Class 11th

[1]
CONTENTS
PART A: Units and Dimensional Analysis

1. Units………………………………………………………………………………...…….….…………. [2]
1.1 Fundamental quantities…………………………………………….…….….….…….………… [2]
1.2 Derived Quantities…………………………………………………….……..….……………… [2]
1.3 International system of units (SI unit)……………………………………..………….……….. [2]
1.4 Other units……………………………………………………………….…..…………………. [2]
2. Dimensional Analysis……………………………………………………………..….………………… [3]
2.1 Dimensions………………………………………………………………..….………………… [3]
2.2 Principle of Homogeneity of dimensions………………………………..…….……………….. [3]
2.3 Uses of dimensional analysis………………………………………………..….………………. [3]
2.3.1 To check dimensional correctness of a given physical relation…..….………………… [3]
2.3.2 To establish relation between different physical quantities…….….…………..…...[3]
In Chapter Exercise – 1…..……………………………………….……...…................[7]
PART B: Experimental Skills
3. Significant Figures…………………………………………………………….……….…..................... [10]
3.1 Identification of significant figures…………………………………….…….………………….[10]
3.2 Rules of operations with significant figures ………………………….…….………………….. [10]
4. Rounding off the uncertain digits…………………………………………………….……………… [11]
4.1 Rules for rounding off ……………………………………………………….……................... [11]
5. Order of Magnitude ………………………………………………………………….……..………... [11]
6. Errors in measurement …………………………………………………………………....................... [12]
7. Types of error ………………………………………………………………………………………. [12]
7.1 Systematic Errors……………………………………………………………………………….. [12]
7.2 Random Errors…………………………………………………………….…………………… [12]
7.3 Zero Errors………………………………………………………………….………..………… [12]
8. Quantification of Errors…………………………………………………………….……..................... [13]
8.1 Mean Absolute Error……………………………………………………….……………………[14]
8.2 Relative Error or Fractional Error…………………………………………….…………………[14]
9. Combination of Errors………………………………………………………………….…………....... [14]
9.1 Rules for Combination of errors…………………………………………….………..……….. [14]
10. Measuring instruments………………………………………………………………….…..………. [16]
10.1 Least Count…………………………………….….…………….……………….…………….. [16]
10.2 Zero Error…………………………………………………………………….………………… [16]
11. Length measuring instruments…………………………………………………………….………... [17]
11.1 Ruler….…………………………………………………………………………...……………. [17]
11.2 Vernier Calliper….…………………………………………………………….……………….. [17]
11.3 Screw Gauge………….……………………………………………………….…......................... [18]
In Chapter Exercise – 2……….….…………………………………….……………...[18]
EXERCISE – 1..........................................................................................................................………... [24]
EXERCISE – 2….…………………………………………….…………………….…................[28]
EXERCISE – 3……………………………………………………….………………….………………[40]
List of formula for dimensional analysis
Raman Niwas, Near Aakashvani, Mahmoorganj, Varanasi. Ph. (0542)–2363455, website www.catjee.in
[2]
PART A: Units and Dimensional Analysis

