Physical

Quantities

Length, mass, time,

temperature etc...
Quantities

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Emotions, expressions
etc..
 Base /
Derived
Fundamental
Quantities
Quantities

Quantities
 Base /
Fundamental
Units

Units
Dimensions
Symbols for Different Dimensions
 Dimension
Power to which fundamental quantity must be raised in order to
obtain the unit of the given quantity
 Dimension
Power to which fundamental quantity must be raised in order to
obtain the unit of the given quantity
Symbol for Dimensions

General
0 1 0
[M L T ] Length L form:

[M1L0T0] Mass M [L M T]
or [M L T ]
[M0L0T1] Time T [L M T K A]
[M0L0T0K1A0] or [M L T K A ]
Temperature K
0 0 0 0 1
Luminous Intensity – C
[M L T K A ] Current A/I Amount of Substance - mol
How to find dimensions of derived quantities?
Dimension of Speed
 Dimension of Speed

Speed = Distance
Step-1
Time
How to find dimensions of derived quantities?

Dimension of Speed

Speed = Distance
Step-1
Time

[M0L1T0]
Step-2 Speed =
[M0L0T1]

Step-3 Speed = [M0L1 T–1]

Dimension of Temperature Gradient
 Dimension of Temperature Gradient

Temperature
Step-1 Temp. Gradient =
Distance
 Dimension of Temperature Gradient

Temperature
Step-1 Temp. Gradient =
Distance

[M0L0T0K1]
Step-2 Temp. Gradient =
[M0L1T0K0]

Step-3 Temp. Gradient = [M0 L–1 T0 K1]

Q. Find the dimensions of Area.

L
Q. Find the dimensions of Area.

Area = Length × breadt

h
B S.I = m × m
unit
= m2
L
∴Dimensions of Area = [M0 L2 T0]
Q. Find the dimensions of Volume.

b
l
Q. Find the dimensions of Volume.

Volume = Length × breadth × Height

S.I = m × m × m
h unit
= m3
l b
∴ Dimensions of Volume = [M0 L3 T0]
Q. Find the dimensions of Density
Q. Find the dimensions of Density
 Dimensions of Mass = [M1 L0 T0]
Mass
Density (ρ) =
Volume  Dimensions of Volume = [M0 L3 T0]

[M1 L0 T0]
∴ Dimensions of Density =
[M0 L3 T0]

Dimensions of Density = [M1 L–3 T0]

Q. Find the dimensions of Momentum
Q. Find the dimensions of Momentum
Momentum (p) = mass × velocity Distance
Velocity = time
 Dimensions of Mass = [M1 L0 T0]
[M0 L1 T0]
=
 Dimensions of velocity 0
= [M L T ] 1 –1 [M0 L0 T1]

∴ Dimensions of Momentum

= [M1 L0 T0] × [M0 L1 T–1]

Dimensions of Momentum = [M1 L1 T–1]

Q. Find the dimensions of Force
 v2 – v1
Q. Find the dimensions of Force a =
t
Force = Mass × acceleration [M0 L1 T –1]
= m × a =
[M0 L0 T1]
 Dimensions of Mass = [M1 L0 T0]

 Dimensions of Acceleration = [M0 L1 T–2]

∴ Dimensions of Force

= [M1 L0 T0] [M0 L1 T–2] Dimensions of Force = [M1 L1 T–2]

Q. Find the dimensions of Gravitational Constant
Q. Find the dimensions of Gravitational Constant
Formula of gravitational force,

Gm1m2
F =
r2
Fr2
∴ G =
m1m2

Where G Universal constant of gravitation

m1,m2 Masses

r Distance between the two masses

 Q. Find the dimensions of Gravitational Constant
[M1 L1 T–2] [M0 L2 T0]
Dimensions of Force = [M1 L1 T–2] ∴ Dimensions of G =
[M2 L0
Dimensions of Length = [M0 L1 T0]
[M1 L3 T–2]
T0]0 2 =
Dimensions of r2 = [M L [M2 L0
T0] T0]
Dimensions of Mass = [M1 L0 Dimensions of G = [M–1 L3 T–2]
T0]
Q. Find the dimensions of Charge
 Q. Find the dimensions of Charge
Q = Current × time

Q = I × t

 Dimensions of Current (I) = [M0 L0 T0 A1]

 Dimensions of Time (t) = [M0 L0 T1]

∴ Dimensions of Q = [M0 L0 T0 A1] [M0 L0 T1]

Dimensions of Q = [M0 L0 T1 A1]

Q. Find the dimensions of Potential
Q. Find the dimensions of Potential
Energy (U) = charge (Q) × potential (V)

∴ V = U
[M1 L2 T–2]
Q ∴ Dimensions of V =
[M0 L0 T1 A1]
 Dimensions of U = [M1 L2 T–2]

Dimensions of V = [M1 L2 T–3 A–1]

 Dimensions of Q = [M0 L0 T1 A1]
Q. Find the dimensions of Resistance
 Q. Find the dimensions of Resistance

