Revision Notes on Unit and Dimensions

In order to make the measurement of a physical quantity we have, first of all, to evolve a standard for that measurement so that different measurements of same physical quantity can be expressed relative to each other. That standard is called a unit of that physical quantity.

·         System of Units:-

(a) C.G.S (Centimeter-Grand-Second) system.

(b) F.P.S. (Foot-Pound-Second) system.

(c) M.K.S. (Meter-Kilogram--Second) system.

(d) M.K.S.A. (Meter-Kilogram-Second-Ampere) unit.

·         Dimensional Formula:-

Dimensional formula of a physical quantity is the formula which tells us how and which of the fundamental units have been used for the measurement of that quantity.

·         How to write dimensions of physical quantities:-

(a) Write the formula for that quantity, with the quantity on L.H.S. of the equation.

(b) Convert all the quantities on R.H.S. into the fundamental quantities mass, length and time.

(c) Substitute M, L and T for mass, length and time respectively.

(d) Collect terms of M,L and T and find their resultant powers (a,b,c) which give the dimensions of the quantity in mass, length and time respectively.

·         Characteristics of Dimensions:-

(a) Dimensions of a physical quantity are independent of the system of units.

(b) Quantities having similar dimensions can be added to or subtracted from each other.

(c) Dimensions of a physical quantity can be obtained from its units and vice-versa.

(d) Two different physical quantities may have same dimensions.

(e) Multiplication/division of dimensions of two physical quantities (may be same or different) results in production of dimensions of a third quantity.

PHYSICAL QUANTITY

SYMBOL

DIMENSION

MEASUREMENT UNIT

UNIT

 

Length

s

L

Meter

m

 

Mass

M

M

Kilogram

Kg

 

Time

t

T

Second

Sec

 

Electric charge

q

Q

Coulomb

C

 

luminous intensity

I

C

Candela

Cd

 

Temperature

T

K

Kelvin

oK

 

Angle

q

none

Radian

None

 

Mechanical Physical Quantities (derived)

 

PHYSICAL QUANTITY

SYMBOL

DIMENSION

MEASUREMENT  UNIT

UNIT

 

Area

A

L2

square meter

m2

 

Volume

V

L3

cubic meter

m3

 

Velocity

v

L/T

meter per second

m/sec

 

angular velocity

w

T-1

radians per second

1/sec

 

Acceleration

a

LT-2

meter per square second

m/sec2

 

angular acceleration

a

T-2

radians per square second

1/sec2

 

Force

F

MLT-2

Newton

Kg m/sec2

 

Energy

E

ML2T-2

Joule

Kg m2/sec2

 

Work

W

ML2T-2

Joule

Kg m2/sec2

 

Heat

Q

ML2T-2

Joule

Kg m2/sec2

 

Torque

t

ML2T-2

Newton meter

Kg m2/sec2

 

Power

P

ML2T-3

watt  or  joule/sec

Kg m2/sec3

 

Density

D or ρ

ML-3

kilogram per cubic meter

Kg/m3

 

Pressure

P

ML-1T-2

Newton per square meter

Kg m-1/sec2

 

impulse

J

MLT-1

Newton second

Kg m/sec

 

Inertia

I

ML2

Kilogram square meter

Kg m2

 

luminous flux

f

C

lumen (4Pi candle for point source)

cd sr

 

illumination

E

CL-2

lumen per square meter

cd sr/m2

 

entropy

S

ML2T-2K-1

joule per degree

Kg m2/sec2K

 

Volume rate of flow

Q

L3T-1

cubic meter per second

m3/sec

 

Kinematic viscosity

n

L2T-1

square meter per second

m2/sec

 

Dynamic viscosity

m

ML-1T-1

Newton second per square meter

Kg/m sec

 

Specific weight

g

ML-2T-2

Newton per cubic meter

Kg m-2/sec2

 

Electrical Physical Quantities (derived)

Electric current

I

QT-1

Ampere

C/sec

 

emf, voltage, potential

E

ML2T-2Q-1

Volt

Kg m2/sec2C

 

resistance or impedance

R

ML2T-1Q-2

ohm

Kgm2 /secC2

 

Electric

conductivity

s

M-2L-2TQ2

mho

secC2/Kg m3

 

capacitance

C

M-1L-2T2 Q2

Farad

sec2C2/Kgm2

 

inductance

L

ML2Q-2

Henry

Kg m2 /C2

 

Current density

J

QT-1L-2

ampere per

square meter

C/sec m2

 

Charge density

r

QL-3

coulomb per cubic meter

C/m3

 

magnetic flux,

Magnetic induction

B

MT-1Q-1

weber per square meter

Kg/sec C

 

Magnetic intensity

H

QL-1T-1

ampere per meter

C/m sec

 

magnetic vector potential

A

MLT-1Q-1

weber/meter

Kg m/sec C

 

Electric field intensity

E

MLT-2Q-1

volt/meter or

newton/coulomb

Kg m/sec2 C

 

Electric displacement

D

QL-2

coulomb per square meter

C/m2

 

permeability

m

MLQ-2

henry per meter

Kg m/C2

 

permittivity,

e

T2Q2M-1L-3

farad per meter

sec2C2/Kgm3

 

dielectric constant

K

M0L0T0

None

None

 

frequency

f or n

T-1

Hertz

sec-1

 

angular frequency

W

T-1

radians per second

sec-1

 

Wave length

l

L

Meters

M

 

·         Principle of homogeneity:-

It states that “ the dimensional formulae of every term on the two sides of a correct relation must be same.”

·         Types of error:-

(a) Constant errors:- An error is said to be constant error if it affects, every time, a measurement in a similar manner.

(b) Systematic errors:- Errors which come into existence by virtue of a definite rule, are called systematic errors.

(c) Random error or accidental error:- Error which takes place in a random manner and cannot be associated with a systematic cause are called random or accidental errors.

(d) Absolute error:-   



·         Relative Error:-

 

·         Percentage Error:-


 

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