UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

UNITS AND MEASUREMENT

All the quantities in terms of which laws of physics are described and whose measurement is
necessary are called physical quantities.
UNIT
Measurement of any physical quantity involves comparison with a certain basic, arbitrarily
chosen, internationally accepted reference standard called unit.
In comparing the quantity with the standard unit, we have to find the number of times this unit
is contained in the quantity. In general-
Magnitude of quantity, Q= Numerical value × size of its Unit
Q = n.u
The magnitude of quantity remains the same, whatever may be the units of its measurement.
Hence = n1u1 = n2u2. For example- 3m= 300 cm
THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS
In earlier time there were mainly three system of units used in different countries:
The base units for length, mass and time in these systems are as follows.
(a) In CGS system they are centimeter, gram and second.
(b) In FPS system they are foot, pound and second
(c) The MKS system they are meter, kilogram and second.
The system of units which is at present internationally accepted for measurement is the
“International System of Units” (Systeme Internationale d‟ unites abbreviates as SI). This system
was developed and recommended by “General Conference on Weights and Measures” in 1971. In
this unit system there are seven base units and two more supplementary units.
Si base quantities and units:
Base quantity Name Symbol
Length Metre M
Mass Kilogram Kg
Time Second S
Electric current Ampere A
Thermo dynamic temperature Kelvin K
Amount of substance Mol mol
Luminous intensity Candela cd

SUPPLEMENTARY UNITS
1. The radian: (rad) One radian is the angle subtended at the centre of a
circle by an arc equal in length to the radius of the circle.
ds
dQ  rad
r
2. The steradian: (Sr) One steradian is the solid angle subtended at the
centre of a sphere, by that surface of the sphere which is equal in area, to
dA
the square of the radius of the sphere d  2 Sr
r

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 UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

ADVANTAGES OF SI SYSTEM OF UNITS

1. SI is a coherent system of units. All desired units are obtained by multiplication or division
without introducing numerical factors.
2. SI is a rational system of unit as it assigns only one units to a particular physical quantity.
3. SI is applied to all branches of science where as MKS is confined to mechanics only.
SOME IMPORTANT PRACTICAL UNITS
A. For measurement of very large distances.
(a) Astronomical unit (AU): It is the average distance between the center of sun and earth.
(1 AU  1.5 × 1011 m)
(b) Light year (  y): It is the distance traveled by light in vacuum in one year.
1 y = 9.46 ×1015 m
(c) Parsec: It is the radius of a circle at the center of which an arc of the circle of length 1AU
subtends an angle of 1”.
1 Par sec = 3.1 × 1016 m
B. For measuring very small area we use Barn-
1 barn = 1028 m2
C. For measuring heavy masses, we use
1 tonne or 1 metric ton= 1000 kg
1 quintal= 100 kg
D. For measuring small masses we use 1 amu= 1.66 × 1027 kg
E. For measuring pressure we use bar, torr etc.
1 bar = 1 atmospheric pressure = 105 N/m2 = 105 Pascal (Pa)
1 torr = 1 mm of Hg column
1 bar = 760 torr

MEASUREMENT
MEASUREMENT OF LENGTH
We are quite familiar with some direct methods for the measurement of length. For example:
(a) Meter scale is used for lengths from 103 m to 102 m.
(b) Vernier calipers is used for length to an accuracy of 104 m.
(c) A screw gauge and a sphero-meter is used to measure length as less as to 105 m.
To measure lengths beyond these ranges, we make use of some special indirect methods.
MEASUREMENT OF LARGE DISTANCES
Large distances like that of planets, stars etc are measured by parallax methods.
Parallax is the name given to change in the position of an object with respect to the background,
when the object is seen from two different positions. The distance between the two positions is
called the basis.
To measure the distance D of a far away planet S by the parallax method, we observe it from two
different positions (observatories) A and B on the earth, separated by distance AB= b at the same
time. We measure the angle between the two directions along which the planet is viewed at these
two points. This angle  is called parallax angle or parallactic angle.
b
Since D >> b, so  1 so  is very small so we take AB as an arc of a circle centered at S and D
D
b
as the radius so b = D D  where  is in radians.


