be introduced by the dimensions related to these physical
quantities.

Today we will learn about dimensions of physical quantities, dimensional formulae,

dimensional equations and types of quantities on the basis of dimensions.

What are the seven dimensions of the world?

All the derived physical quantities can be expressed in the terms of some combination of
the seven fundamental or base physical quantities .We call these fundamental quantities
as seven dimensions of the world. These are denoted with square brackets [ ].

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ASSIGNMENT NO.: 20 CLASS: 11th SUBJECT: PHYSICS DATE:03.06.2021

When we use square brackets around a physical quantity then it means we are talking
about dimensions of that physical quantity.

DIMENSION OF MASS = [M]

DIMENSION OF LENGTH= [L]

DIMENSION OF TIME = [T]

DIMENSION OF ELECTRIC CURRENT = [A]

DIMENSION OF THERMODYNAMIC TEMPERATURE = [K]

DIMENSION OF LUMINOUS INTENSITY = [cd]

DIMENSION OF AMOUNT OF SUBSTANCE = [mol]

Note: Any two or more dimensions can only be multiplied or divided but can never be
𝐴
added i.e., for two dimensions A and B, A+B and A-B is meaningless but AB and is
𝐵
meaningful.

What do we mean by dimensions of a physical quantity?

DIMENSIONS OF A PHYSICAL QUANTITY are the powers (or exponents) to which the
fundamental quantities must be raised to represent that physical quantity completely.
mass mass
Example: Density = =
volume length x breadth x height

[M]
 Dimensions of density = = [ML-3] = [ML-3T0]
[L][L][L]

OR, dimensions of density are ‘1’ in mass, ‘-3’ in length and ‘0’ in time.

Similarly, we know that unit of acceleration is m/s2

[𝐿]
Hence, Dimensions of Acceleration = [T][T] = [LT-2] = [M0LT-2]

 Acceleration has ‘1’ dimension in length, ‘-2’dimensions in time and independent of

dimension of mass.

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ASSIGNMENT NO.: 20 CLASS: 11th SUBJECT: PHYSICS DATE:03.06.2021

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SOME PHYSICAL QUANTITIES AND THEIR DIMENSIONAL FORMULAE

Sl. Dimensional
No. Physical Quantity Formula Formula S.I Unit

1 Area (A) Length x Breadth [M0L2T0] m2

2 Volume (V) Length x Breadth x Height [M0L3T0] m3

3 Density () Mass / Volume [M1L-3T0] kgm-3

4 Speed (s) Distance / Time [M0L1T-1] ms-1

5 Velocity (v) Displacement / Time [M0L1T-1] ms-1

6 Acceleration (a) Change in velocity / Time [M0L1T-2] ms-2

Acceleration due to
7 gravity (g) Change in velocity / Time [M0L1T-2] ms-2

Density of body/density of No dimensions

8 Specific gravity water at 4oC [M0L0T-0] No units

Linear momentum
9 (p) Mass x Velocity [M1L1T-1] kgms-1

10 Force (F) Mass x Acceleration [M1L1T-2] N

J
11 Work (W) Force x Distance [M1L2T-2] (Joule)

12 Energy (E) Work [M1L2T-2] J

13 Impulse (I) Force x Time [M1L1T-1] Ns

14 Pressure (P) Force / Area [M1L-1T-2] Nm-2

15 Power (P) Work / Time [M1L2T-3] W

Universal constant
16 of gravitation (G) [M-1L3T-2] Nm2kg-2

Moment of inertia
17 (I) Mass x (distance)2 [M1L2T0] kgm2

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ASSIGNMENT NO.: 20 CLASS: 11th SUBJECT: PHYSICS DATE:03.06.2021

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Surface tension
18 (T) Force / Length [M1L0T-2] Nm-1

Surface energy
19 (E) Energy / unit area [M1L0T-2] Nm-1

20 Force constant (k) Force / Displacement [M1L0T-2] Nm-1

Coefficient of
21 viscosity ( η ) [M1L-1T-1] Nsm-2

22 Thrust (F) Force [M1L1T-2] N

23 Tension (T) Force [M1L1T-2] N

24 Stress Force / Area [M1L-1T-2] Nm-2

Change in dimension / Original No dimensions No

25 Strain dimension [M0L0T-0] unit

What is meant by dimensional formula and dimensional equation?