By Ohm’s Law,
Potential [M1 L2 T–3 A–1]
Resistance = ∴ Dimensions of R =
Current [M0 L0 T0 A1]
V
R = Dimensions of R = [M1 L2 T–3 A–2]
I
 Dimensions of V = [M1 L2 T–3 A–1]
 Dimensions of I = A1
Q. Of the following quantities, which one has dimension different from the
remaining three?

a) Energy per unit volume

b) Force per unit area
c) Angular momentum per unit mass
Q. Of the following quantities, which one has dimension different from the remaining three?

a) Energy per unit volume

b) Force per unit area

c) Angular momentum per unit mass

M1L2T–2
[energy per unit volume] = 3
= M1L–1T–2
L
M1L1T–2
[force per unit area] = 2
= M1L–1T–2
L
[angular momentum per unit mass] = ML2T–1 / 1 = L2T–1
M
 How are dimensions useful in Physics?

Correctness of the Physical equation

 Principle of homogeneity:

⇒ Two quantities in addition or subtraction should have same dimension.

⇒ Quantities on either side of an expression (equation) should have the same

dimension

⇒ Using this principle we can check the correctness of the physical equation
Let us perform dimensional analysis on equation

v = u + at
 1) Equation : v = u + at

L.H.S. R.H.S.

Step-1 Dimension of Dimension of ‘u +at’

‘v’

Step-2 [M0L1T–1] [M0L1T–1] + [M0L1T–2] [M0L0T1]

Step-3 [M0L1T–1] [M0L1T–1 + [M0L1T–1

] ]

∴ The given physical equation is dimensionally correct

Let us perform dimensional analysis on equation

v2 = u2 + 2as
 Equation : v2 = u2 + 2as

L.H.S.

Dimensions of Velocity (v) = [M0 L1 T–1]

∴ Dimensions of v2 = [M0 L1 T–1] [M0 L1 T–1]

= [M0 L2 T–2]
 Equation : v2 = u2 + 2as

R.H.S.

Dimensions of u2 = [M0 L2 T–2]

Dimensions of a × s = [M0 L1 T–2] [M0 L1 T0]

= [M0 L2 T–2]

∴ The given physical equation is dimensionally correct

Q. The relation between velocity and time of body is given
B
v = A + + Ct2
t
The units of A, B and C will be
A B C

(a) m m/s m/s2

(b) m/s m m/s3

(c) m/s2 m/s3 m/s4

(d) m/s m/s2 m/s3

Solution:
B and ct2 must be of v.
b)By the principle of homogeneity unit of A,
t
v = A i.e A = m/s
B ⇒
v = B = m
t
v = Ct2 ⇒ C = m/s3
 How are dimensions useful in Physics?

Correctness of the Physical equation Conversion Factor

 Uses of dimensional analysis

To find conversion factor between the units of the same

physical quantity in two different systems of units
Q. Find conversion factor between SI unit of force and CGS unit of force
Q. Find conversion factor between SI unit of force and CGS unit of force
Force
SI unit : Newton
Let 1 Newton = x dyne
CGS unit : Dyne
The dimensions of force = [M1 L1 T–2]
∴ Equation in dimensional form

1 M11L11 T1–2 = x M 1 L 1 T –2
2 2 2

M11 L1 1T1 –2 M1 1
L1 1
T1 –2

∴ x = =
1
M2 L2 T2
M2 1
L2 T –2
2
Q. Find conversion factor between SI unit of force and CGS unit of force

1 1 –2
m kg s
In SI system, In CGS system, ∴ x = cm g s
L m L cm
1 1
M kg M g 2cm 3 g
= 10 10 (1)–2
T s T s cm g
∴ x = 105

∴ 1 Newton = 105 dyne

Q. Find conversion factor between SI unit and CGS unit of energy
Q. Find conversion factor between SI unit of force and CGS unit of energy

Let 1 Joule = x erg

The dimensions of energy = [M1 L2 T–2]
Energy
∴ Equation in dimensional form SI unit : Joule
CGS unit : Erg
M1 L21 T1 –2 = x M2 L22 T2–2

M11 L12T1 –2

∴ x =
M21 L22 T2–2

1 2 –2
M1 L1 T1
=
M2 L2 T2
Q. Find conversion factor between SI unit of force and CGS unit of energy

2 1 –2
m kg s
In SI system, In CGS system, ∴ x = cm g s
L m L c 2 1
m cm
2 3
g
M kg M g = 10 cm 10 g (1)–2
T s T s
∴ x = 107

∴ 1 Joule = 107erg
Q. The value of acceleration due to gravity is 980 cm/s2 . What will be its
Value if the unit of length is kilometer and that of time is minute?
Q. The value of acceleration due to gravity is 980cm/s2 . What will be its value if the unit
of length is kilometer and that of time is minute?

Any physical quantity can be represented by = magnitude × units

cm km
So, 98 = x
0 s2 min2
cm min2 1 km = 103 m
⇒ x = 98 &
km s2
0 1m = 102 cm
1
= 98 5 (60)2
10
0
km x = 3.53
∴ Acceleration due to gravity = 3.53
min2
 How are dimensions useful in Physics?

Correctness of the Physical equation Conversion Factor

Relationship between related physical quantities

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