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 UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

INDIRECT METHODS FOR ESTIMATION OF VERY SMALL DISTANCES

SIZE OF MOLECULE
To measure very small sizes like that of a molecule ( 108 m to 1010 m), we cannot use an optical
microscope. This is because the optical microscope uses visible light of wavelength ranging from
4000Å to 7000Å m and it cannot resolve particles with sizes far smaller than this. We shall study
later that electrons can also behave as waves of wavelength of the order of 0.6×1010 m.
An electron microscope uses electron beams which can be focused by properly designed
electric and magnetic fields. Such microscopes can almost resolve atoms and molecules in
material. Recently, tunneling microscopy has been developed which has still better resolution.
Here is a simple method for estimating the molecular size of oleic acid. This is a soapy liquid
with large molecular size  109 m.
SIZE OF MOLECULE OF OLEIC ACID
The molecules of oleic acid are quite large in size (109 m). To measure this size, we take 1 cc of
oleic acid, mix it with alcohol to prepare 25 c.c. of the solution. Take 1 c.c. of this solution and
mix it again with alcohol to prepare 20 c.c. of the solution. In this way, solution of oleic acid in
alcohol with concentration equal to (1/500) is prepared.
Pour n drops of this solution of volume V each on the surface of water in a broad vessel.
Volume of n drops of the solution = n.V
n.V
Volume of oleic acid in this solution = …..(i)
500
This solution of oleic acid spreads very fast on the surface of water and forms a very thin layer of
thickness t (say). The alcohol evaporates and oleic acid layer is left on the surface of water.
Using a trace paper and a graph paper, find the area A occupied by the oleic acid layer.
Volume of oleic acid in the layer = A×t ….(ii)
Form (i) and (ii),
nv nv
At  or t …..(iii)
500 500 A
Hence t can be calculated. If the thin layer is assumed to be one molecule thick, the value
of t would give us the size (i.e. diameter) of a molecule of oleic acid. The value of t comes out to
be of the order of 109 m.
MEASUREMENT OF MASS
As is known, mass is a basic property of matter which does not depend upon temperature,
pressure or location of the object in space. Ordinarily, mass of an object is determined using a
common balance like the one used in a grocery shop. For measuring large masses like that of
planets, stars etc., we make use of gravitational methods.
For measurement of small masses of atomic/subatomic particles etc., we make use of a
mass spectrograph. In mass spectrograph, the radius of the path followed by a charged particle
moving in uniform electric and magnetic field is proportional to the mass of the particle.
MEASUREMENT OF TIME INTERVALS
To measure any time interval, we need a clock. Any phenomenon that repeats itself regularly can
serve as a clock. The Italian Physicist Galileo was the first to attempt a simple method of
measuring time. Galileo timed the oscillations of a lamp hanging on a long chain in a church
using his own pulse as a watch.
To measure any time interval we need a clock. We now use an atomic standard of time,
which is based on the periodic vibrations produced in a cesium atom. This is the basis of the
cesium clock, sometimes called atomic clock, used in the national standards. Such standards
are available in many laboratories. In the cesium atomic clock, the second is taken as the time
needed for 9,192,631,770 vibrations of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the
two hyperfine levels of the ground state of cesium-133 atoms.

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 UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

The cesium atomic clocks are very accurate. In principle they provide portable standard.
The national standard of time interval „second‟ as well as the frequency is maintained through
four cesium atomic clocks. A cesium atomic clock is used at the National Physical Laboratory
(NPL), New Delhi to maintain the Indian standard of time.
In our country, the NPL has the responsibility of maintenance and improvement of
physical standards, including that of time, frequency, etc. Note that the Indian Standard Time
(IST) is linked to this set of atomic clocks. The efficient cesium atomic clocks are so accurate that
they impart the uncertainty in time realization as  1×1013 , i.e. 1 part in 1013. This implies that
the uncertainty gained over time by such a device is less than 1 part in 10 13; they lose or gain no
more than 3 µs in one year. In view of the tremendous accuracy in time measurement, the SI
unit of length has been expressed in terms the path length light travels in certain interval of time
(1/299, 792, 458 of a second). Some of the clocks developed later are:
1. Electric oscillators: The main a.c. supply in our country is 50 Hz. The synchronous rotations
of a motor run on a.c. can be used to obtain a time scale.
2. Electronic oscillators: Vacuum tubes or junction transistors can be used for producing
electromagnetic waves of high frequencies. The small time period of such oscillations can be
used for measuring small time intervals.
3. Solar clock was based on revolution of earth around the sun. Careful measurements show
that the period of rotation of earth changes slightly from day to day, year to year. Therefore,
accuracy of mean solar second defined on this basis becomes questionable.
4. Quartz crystal clock: A quartz crystal shows piezo electric effect, i.e., when fluctuating
pressure is applied across one pair of faces of the crystal, an oscillating e.m.f. develops across
another pair of perpendicular faces and vice-versa. The oscillations so produced are used for
measuring time. Quartz crystal clocks have an accuracy of 1 sec in every 109 sec.
DIMENSIONS OF A PHYSICAL QUANTITY
The seven fundamental or base quantities chosen in SI are called seven dimensions of the
physical world. They are denoted with square brackets [ ]. Thus, length is represented by [L],
mass by [M], time by [T], electric current by [A], thermodynamic temperature by [K], luminous
intensity by [Cd] and amount of substance by [mol].
The dimensions of a physical quantity are the powers (or exponents) to which the units of
base quantities are raised to represent a derived unit of that quantity.
DIMENSIONAL FORMULAE
The expression which shows how and which of the base quantities represent the dimensions of a
physical quantity is called the dimensional formula of the given physical quantity.
DIMENSIONAL EQUATIONS
When a physical quantity is equated to its dimensional formula, what we obtain is the
dimensional equation of the physical quantity.
Similarly, dimensional equation of volume (V) is represented as
[V]  [M0L3 T0 ]
FOUR TYPES OF QUANTITIES
From the study of dimensional formulae of various quantities, we can easily divide them into four
types:
1. Dimensional constants: these are the quantities whose values are constant and they possess
dimension. For example, velocity of light in vacuum, universal gravitational constant,
universal gas constant, boltzmann constant, planck‟s constant etc.
2. Dimensional variables: these are the quantities whose values are variable, and they possess
dimensions. For example, area, volume, density, velocity, acceleration, force etc.