DIMENSIONAL FORMULA: The expression which shows how and which of the
fundamental quantities represent the dimensions of a physical quantity is called the
dimensional formula of the physical quantity.

Example: dimensional formula of volume is [L3], density is [ML-3], velocity is [LT-1],

Acceleration is [LT-2] etc.

DIMENSIONAL EQUATION: The equation obtained by equating a physical quantity with

its dimensional formula is called the dimensional equation of the given physical quantity.

Example: Dimensional equation of force is, [Force] = [MLT-2]

Dimensional equation of acceleration is,[Acceleration] = [M0LT-2]

Dimensional equation of energy is, [Energy] = [ML2T-2]

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ASSIGNMENT NO.: 20 CLASS: 11th SUBJECT: PHYSICS DATE:03.06.2021

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Different types of variable and constants on the basis of dimensions:
From the analysis of dimensional formulae of physical quantities in given table,
these physical quantities can be categorised as-

1. Dimensional constants: These are the physical quantities which have constant
values and have dimensions. Speed of light in vacuum (c), Planck’s constant (h) and
Universal Gravitational constant (G) are some of the examples.

2. Dimensionless constants: These are the physical quantities which have constant
values but are dimensionless. Mathematical constants like e, 𝜋, 1, 2,… etc. are
dimensionless constants

3. Dimensional variables: These are the physical quantities which have variable
values and have dimensions. Physical quantities like velocity, acceleration, force, etc.
are dimensional variables.

4. Dimensionless variables: These are the physical quantities which have variable
values but are dimensionless. Physical quantities like angle, strain, etc. are
dimensionless variables.
LET US KNOW WHAT WE HAVE LEARNT!

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. [MLT-2] is the dimensional formula of :

(a) Force (b) Power

(c) Impulse (d) Acceleration

2. Dimensional formula of Energy is:

(a) [ML2T] (b) [ML2T-2]

(c) [M0LT-2] (d) [ML0T-2]

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ASSIGNMENT NO.: 20 CLASS:11th SUBJECT: PHYSICS DATE:03.06.2021

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3. Physical quantity Strain is:

(a) Dimensionless constant (b) Dimensional variable

(c) Dimensionless variable (d) Dimensional constant

4. The dimensions of Speed and Velocity are:

a) [L2T],[LT-1] (b) [LT-1],[LT-2]

(c)[LT],[LT] (d) [LT-1],[LT-1]

5. The dimensions of Accleration are:

(a) [ML2T-1] (b) [M2L3T-2]

(c) [M0LT-2] (d) [MLT-2]

TRUE/FALSE

6. By equating a physical quantity with its dimensional formula we get dimensional

equation.

7. We can add and subtract two physical quantities A and B having different
dimensions.

8. Strain is a physical quantity that has no dimensions.

FILL IN THE BLANKS

9. ___________ is a dimensional constant.

𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦
10. If X is a physical quantity given by , then the dimensional formula of X is
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

same as that of ___________.

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 DAILY DOSE: SIMPLIFIED LEARNING MATERIAL 2021-22

ASSIGNMENT NO.: 20 CLASS:11th SUBJECT: PHYSICS DATE:03.06.2021

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SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

11. Write the seven basic dimensions of the world.

12. Explain various constants and variables on the basis of the dimensions with
examples.

ANSWER KEYS/ HINTS

Ans1. (a) force

Ans2. (b) [ML2T-2]
Ans3. (c) Dimensionless variable
Ans4. (d) [LT-1], [LT-1] {speed and velocity have same dimensions}
Ans5. (c) [M0LT-2]
Ans6. True
Ans7. False
Ans8. True
Ans9. Speed of light(c), Universal Gravitational Constant (G) etc.
𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚
Ans10. Power {power = = }
𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆

Prepared By : Sunita Sharma Lect. Physics, Govt. Sr.Sec.Smart

School Badla, Distt. Hoshiarpur 9417907559

Under the Guidance of : Sh. Sanjeev Kumar, Principal cum

D.M.(Physics) 8283833230

Supervised By : Smt. Jaswinder Kaur (Assistant Director)

PPPP Science Sen. Sec. State Coordinator.

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