1. UNITS
Measurement of any physical quantity involves its comparison with a certain basic reference standard, called
unit. Any standard unit must have two properties
(i) Invariability (ii) Availability
The result of measurement of a physical quantity is expressed by a number (numerical measure n)
accompanied by a unit (u). The result of the measurement can be understood as n times a standard value u of
the physical quantity. Thus,
Measurement = nu
If representation of a physical quantity is converted from one unit (u1) to other unit (u2), the value of the
physical quantity remains same in the two representations. Thus if n1 and n2 represent the numerical value of
the physical quantity in the two system of units,
n1u1  n2 u2
Using this result, representation of a physical quantity can be converted from one unit to other.
1.1 Fundamental quantities: A set of seven independent physical quantities is called fundamental
quantities. This set contains following quantities:
Physical Quantity Standard Symbolic representation Symbolic representation of
Unit of SI Unit dimensions
Length Meter m L
Mass Kilogram kg M
Time Second s T
Electric Current Ampere A A or I
Amount of substance Mole mol 
Temperature Kelvin K K or 
Luminous Intensity Candela cd J
1.2 Derived Quantities: The quantities expressed in terms of fundamental quantities are called derived
quantities. The units of derived quantities are expressed in terms of fundamental units and they are
called derived units. e.g., velocity, force, impulse etc. are derived quantities.
1.3 International system of units (SI unit): Internationally standardized and accepted unit of a physical
quantity is called its SI unit. This system of units was introduced in 1971 by the general conference on
weights and measures and was internationally accepted. Each physical quantity can be expressed in
terms of fundamental quantities. Hence unit of each physical quantity can be expressed in terms of
above mentioned SI units of fundamental quantities.
1.4 Other units: Depending on requirements, convenient units other than SI units can be used to express
value of a physical quantity. For instance, cgs system of unit uses expression of physical quantities in
terms of centimeter, gram and seconds which is not SI system of units. House old consumption of
electrical energy is generally expressed in kilowatt-hour which is not SI system of unit. One unit can
be converted into other unit using conversion factors as described in following examples:
Example 1: Convert speed of 18km/hr into its SI units.
Solution: SI unit of speed will be m/s. Let this value of speed be equal to x m/s. Then,
18km/hr = x m/s
km s
 x  18  
m hr
1000m s
 x  18  
m 3600s
 x5
Thus the required answer is 5 m/s.
[3]
Now Solve: In cgs system of unit, considered unit of length mass and time are centimeter, gram and second
respectively. Convert 10N of force into its cgs system of unit, which is called Dyne.
Solve: 106 Dyne
Example 2: Which of the quantities among length, force, speed, charge are fundamental quantities?
Solution: Only length among these is fundamental quantity. Force depends on mass, length and time. Speed
depends on length and time. Charge depends on current and time.
Now Solve: On what fundamental quantities does energy depend?
Answer: Mass, length and time.
2. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
All the physical quantities represented by derived units can be expressed in terms of some combination of
seven fundamental quantities. The relation of a physical quantity with the seven fundamental quantities is
analyzed in Dimensional Analysis.
2.1 Dimensions: Dimension of a physical quantity represents relation of a given quantity with that of
fundamental quantities. Mathematically, dimensions of a physical quantity are the powers (or
exponents) to which the fundamental quantities are raised to represent that quantity. Symbolic
representation of a physical quantity in terms of fundamental quantities is called a dimensional
formula. A dimensional formula is represented in square brackets [...]. For example,
(i) Area has two dimensions of length while volume has three dimensions of length.
(ii) Velocity has one dimension of length and minus one dimension of time.
(iii) Dimensional formula of speed is (Length)(Time)-1, symbolically written as [LT-1].
All exponential, trigonometric & logarithmic functions as well as their arguments are dimensionless
quantities.
Example 3: Calculate the dimensional formula of energy (E) from its dependence on mass (m) and speed (v) given
1
by the equation E  mv 2 .
2
1
Solution: Given expression is: Energy   mass × (speed)2
2
 L  2
 E    M        ML2T 2 
1
or, [since is a number and has no dimension]
 T   2
Now Solve: Intensity is defined as energy crossing a surface per unit area per unit time. Calculate dimensional
formula of Intensity.
Answer:  M T 3 
2.2 Principle of Homogeneity of dimensions: This principle states that two quantities can be added,
subtracted or equated only if their dimensions are same. Thus, a velocity cannot be added to a force or
an electric current cannot be subtracted from the thermodynamic temperature. This simple principle is
called the principle of homogeneity of dimensions in an equation and is an extremely useful method to
check whether an equation may be correct or not.
2.3 Uses of dimensional analysis: Following are the uses of dimensional analysis of an equation. Each of
the following uses is based on principle of homogeneity of dimensions:
2.3.1 To check dimensional correctness of a given physical relation: In a given relation between
various physical quantities, for addition or subtraction of any two or more terms, each term
must have same dimensional formula. The mathematical relation between various physical
quantities is represented in an equation. Left hand side and right hand side of the equation
must have exactly same dimensional formula for dimensional correctness of the equation.
2.3.2 To establish relation between different physical quantities: If a physical quantity is known
to depend on various other quantities, an equation is first established between the physical
quantities with their exponents as unknown variables. The equation is then simplified by
substituting dimensional formula of each physical quantity. Various equations can now be
developed equating the exponents of mass, length, time etc in LHS and RHS. These new
equations are solved to obtain values of unknown variables. The process is illustrated in
examples below.
Following examples describe the dimensional analysis of various physical quantities:
[4]
Example 4: Test dimensional correctness of the equation:
v 2  u 2  2ax
Here u and v represent initial and final speeds, a represents acceleration and s represents displacement.
Solution: There are three terms in this equation v 2 , u 2 and 2ax. The equation may be correct only if the
dimensions of these three terms are equal. Their dimensions are:
 L  2 
v 2        L2T 2  ;
 T  
 L  2 
u 2        L2T 2  ;
 T  
 L  
and  2ax   a  x    L   L2T 2 
2  
 T  
Thus, the equation is dimensionally correct.
Now Solve: Check dimensional correctness of following equation with variable same as in mention example:
v3  u 3  2ax 2
Answer: The equation is dimensionally incorrect.
Example 5: If velocity (V), time (T) and force (F) are chosen as basic physical quantities, find the dimensions of
mass.
Solution: In previous classes, we have learned the relation between mass, acceleration and force. Thus, using the
formula,
Velocity
Force = Mass × Acceleration  Mass ×
Time
Force × Time
 Mass 
Velocity
 [Mass]   FTV 1 
Alternatively,
Let mass be dependent on velocity (V), time(T) and force(F) by following equation:
[Mass]   F aT bV c 
Using the dimensional formula for force, time and velocity as:
 Force   MLT 2   Time  T  and  Velocity   LT 1 
The equation becomes:
[Mass]   MLT 2  T b  LT 1  
a c
 