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 UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

3. Dimensionless quantities: these are the quantities whose value are constant, but they do not
possess dimensions. For example, pure numbers 1,2,3,4,…., mathematical constants  and „e‟
etc.
4. Dimensionless variables: these are the quantities whose values are variable, and they do not
have dimensions. For example, angle, strain, specific gravity etc.
USES OF DIMENSIONAL EQUATIONS
Following are the three uses of dimensional equations:
1. Conversion of one system of units into another;
2. Checking the accuracy of various formulae;
3. Derivation of formulae.
Let us now discuss each advantage in detail:
CONVERSION OF ONE SYSTEM OF UNITS INTO ANOTHER
This is based on the fact that magnitude of a physical quantity remains the same, whatever be
the system of its measurement, i.e.
Q = n1.u1 = n2.u2
Where u1 and u2 are two units of measurement of the quantity Q and n1, n2 are their respective
numerical values.
CHECKING THE ACCURACY OF FORMULAE
The magnitude of physical quantities may be added together or subtracted from one another only
if they have the same dimensions. This simple principle is called the Principle of homogeneity
of dimensions.
According to this principle, only that formula is correct, in which the dimensions of the
various terms on one side of the relation are equal to the respective dimensions of these
terms on the other side of the relation.
That mere dimensional correctness of an equation does not ensure its physical correctness. For
example, work = torque, is dimensionally correct, but not physically correct.
DERIVATION OF FORMULAE
Using the same principle of homogeneity of dimensions, we can derive the formula of a physical
quantity, provided we know the factors on which the physical quantity depends. We suppose the
dimensions of the given physical quantity in terms of these factors, combine them to form an
equation; write the dimensions of various quantities in terms of mass, length and time on either
side of the equation.
Using principle of homogeneity of dimensions, equate the powers of M, L and T on both
sides of the dimensional equation. The three equations so obtained are solved to obtain the
values of three unknown powers/dimensions. On substituting these values in the equation we
formed, we obtain the preliminary form of the relation/formula.
LIMITATIONS OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
1. This method gives us no information about the dimensionless constants in the formula,
e.g. 1, 2, 3…., e, etc.
2. If a quantity depends on more than three factors, having dimensions, the formula cannot be
derived. This is because on equating the powers of M, L and T on either side of the
dimensional equation, we can obtain three equations, from which only three unknown
dimensions can be calculated.
3. We cannot derive the formulae containing trigonometric functions, exponential functions, log
functions etc., which have no dimensions.
4. The method of dimensions cannot be used to derive an exact form of relation, when it consists
of more than one part on any side. For example, the exact form of the formula s = ut + 1/2 a
t2 cannot be obtained.

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 UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

