Engineering
Mechanics
Units and Measurement
Units of Measurement
• Fundamental Units
• Derived Units
Fundamental Units
• The measurement of physical quantities is one of the most important
operations in engineering.
• Every quantity is measured in terms of some arbitrary, but
internationally accepted units, called fundamental units.
• All the physical quantities, met with in Engineering Mechanics, are
expressed in terms of three fundamental quantities, i.e.
1. Length
2. Mass
3. Time
Derived Units
• Sometimes, the units are also expressed in other units (which are
derived from fundamental units) known as derived units e.g. units of
area, velocity, acceleration, pressure etc.
Systems Of Units
There are only four systems of units, which are commonly used and
universally recognised.
1. C.G.S. (centimeter-gram-second) units
2. F.P.S. (foot-pound-second) units
3. M.K.S. (meter-kilogram-second) units
4. S.I. (International System) units
Fundamental Units in SI system of units
Quantity SI Units Symbol
Mass Kilogram kg
Length Meter m
Time Second s
SI Derived Units
Derived Unit Symbol Physical Quantity
Newton N = kg m/s2 Force
Joule J = N m = kg m2/s2 Energy, Work, Heat
Watt W = J/s = N m/s = kg m2/s3 Power
Pascal Pa = N/m2 = kg m/s2 Pressure, Stress
Hertz Hz = s-1 Frequency
Metre
The international metre may be defined as the shortest distance (at
0°C) between two parallel lines engraved upon the polished surface of
the Platinum-Iridium bar, kept at the International Bureau of Weights
and Measures at Sevres near Paris.
Kilogram
The international kilogram may be defined as the mass of the Platinum-
Iridium cylinder, which is also kept at the International Bureau of
Weights and Measures at sevres near Paris.
Second
The fundamental unit of time for all the four systems is second, which
is 1/(24 × 60 × 60) =1/86 400th of the mean solar day.
A solar day may be defined as the interval of time between the instants
at which the sun crosses the meridian on two consecutive days.
Presentation Of Units And Their Values
• International Standard Organisation (ISO)
• Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) formerly known as Indian Standards
Institution (ISI)
Rules for use if SI symbols
1. A symbol is never written with a plural “s”.
2. Symbols are always written in lowercase letters except the symbols
names after an individual, e.g. N and J
3. No full stop, dots or dashes should be used, e.g. N m not N,m or
N.m
4. It is permissible that one space be left between any two unit
symbols, e.g. m s, kg m/s
5. No space be left after a multiple or submultiple symbol, e.g. kJ/kg
6. Always leave a space between and unit symbol, e.g. 3 m, 1500 N.
7. For numbers less than unity, zero must be put on the left of the
decimal, e.g. 0.30 m.
8. For larger numbers exceeding five figures, in ISO system one space
after every three digits counting from the right end must be left
blank without any commas, e.g. 1 500 375 is the correct way of
writing the number. In ISI system, the correct way to write the same
number is 15 00 375.
9. The exponential power represented for a unit having a prefix refers
to both the unit and its prefix, e.g. mm2 = (mm) 2 =mm . Mm
10. Represent the number in terms of base or derived units by
converting all prefixes to power of, while performing calculations.
The final result should be expressed using a single prefix.
11. Avoid using of prefix in denominator of composite units. Except for
the base unit kilogram, e.g don’t write N/µm, but rather MN/m.
12. Compound prefix should not be used, e.g. Gµm should be
expressed as kN
1 Gµm = 1 (109) (10-6) N =1 (103) N = 1 kN
Dimentional Formula
Dimentional formula is a formula in which the given physical quantity is
expressed in terms of fundamental quanitites raised to suitable power.
Base Unit Dimention
Mass M
Length L
Time T
Temperature K
Electric Current A
Luminous intensity Cd
Amount of substance mol
S.No Physical Quantity Expression Dimensional Formula
1. Displacement (S) Distance L
2. Velocity (V) Distance/Time LT-1
3. Acceleration (a) Velocity/Time LT-2
4. Force (F) Mass × Acceleration MLT-2
5. Momentum Mass × Velocity MLT-1
6. Impulse Force × Time MLT-1
7. Work or Energy Force × Displacement ML2T2
8. Power Work/Time ML2T3
9. Pressure Force/Area ML-1T1
10. Frequency No. of vibrations/Time T-1
11. Angular Velocity Angle/Time T-1