  M    M a La cT 2a bc 
Equating exponents both sides, we get the values of a, b and c as:
a 1
ac  0  c  1
2a  b  c  0  b 1
Thus mass can be expressed in terms of velocity (V), time(T) and force(F) by following equation:
[Mass]   FTV 1 
Now Solve: Considering volume (V) and speed (S) to be basic physical quantities, find the dimensions of
acceleration.
Answer: V  13 S 2 
 
Example 6: When a solid sphere moves through a liquid, the liquid opposes the motion of sphere with a force F.
The magnitude of F depends on the coefficient of viscosity  of the liquid (having dimensional
formula ML1T 1 ), the radius r of the sphere and the speed v of the sphere. Assuming that F is
proportional to different powers of these quantities, guess a formula for F using the method of
dimensions.
[5]
Suppose the formula is F  k   (r )b (v)c

a
Solution:
b  L  
c
MLT 2   ML1T 1   L       M a L(  a b  c )T (  a c ) 
a
Then,
 T  
Equating the exponents of M, L and T from both sides,
a = 1, –a + b + c = 1 and –a – c = –2
Solving these, a = 1, b = 1 and c = 1. Thus, the formula for F is F  k rv. Here, k is a dimensionless
constant.
Now Solve: Speed of sound (v) in air is found to depend on pressure (P) of the medium and density (D) of the
medium. Using dimensional analysis, develop a relation between v, P and D.
P
Solution: vk with k as any dimensionless constant.
D
Example 7: Find dimensions of the constants a and b in the Van der Waal’s equation
 a 
 P  2  V  b   RT ,
 V 
with P as pressure and V as volume.
Solution: We know that we can add or subtract quantities with same dimensional formula. Thus,
a
Dimensions of P = Dimensions of ... (i)
V2
And, Dimensions of V  Dimensions of b ... (ii)
From (i),
Dimensions of a  Dimension of P  Dimensions of V 2
 a    M 1 L1T 2    L3 
2
   M 1 L5T 2 
From (ii),
b  V    M 0 L3T 0 
Now Solve: In the given Van der Waal’s equation of real gas, if T represents temperature of the gas find
dimensional formula of constant R.
Answer:  ML2T 2 K 1 
Example 8: Power (P) dissipated in a resistor of resistance (R) carrying current (i) is given as:
P  i2 R
Use this equation to find dimensional formula of resistance.
Solution: Power is rate of doing work. Thus, its dimensional formula can be written as:
 P  
Work 
   ML T 
2 3
 Time 
Now using the formula P  i 2 R , dimensional formula of resistance can be written as:
 R   2    ML2T 3 A2 
P
 