5. It gives no information whether a physical quantity is a scalar or a vector.

Furthermore, when dimensions are given, the physical quantity may not be unique, as many
physical quantities have the same dimensions.
ACCURACY, PRECISION OF INSTRUMENTS AND ERRORS IN MEASUREMENT
The result of every measurement by any measuring instrument contains some uncertainty. This
uncertainty is called Error. Every calculated quantity which is based on measured values also
has an error. The Accuracy of a measurement is a measure of how close the measured value is to
the true value of the quantity. Precision tells us to what resolution or limit the quantity is
measured. Suppose the true value of a certain length is near 3.678 cm. In one experiment, using
a measuring instrument of resolution 0.1 cm, the measured value is found to be 3.5 cm, while in
another experiment using a measuring device of greater resolution, say 0.01 cm, length is
determined to be 3.38 cm. The first measurement has more accuracy (because it is closer to the
true value) but less precision (its resolution is only 0.1 cm), while the second measurement is less
accurate but more precise.
In general, the errors in measurement can be broadly classified as-
(a) Systematic errors
(b) Random errors.
SYSTEMATIC ERRORS
The Systematic errors tend to be in one direction, either positive or negative. Some of the
sources of systematic errors are:
(a) Instrumental errors
(b) Imperfection in experimental technique or procedure
(c) Personal errors
RANDOM ERRORS
The Random errors occur irregularly and hence are random with respect to sign and size and
arise due to random and unpredictable fluctuations in experimental conditions.
LEAST COUNT ERROR
The smallest value that can be measured by the measuring instrument is called its Least count.
All the readings or measured values are good only up to this value. The Least count error is the
error associated with the resolution of the instrument. Repeating the observations several times
and taking the arithmetic mean of all the observations, the mean value would be very close to the
true value of the measured quantity.
ABSOLUTE ERROR, RELATIVE ERROR AND PERCENTAGE ERROR
(a) Suppose the values obtained in several measurements are a1, a2, a3...., an. The arithmetic
mean of these values is taken as the best possible value of the quantity under the given
conditions of measurement as:
n
a mean  (a1  a 2  a 3  ....a n )/n   a i / n
i 1

The magnitude of the difference between the true value of the quantity and the individual
measurement value is called the Absolute error of the measurement and denoted by a .
a1  a1  a mean ,
a 2  a 2  a mean ,
.... .... ....
.... .... ....
a n  a n  a mean

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 UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

The Δa calculated above may be positive in certain cases and negative in some other cases. But
absolute error a will always be positive.
(b) The arithmetic mean of all the absolute errors is taken as the Final or Mean absolute error of
the value of the physical quantity a. It is represented by a mean .
n
a mean   a1  a 2  a 3  ...  a n  /n   a1 /n
i 1
If we do a single measurement, the value we get may be in the range-
( a mean  a mean )  a mean  a mean  a  a mean  a mean
This implies that any measurement of the physical quantity a is likely to lie between
(a mean  a mean ) and (a mean  a mean ).

(c) Instead of the absolute error, we often use the Relative Error or Percentage Error. The
relative error is the ratio of the mean absolute error a mean to the mean value a mean of the
quantity measured.
Relative error  a mean /a mean
Percentage Error  (a mean /a mean ) 100%

COMBINATION OF ERRORS
(a) error of a sum or a difference
Suppose two physical quantities A and B have measured values A ± ΔA, B ± ΔB respectively
where ΔA and ΔB are their absolute errors.
If Z = A + B, then maximum possible error in Z= Z = A + B
If Z = A – B, then  Z =  A  B
The maximum value of the error ΔZ is again A + B .
When two quantities are added or subtracted, the absolute error in the final result is the sum
of the absolute errors in the individual quantities.
(B) error of a product or a quotient
Suppose Z = AB and the measured values of A and B are A  A and B  B , then the
maximum relative error- Z /Z = ( A /A) + ( B /B). This is true for division also.
When two quantities are multiplied or divided, the relative error in the result is the sum of the
relative errors in the multipliers.
Example 1: The resistance R = V/I where V = (100  5)V and I = (10  0.2)A. Find the
percentage error in R.
Solution: The percentage error in V is 5% and in I it is 2%. The total error in R would
therefore be 5% + 2% = 7%.

Example 2: The period of oscillation of a simple pendulum is T  2 L /g. Measured value of

L is 20.0 cm known to 1 mm accuracy and time for 100 oscillations of the
pendulum is found to be 90 s using a wrist watch of 1 s resolution. What is the
accuracy in the determination of g ?
Solution: g  42L / T2
t t T t
Here, and T  . Therefore,  .
n n T t
The errors in both L and t are the least count (g /g)  (L /L)  2(T / T)
0.1  1 
  2   0.027
20.0  90 
Thus, the percentage error in g is
100(g /g)  100(L /L)  2 100(T / T)  3%

