Okay, here are the short notes and practice questions on Units and Measurements again,

incorporating a blend of concepts you'd find in NCERT, State Board materials, and popular
resources like Concepts of Physics and PW Physics:
UNIT 1: Units and Measurements - Comprehensive Short Notes
●​ The Need for Measurement: Physics is a quantitative science, and measurement is
fundamental to it. We need standardized units to express and compare physical quantities
meaningfully.
●​ Physical Quantities: Quantities that can be measured and described by numerical
values. They are broadly classified into:
○​ Fundamental (Base) Quantities: These are quantities that are independent and
not defined in terms of other physical quantities. The seven SI base quantities are
length, mass, time, electric current, thermodynamic temperature, amount of
substance, and luminous intensity.
○​ Derived Quantities: These are quantities defined in terms of the base quantities
through mathematical relationships (e.g., speed = distance/time).
●​ Units: The standard of reference chosen for the measurement of a physical quantity.
○​ Fundamental Units: The units of the base quantities (meter, kilogram, second,
ampere, kelvin, mole, candela).
○​ Derived Units: Units obtained by combining fundamental units (e.g., m/s for speed,
N = kg \cdot m/s^2 for force).
●​ Systems of Units: A complete set of units for all physical quantities. The commonly used
systems include:
○​ CGS (Centimetre-Gram-Second)
○​ FPS (Foot-Pound-Second) or British System
○​ MKS (Metre-Kilogram-Second)
○​ SI (International System of Units): The universally accepted and most widely
used system, based on the MKS system, with seven base units and two
supplementary units (radian and steradian for angles).
●​ Magnitude and Unit: Any physical quantity is expressed as a numerical magnitude
multiplied by a unit (e.g., length = 5 meters).
●​ Dimensional Analysis: A powerful tool to analyze the relationship between physical
quantities by identifying their base quantities and their dimensions.
○​ Dimensional Formula: An expression showing the powers to which the base units
are raised to represent a derived unit of a physical quantity (e.g., Velocity: [M^0 L^1
T^{-1}] or simply [LT^{-1}]).
○​ Dimensional Equation: An equation obtained by equating a physical quantity with
its dimensional formula (e.g., [v] = [LT^{-1}]).
○​ Applications of Dimensional Analysis:
■​ Checking the dimensional consistency of equations.
■​ Deriving relationships between physical quantities.
■​ Converting units from one system to another.
■​ Identifying potential errors in formulas.
○​ Limitations of Dimensional Analysis:
■​ Cannot determine dimensionless constants in a formula.
■​ Cannot be used to derive formulas involving trigonometric, exponential, or
logarithmic functions.
■​ Cannot distinguish between scalar and vector quantities.
●​ Errors in Measurement: The uncertainty in a measurement.
 ○​ Types of Errors:
■​ Systematic Errors: Errors that tend to be in one direction (either positive or
negative). They can arise due to faulty instruments, imperfect techniques, or
personal bias. Examples include zero error in instruments, calibration errors.
■​ Random Errors: Errors that occur irregularly and are unpredictable in
magnitude and direction. These arise due to sudden and unforeseen
fluctuations in experimental conditions or human errors in reading. Reducing
random errors can be done by taking multiple readings and averaging them.
■​ Gross Errors: Errors caused by carelessness or mistakes by the observer
during the experiment (e.g., reading an instrument incorrectly, recording
wrong observations).
○​ Quantification of Errors:
■​ Absolute Error (\Delta a): The magnitude of the difference between the true
value (a_{true}) and the measured value (a_{measured}). |\Delta a| =
|a_{true} - a_{measured}|. For multiple measurements, it's often the mean of
the absolute differences.
■​ Relative Error (\delta a): The ratio of the absolute error to the true value (or
mean value for multiple measurements). \delta a = \frac{|\Delta a|}{a_{mean}}.
■​ Percentage Error: The relative error expressed as a percentage. Percentage
error = \delta a \times 100\%.
○​ Error Propagation: Rules for determining the error in a quantity that depends on
several other measured quantities.
■​ For sum or difference: If Z = A \pm B, then \Delta Z = \Delta A + \Delta B
(absolute errors add).
■​ For product or quotient: If Z = AB or Z = A/B, then \frac{\Delta Z}{Z} =
\frac{\Delta A}{A} + \frac{\Delta B}{B} (relative or percentage errors add).
■​ For a quantity raised to a power: If Z = A^n, then \frac{\Delta Z}{Z} = |n|
\frac{\Delta A}{A}.