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 UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
Important rules of deciding Significant Digits or Significant Figures:
1. All the non-zero digits are significant.
2. All the zeros between two non-zero digits are significant, no matter where the decimal point is,
if at all.
3. If the number is less than 1, the zero(s) on the right of decimal point but to the left of the first
non-zero digit are not significant.
4. The terminal or trailing zero(s) in a number without a decimal point are not significant.
5. The trailing zero(s) in a number with a decimal point are significant.
6. For a number greater than 1, without any decimal, the trailing zero(s) are not significant.
7. For a number with a decimal, the trailing zero(s) are significant.
Note: A choice of change of different units does not change the number of significant digits or
figures in a measurement. To remove ambiguities in determining of the number of significant
figures, the best way is to report every measurement in scientific notation (in the power of 10).
RULES FOR ARITHMETIC OPERATIONS WITH SF
1. In multiplication or division, the final result should retain as many significant figures as are
there in the original number with the least significant figures.
2. In addition or subtraction, the final result should retain as many decimal places as are there
in the number with the least decimal places.
ROUNDING OFF THE UNCERTAIN DIGITS
1. Preceding digit is raised by 1 if the insignificant digit to be dropped (the underlined digit in
this case) is more than 5, and is left unchanged if the latter is less than 5.
2. If the preceding digit is even, the insignificant digit is simply dropped and, if it is odd, the
preceding digit is raised by 1.
Example 3: Each side of a cube is measured to be 7.203 m. What are the total surface area
and the volume of the cube to appropriate significant figures?
Solution: The number of significant figures in the measured length is 4. The calculated area
and the volume should therefore be rounded off to 4 significant figures.
Surface area of the cube  6(7.203)2 m2
 311.299254m2  311.3m2
Volume of the cube  (7.203)3 m3
 373.714754m3  373.7m3
Example 4: 5.74 g of a substance occupies 1.2 cm3. Calculate density keeping the significant
figures in view.
Solution: There are 3 significant figures in the measured mass whereas there are only 2
significant figures in the measured volume. Hence the density should be expressed
to only 2 significant figures.
5.74
Density  g cm3  4.8 g cm3.
1.2
Example 5: The accuracy in measurement of mass 1.02 g is  0.01 g whereas another
measurement 9.89 g is also accurate to  0.01 g. Calculate relative error.
Solution: The relative error in 1.02 g is= (  0.01/1.02) × 100 % =  1%
Similarly, the relative error in 9.89 g is
= (  0.01/9.89)×100 %=  0.1 %

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RULES FOR UNCERTAINTY IN RESULTS OF ARITHMETIC CALCULATIONS

(1) Set of experimental data and result of calculation using such data is represented as- (aa),
where a is the measured value and a is the uncertainty in the measurement of a.
(2) If a set of experimental data is specified to n significant figures, a result obtained by
combining the data will also be valid to n significant figures.
(3) The relative error of a value of number specified to significant figures depends not only on n
but also on the number itself.
(4) Intermediate results in a multi-step computation should be calculated to one more significant
figure in every measurement than the number of digits in the least precise measurement.

EXERCISE – I
OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS (TOPIC-WISE)
INTRODUCTION
1. Light year is a unit of
(A) Time (B) Mass (C) Distance (D) Energy
2. Newton–second is the unit of
(A) Velocity (B) Angular momentum (C) Momentum (D) Energy
3. The unit of power is
(A) Joule (B) Joule per second only
(C) Joule per second and watt both (D) Only watt
4. Which of the following is not a unit of energy
(A) W-s (B) kg-m/sec (C) N-m (D) Joule
5. Joule-second is the unit of
(A) Work (B) Momentum
(C) Pressure (D) Angular momentum

DIMENSIONS
6. Dyne/cm2 is not a unit of
(A) Pressure (B) Stress
(C) Strain (D) Young's modulus
7. Which one of the following is not a unit of young's modulus
(A) Nm1 (B) Nm2 (C) Dyne cm2 (D) Mega Pascal
8. The unit of the coefficient of viscosity in S.I. system is
(A) m/kg-s (B) m-s/kg 2 (C) kg/m-s2 (D) kg/m-s
9. The unit of Young‟s modulus is
(A) Nm2 (B) Nm2 (C) Nm (D) Nm1
10. Temperature can be expressed as a derived quantity in terms of any of the following
(A) Length and mass (B) Mass and time
(C) Length, mass and time (D) None of these

DIMENSIONAL FORMULA
11. Dimensional formula ML2T 3 represents
(A) Force (B) Power (C) Energy (D) Work

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 UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

12. Whose dimensions is ML2T 1

(A) Torque (B) Angular momentum (C) Power (D) Work
13. Which pair has the same dimensions
(A) Work and power (B) Density and relative density
(C) Momentum and impulse (D) Stress and strain
14. The dimensions of power are
(A) M1L2T 3 (B) M2L1T 2 (C) M1L2T 1 (D) M1L1T 2

15. The dimensional formula for impulse is

(A) MLT 2 (B) MLT 1 (C) ML2T 1 (D) M2LT1

FUNDAMENTAL QUANTITIES
16. If u1 and u2 are the units selected in two systems of measurement and n1 and n2
their numerical values, then
(A) n1u1  n2u2 (B) n1u1  n2u2  0
(C) n1n2  u1u2 (D) (n1  u1 )  (n2  u2 )

17. In C.G.S. system the magnitude of the force is 100 dynes. In another system where
the fundamental physical quantities are kilogram, metre and minute, the magnitude
of the force is
(A) 0.036 (B) 0.36 (C) 3.6 (D) 36
18. If the acceleration due to gravity is 10 ms 2 and the units of length and time are
changed in kilometer and hour respectively, the numerical value of the acceleration is
(A) 360000 (B) 72,000 (C) 36,000 (D) 129600
19. If the unit of length and force be increased four times, then the unit of energy is
(A) Increased 4 times (B) Increased 8 times
(C) Increased 16 times (D) Decreased 16 times
F L
20. To determine the Young's modulus of a wire, the formula is Y  : ; where
A L
L = length, A  area of cross-section of the wire, L  change in length of the wire when
stretched with a force F . The conversion factor to change it from CGS to MKS system
is
(A) 1 (B) 10 (C) 0.1 (D) 0.01

SIGNIFICANT FIGURE
21. What is the number of significant figures in 0.310×103
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 6
22. The decimal equivalent of 1/20 upto three significant figures is
(A) 0.0500 (B) 0.05000 (C) 0.0050 (D) 5.0 × 10-2
23. If L  2.331cm, B  2.1cm , then L  B 
(A) 4.431 cm (B) 4.43 cm (C) 4.4 cm (D) 4 cm

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24. The number of significant figures in all the given numbers 25.12, 2009, 4.156 and
1.217 104 is
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4
25. If 97.52 is divided by 2.54, the correct result in terms of significant figures is
(A) 38.4 (B) 38.3937 (C) 38.394 (D) 38.39

ERRORS
26. The unit of percentage error is
(A) Same as that of physical quantity
(B) Different from that of physical quantity
(C) Percentage error is unit less
(D) Errors have got their own units which are different from that of physical quantity
measured
27. Accuracy of measurement is determined by
(A) Absolute error (B) Percentage error (C) Both (D) None of these

28. The period of oscillation of a simple pendulum is given by T  2 where l is about
g
100 cm and is known to have 1mm accuracy. The period is about 2s. The time of 100
oscillations is measured by a stop watch of least count 0.1 s. The percentage error in g
is
(A) 0.1% (B) 1% (C) 0.2% (D) 0.8%
29. The percentage errors in the measurement of mass and speed are 2% and 3%
respectively. How much will be the maximum error in the estimation of the kinetic
energy obtained by measuring mass and speed
(A) 11% (B) 8% (C) 5% (D) 1%
30. The random error in the arithmetic mean of 100 observations is x; then random error
in the arithmetic mean of 400 observations would be
1 1
(A) 4x (B) x (C) 2x (D) x
4 2

EXERCISE – II
OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS
1. The unit of surface tension in SI system is
(A) Dyne /cm2 (B) Newton/m (C) Dyne /cm (D) Newton/m2
2. Unit of stress is
(A) N /m (B) N  m (C) N /m2 (D) N  m2
3. Young's modulus of a material has the same units as
(A) Pressure (B) Strain (C) Compressibility (D) Force
4. The units of modulus of rigidity are
(A) Nm (B) N/m (C) Nm2 (D) N/m2

5. Which of the following quantity is expressed as force per unit area

(A) Work (B) Pressure (C) Volume (D) Area

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 UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

6. One second is equal to

(A) 1650763.73 time periods of Kr clock (B) 652189.63 time periods of Kr clock
(C) 1650763.73 time periods of Cs clock (D) 9192631770 time periods of Cs clock
7. A cube has numerically equal volume and surface area. The volume of such a cube is
(A) 216 units (B) 1000 units (C) 2000 units (D) 3000 units
8. Universal time is based on
(A) Rotation of the earth on its axis
(B) Earth's orbital motion around the earth
(C) Vibrations of cesium atom
(D) Oscillations of quartz crystal
9. One yard in SI units is equal
(A) 1.9144 metre (B) 0.9144 metre
(C) 0.09144 kilometre (D) 1.0936 kilometre
10. Erg m–1 can be the unit of measure for:
(A) Force (B) Momentum (C) Power (D) Acceleration
11. In the following list, the only pair which have different dimensions, is
(A) Linear momentum and moment of a force
(B) Planck's constant and angular momentum
(C) Pressure and modulus of elasticity
(D) Torque and potential energy
12. Given that v is speed, r is the radius and g is the acceleration due to gravity. Which
of the following is dimensionless
(A) v2 /rg (B) v2r /g (C) v2g /r (D) v2rg
Energy
13. The physical quantity which has dimensional formula as that of is
Mass  Length
(A) Force (B) Power (C) Pressure (D) Acceleration
14. The dimensions of pressure is equal to
(A) Force per unit volume (B) Energy per unit volume
(C) Force (D) Energy
15. Select the pair whose dimensions are same
(A) Pressure & stress (B) Stress & strain
(C) Pressure & force (D) Power & force
16. If the velocity of light (c) , gravitational constant (G) and Planck's constant (h) are
chosen as fundamental units, then the dimensions of mass in new system is
(A) c1/2G1/2h1/2 (B) c1/2G1/2h1/2 (C) c1/2G1/2h1/2 (D) c1/2G1/2h1/2
1
17. With the usual notations, the following equation St  u  a(2t  1) is
2
(A) Only numerically correct
(B) Only dimensionally correct
(C) Both numerically and dimensionally correct
(D) Neither numerically nor dimensionally correct