●​ Significant Figures: The digits in a measurement that are reliably known plus the first
uncertain digit. They indicate the precision of a measurement.
○​ Rules for Determining Significant Figures:
■​ All non-zero digits are significant.
■​ Zeros between non-zero digits are significant.
■​ Leading zeros (zeros to the left of the first non-zero digit) are not significant.
■​ Trailing zeros in a number with a decimal point are significant.
■​ Trailing zeros in a number without a decimal point may or may not be
significant (ambiguous). To avoid ambiguity, use scientific notation.
○​ Rules for Arithmetic Operations with Significant Figures:
■​ Multiplication and Division: The final result should have as many significant
figures as the original number with the fewest significant figures.
■​ Addition and Subtraction: The final result should have as many decimal
places as the original number with the fewest decimal places.
●​ Order of Magnitude: An estimate of the size of a quantity expressed as the nearest
power of 10.
Important Physical Quantities, Their Formulas, SI Units, and Dimensions (Revisited and
Expanded)
Physical Quantity Formula SI Unit Dimensions Notes
Area Length × Breadth square meter [L^2] Derived from
(m^2) length.
Volume Length × Breadth cubic meter (m^3) [L^3] Derived from
× Height length.
Density Mass / Volume kg/m^3 [ML^{-3}] Relates mass and
volume.
Speed (or Velocity) Distance / Time meter per second [LT^{-1}] Rate of change of
(m/s) position.
Acceleration Change in Velocity m/s^2 [LT^{-2}] Rate of change of
/ Time velocity.
Force Mass × newton (N) [MLT^{-2}] Causes
Acceleration acceleration.
Work (or Energy) Force × joule (J) [ML^2T^{-2}] Capacity to do
Displacement work. Various
forms (kinetic,
potential, etc.).
Power Work / Time watt (W) [ML^2T^{-3}] Rate of doing work
or energy transfer.
Pressure Force / Area pascal (Pa) [ML^{-1}T^{-2}] Force per unit
area.
Momentum Mass × Velocity kg \cdot m/s [MLT^{-1}] Quantity of motion.
Impulse Force × Time N \cdot s [MLT^{-1}] Change in
momentum.
Frequency 1 / Time Period hertz (Hz) [T^{-1}] Number of
oscillations per
unit time.
Electric Charge Current × Time coulomb (C) [AT] Fundamental
property related to
electric force.
Electric Potential Work / Charge volt (V) [ML^2T^{-3}A^{-1}] Potential energy
per unit charge.
Resistance Potential / Current ohm (\Omega) [ML^2T^{-3}A^{-2}] Opposition to the
flow of electric
current.
Torque Force × newton-meter [ML^2T^{-2}] Rotational
Perpendicular (Nm) equivalent of force.
Distance Same dimensions
as work/energy but
different physical
meaning.
Angular Moment of Inertia kg \cdot m^2/s [ML^2T^{-1}] Measure of the
Momentum × Angular Velocity amount of rotation
of an object.
Planck's Constant Energy / joule-second (Js) [ML^2T^{-1}] Fundamental
Frequency constant in
Physical Quantity Formula SI Unit Dimensions Notes
quantum
mechanics.
Gravitational F = G \frac{m_1 N m^2/kg^2 [M^{-1}L^3T^{-2}] Fundamental
Constant m_2}{r^2} constant in
Newton's law of
gravitation.