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 UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

18. If the dimensions of length are expressed as Gx c y hz ; where G,c and h are the
universal gravitational constant, speed of light and Planck's constant respectively,
then
1 1 1 1
(A) x  , y  (B) x  , z 
2 2 2 2
3 1
(C) y   , z  (D) Both (2) & (3)
2 2
19. The speed of light (c) , gravitational constant (G) and Planck's constant (h) are taken
as the fundamental units in a system. The dimension of time in this new system
should be
(A) G1/2h1/2c5/2 (B) G1/2h1/2c1/2 (C) G1/2h1/2c3/2 (D) G1/2h1/2c1/2
Z
  k
20. In the relation P  e P is pressure, Z is the distance, k is Boltzmann constant and

 is the temperature. The dimensional formula of  will be
(A) [M0L2T0 ] (B) [M1L2 T1 ] (C) [M1L0 T 1 ] (D) [M0L2T 1 ]

EXERCISE – III
SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
TYPE (I): VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS: [01 MARK EACH]
1. What are the dimensions of angular displacement?
2. What are the dimensions of angular momentum?
3. Find dimensional formula of latent heat.
4. Write three non-dimensional variables.
5. Name two physical quantities which have same dimensions as that of work.
6. Write three mathematical variables.
7. Are all constants dimensionless?
8. Can a quantity have units but still be dimensionless?
9. Can a quantity have dimensions but still have no units?
10. Can a quantity have neither units nor dimensions?

TYPE (II): SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS: [02 MARKS EACH]

11. Is there any difference between dimensional formula and dimensional equations?
12. What is the advantage of expressing physical quantities in terms of dimensional equations?
13. Will the measure of a physical quantity depend upon the system of units used ?
14. Write four pairs of physical quantities, which have the same dimensional formula.
15. Pressure may be defined as the linear momentum per unit volume. Is it correct? Check by the
method of dimensions.
1 2
16. The rotational kinetic energy of a is given by E = I , where 2 is angular velocity of the body.
2
Use this equation to get dimensional formula for I.
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 UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

17. What are the dimensions of gravitational constant?

18. Given the dimensional formula of thermal conductivity.
19. If x = a + b t + c t2 , where x is in metres and t in seconds, find the units of b.

20. Write the dimensions of a/b in the relations, F = a x + bt2, where F is force, x is distance and
t is time.

TYPE (III): LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS: [05 MARK EACH]

2 2
21. A physical quantity P is given by P  x y z. The percentage errors in the measurements of x,y
and z are respectively 1%, 2% and 3%. Find the percentage error in the measurement of P.
22. Which of the following measurements is most accurate and which is most precise? 5.00 mm,
5.00 cm, 5.00 m, 50.00 m.
23. If velocity, time and force were chosen as the base quantities, find the dimension of mass.

24. A gas bubble, from an explosion under water, oscillates with a period proportional to pa dbEc ,
where p is the static pressure, d is the density and E is the total energy of the explosion. Find
the values of a, b and c.

25. Young‟s modulus of steel is 19 1010 Nm2. Find its value in dyn cm2.

ANSWER
EXERCISE – I
OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS (TOPIC-WISE)
1. C 7. A 13. C 19. C 25. A
2. C 8. D 14. A 20. C 26. C
3. C 9. B 15. B 21. B 27. B
4. B 10. D 16. A 22. A 28. C
5. D 11. B 17. C 23. C 29. B
6. C 12. B 18. D 24. D 30. B

EXERCISE – II
OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS
1. B 5. B 9. B 13. D 17. C
2. C 6. D 10. A 14. B 18. D
3. A 7. A 11. A 15. A 19. A
4. D 8. C 12. A 16. C 20. A

EXERCISE – III
SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
lengthof arc
1. Since angular displacement = ;
radius
it is dimensionless.
2. [M L2 T–1]
 quantitiy of heat   energy 
3. [Latent heat] 
mass    mass 
   
2 –2
[ML L ]
= = [M0L2 T 2 ]
[M]

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 UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