50 Practice Questions on Units and Measurements (Comprehensive Mix)
Here are 50 questions with a mix of single correct, multiple correct, important concepts, and JEE
Mains-level questions, drawing from NCERT, State Board, Concepts of Physics, and PW
Physics perspectives:
Single Correct Answer Type Questions (20)
1.​ The SI unit of solid angle is: (a) radian (b) degree (c) steradian (d) diopter
2.​ Which of the following pairs does not have the same dimensions? (a) Pressure and
Elastic modulus (b) Stress and Strain (c) Work and Energy (d) Velocity and Speed
3.​ The dimensional formula of surface energy is the same as that of: (a) force (b) pressure
(c) surface tension (d) work
4.​ If the unit of mass is doubled and the unit of length is halved, then the unit of force will be:
(a) doubled (b) halved (c) remains the same (d) quadrupled
5.​ A student measures the length of a rod and writes it as 3.50 cm. The instrument used has
a least count of: (a) 0.1 cm (b) 0.01 cm (c) 0.001 cm (d) 0.05 cm
6.​ Which of the following is a derived unit? (a) kilogram (b) second (c) pascal (d) kelvin
7.​ The dimensions of impulse are the same as that of: (a) force (b) pressure (c) momentum
(d) energy
8.​ The distance covered by a particle in time t is given by s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2. The
dimensions of a are: (a) [LT^{-1}] (b) [LT^{-2}] (c) [L^2T^{-2}] (d) [L]
9.​ The number of significant figures in 2.30 \times 10^{23} is: (a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 25 (d) 23
10.​Which of the following physical quantities has the dimensions [M^0 L^0 T^{-1}]? (a)
Frequency (b) Time period (c) Wavelength (d) Velocity
11.​If the radius of a sphere is measured with an error of 1%, then the percentage error in the
calculation of its surface area will be: (a) 1% (b) 2% (c) 3% (d) 4%
12.​The unit of gravitational potential is: (a) J/kg (b) N/kg (c) J \cdot kg (d) N \cdot kg
13.​The dimensions of the coefficient of thermal conductivity are: (a) [MLT^{-3}K^{-1}] (b)
[ML^2T^{-2}K^{-1}] (c) [ML^2T^{-3}K^{-1}] (d) [ML^{-1}T^{-3}K^{-1}]
14.​One light-year is a unit of: (a) time (b) distance (c) velocity (d) acceleration
15.​The dimensional formula for magnetic flux is: (a) [ML^2T^{-2}A^{-1}] (b) [MLT^{-2}A^{-2}]
(c) [ML^2T^{-1}A^{-1}] (d) [M^2L^2T^{-2}A^{-1}]
16.​Which of the following measurements is least precise? (a) 5.00 cm (b) 0.005 cm (c) 500
cm (d) 0.50 cm
17.​The dimensions of latent heat are: (a) [L^2T^{-2}] (b) [ML^2T^{-2}] (c) [LT^{-2}] (d)
[M^0L^2T^{-2}]
18.​If pressure P, velocity v, and time T are taken as fundamental units, the dimensional
formula of force is: (a) [PvT^2] (b) [Pv^{-1}T^2] (c) [PvT] (d) [Pv^{-2}T^2]
19.​The dimensions of permittivity of free space (\epsilon_0) are: (a) [M^{-1}L^{-3}T^4A^2] (b)
[ML^3T^{-4}A^{-2}] (c) [M^{-1}L^3T^{-4}A^2] (d) [ML^{-3}T^4A^2]
20.​Which of the following has the same dimensions as energy density? (a) Pressure (b)
Force (c) Power (d) Momentum
Multiple Correct Answer Type Questions (15)
1.​ Which of the following are SI base units? (a) Celsius (b) Ampere (c) Mole (d) Newton
2.​ Which of the following pairs have different dimensions? (a) Potential energy and Kinetic
energy (b) Electric field and Magnetic field (c) Electric dipole moment and Magnetic dipole
moment × velocity (d) Tension and Surface tension
3.​ The physical quantities that have the dimensional formula [M^1L^0T^{-2}] can represent:
(a) Thrust (b) Pressure gradient (c) Force per unit length (d) Energy per unit length
4.​ Which of the following can be measured in kilograms? (a) Force (b) Mass (c) Weight (d)
Momentum
5.​ Systematic errors can be minimized by: (a) taking multiple readings. (b) using a more
precise instrument. (c) identifying the cause and applying corrections. (d) careful
observation.
6.​ Which of the following statements are incorrect regarding significant figures? (a) A zero
placed between two non-zero digits is not significant. (b) The number 0.003 has three
significant figures. (c) Trailing zeros in a whole number are always significant. (d)
Changing units does not change the number of significant figures.
7.​ If the percentage error in R is a\% and in L is b\%, then the percentage error in the time
constant \tau = L/R can be: (a) (a+b)\% (b) (a-b)\% (c) (b-a)\% (d) \pm (a+b)\%
8.​ Which of the following physical quantities have dimensions of [M^0L^1T^{-2}]? (a)
Acceleration due to gravity (b) Gravitational field intensity (c) Velocity gradient (d) Strain
9.​ The dimensional formula [M^1L^2T^{-1}A^{-2}] can represent: (a) Resistance (b)
Inductance (c) Capacitance (d) Magnetic flux
10.​Which of the following are fundamental constants? (a) Speed of light in vacuum (b)
Gravitational acceleration (g) (c) Planck's constant (d) Permittivity of free space
(\epsilon_0)
11.​When rounding off 7.875 to three significant figures, the result is 7.88. This is because: (a)
the digit to be dropped is 5. (b) the preceding digit is odd. (c) the preceding digit is even.
(d) the rules of rounding off dictate this.