4. Strain, angular displacement and trigonometric ratios.

5. Torque and energy.
6. Angle, T-ratio, coordinates of a point.
7. No. For example, G (gravitational constant); h (Planck‟s constant); k (Boltzmann constant); etc
are constants, but possess dimensions.
8. Yes. For example, unit of angle is radian, but it is a dimensionless quantity.
9. No.
10. Yes. For example, strain has neither units nor dimensions.
11. Yes, the two are different from each other.
12. The dimensional formula of a physical quantity indicates the fundamental units on which the
physical quantity depends. It further tells the powers of the fundamental units, on which the
given physical quantity depends.
13. The measure of a physical quantity does not depend on the system of units used. It is
because, If the size of the unit (u) is small, then numerical value (n) of the physical quantity
will be large and vice-versa, but the measure n u will constant.
14. 1. Work and energy
2. Pressure and stress
3. Velocity gradient and frequency
4. Angular momentum and Planck‟s constant.
force M L T –2
15. Now, pressure =  2
 [ML1T 2 ]
area L
Linear momentum per unit volume
momentum ML T –1
 3
 [ML2 T 1 ]
volume L
As the dimensions of pressure and linear momentum per unit volume are not same, it is
incorrect.
1
16. Here, E = I2
2
2E
or I = 2

 2  energy  [ML2 T –2 ]
 [I] =  2

 (angular velocity)  [T –1 ]2
 [ML2 T0 ]
M M
17. We know, F = G 1 2 2
r
 F  r  [ML T –2 ]  [L]2
2
 [G] =  
 M1  M2  [M]  [M]
 [M1L3 T 2 ]
18. The coefficient of thermal conductivity is given by
Qd
k= ,
A(1 – 2 )t
where Q, d, A, (q1 q2) and t stand for energy, distance, area, temperature difference and time.
[M L2 T –2 ]  [L]
 [k] = 2
 [ML T 1K 1 ]
[L]  [K]  [T]
Note : Here, the coefficient of thermal conductivity has been denoted by k instead of K in
order to distinguish it from K (kelvin), the unit of temperature.

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 UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

19. Here, x = a + b t + c t2
Since x stands for length, all the three factors on the R.H.S. of the given relation should
possess the dimension of length.
 [b t] = [L]
[L]
or [b] = = [L T–1]
[T]
i.e.b represents velocity and hence its unit is ms–1.
20. Here, F = a x + bt2
Since F stands for force, both the factors on the R.H.S. of the given relation should possess
the dimension of force.
 [ a x ] = [F]
[F] ML T –2
or [a] =  = [M L1/2 T–2]
[ x] L1/2
Also, [b t2] = [F]
[F] ML T –2
or [b] = 2  = [M L T–4]
[t ] T2
[ML1/2 T –2 ]
Hence, [a/b] = = [M L–1/2 T2]
[M L T –4 ]
21. Given P  x2 y 3z.
The relative error in P
P  x   y   z 
   3  .
P  x   y   z 
The percentage error in P is,
P  x   y   z 
 100  2    100  3    100     100
P  x   y   z 
P
  100  2  1%  3  2%  3%
P
P
  100  2%  6%  3%  11%
P
22. We first calculate the relative errors in the different measurements.
Measured value Least count Relative error
5.00 mm 0.01 mm 2 103
5.00 cm 0.01 cm 2 103
5.00 m 0.01 m 2 103
50.00 m 0.01 m 2 104
Since the relative errors in the measurements of 50.00 m is minimum, this is the most
accurate measurement. The measurement 5.00 mm is the most precise, because it is
measured with an instrument of minimum least count (=0.01mm)
23. We have,
velocity
Force = mass × acceleration = mass ×
time
force  time
 mass 
velocity
[force]  [time]
 [mass] 
[velocity]
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F.T
 [mass]   FTV 1.
V
24. Let the period of oscillation be t, then,
t  pa dbEc
 t  K. pa dbEc , where K is a constant
 [t]  [p]a [d]b [E]c
 [M0L0 T]  [ML1T 2 ]a [ML3 ]b [ML2T 2 ]c
 [M0L0 T]  Ma bcLa 3b2c T 2a 2c
Equating the powers of M, L and T on both sides of Equation 2, we get
a bc  0
a  3b  2c  0
2a  2c  1
5 1 1
 a   ,b  ,c  .
6 2 3
25. The dimensional formula for Young‟s modulus is
[Y]  ML1T 2
We have,
(1kg)  (1m)  (1s)2
1Nm2   (1kg)  (1m)1  (1s)2
(1m)2
(1g)  (1cm)  (1s)2
and 1dyn cm2 
(1m)2
1Nm2 (1kg)  (1m)1  (1s)2
Hence, 
1dyncm2 (1g)  (1cm)1  (1s)2
1
1Nm2  1kg   1m 
   
1dyncm2  1g   1cm 
1
1Nm2  1000 g   100 cm 
   
1dyncm2  1g   1cm 
1Nm2
 2
 1000  (100)1  10
1dyncm
 1Nm2  10dyncm2
 19 1010 Nm2  19 1011dyncm2 .

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