i
Now Solve: Time taken by a capacitor to achieve 63% of full charge is RC. Here R is electrical resistance of the
circuit and C is capacitance of the capacitor. Use this result to obtain dimensional formula of
capacitance.
Answer:  M 1 L2T 4 A2 
[6]
Using various formulae in physics, dimensional formula can be assigned to each physical quantity. Following table
enlists few common physical quantities along with their dimensional formula:
Physical Quantity Common Symbol SI Unit Dimensional Formula
Displacement s Meter (m) L
Mass m, M Kilogram (kg) M
Time t Second (s) T
Area A m 2
L2
Volume V m3 L3
Density ρ kg/m3 ML-3
Velocity v, u m/s LT-1
Acceleration a m/s2 LT-2
Force F Newton (N) or kgm/s2 MLT -2
Work W Joule (J) or kgm2/s2 ML2 T-2
Energy E, U, K Joule (J) ML2 T-2
Power P Watt (W) or J/s ML2 T-3
Momentum P kgm/s MLT-1
Gravitational constant G Nm2 / kg 2 M-1L3T-2
Angle ,  Radian (rad) -
Angular velocity  rad/s T –1
Angular acceleration  rad/s2 T-2
Moment of inertia I kgm2 ML2
Torque  Nm ML2 T 2
Angular frequency  rad/s T –1
Frequency  s-1 or Hz T –1
Young's modulus Y N/m 2 ML-1T-2
Bulk modulus B N/m 2 ML-1T-2
Shear modulus  or G N/m 2 ML-1T-2
Surface tension S N/m MT -2
Coefficient of viscosity  Ns/m2 ML-1T-1
Pressure P Pascal (Pa) or N/m2 ML-1T-2
Wavelength  m L
Intensity of wave I W/m 2
ML-1T-3
Temperature T Kelvin (K) K
Specific heat capacity c J L T-2 K -1
2
kgK
Stefan's constant  W/m2 K 4 MT-3 K -4
Heat Q J ML2 T-2
Thermal conductivity K W MLT-3 K-1
mK
[7]
IN CHAPTER EXERCISE -I
1. Express the following physical quantities in terms of the fundamental physical quantities:
(i) Momentum (ii) Pressure
2. Convert following physical quantities into SI units (Use 1ft = 0.305m.):
(i) 20ft/s (ii) 30cm2 (iii) 30g/cm3
3. If the present units of length, time, and mass (m, s, kg) are changed to a, b and c such that:
1
a = 100m b = 100s and c= kg
10
then how will the new unit of velocity, force, energy and pressure change?
X
4. Find the dimensions of physical quantity X in the equation Force =
Density
5. A force F is given by F  at  bt 2 , where t is time. What are the dimensions of a and b?
x 
6. The equation of wave is given by y  A sin    k  , where x, y are displacement,  is the angular velocity and
v  
v is the linear velocity. Find the dimension of k.
7. Find the dimensions of the universal constant of gravitation G using Newton’s law of gravitation.
8. Check dimensional correctness of:
(i) following relation between terminal velocity (vT), radius (r), coefficient of viscosity (  ),  s & l as
density of solid and liquid:
2 r   s  l 
2
vT 
9 
(ii) following relation between volume flow rate or volume flown per second (Q), radius of the tube (r),
pressure difference (P), length of the tube (l) and coefficient of viscosity ():
 r 4 ( P)
Q
8 
9. If velocity V  , force  F  , and energy  E  are taken as fundamental physical quantities, then find the
dimensional formula for mass in terms of these fundamental quantities.
10. For a particle to move in a circular orbit uniformly, centripetal force is required. This centripetal force depends
on mass  m  , velocity  v  , and radius  r  of the circle. Express centripetal force in terms of these quantities.
11. Experiments reveal that the velocity v of water waves may depend on their wavelength  , density of water 
, and acceleration due to gravity g . Establish a possible relation between v and  , g , .
12. A student when discussing the properties of a medium (except vacuum) writes
Velocity of light in vacuum = Velocity of light in medium
This formula is
(a) Dimensionally correct (b) Dimensionally incorrect
(c) Numerically incorrect (d) Both a and c
13. Given that T stands for time periods and l stands for the length of simple pendulum. The time period of a
simple pendulum is:
l
T  2
g
l 
If g is the acceleration due to gravity, then which of the following statements about the relation T 2    is
g
correct?
(a) It is correct both dimensionally as well as numerically.
(b) It is neither dimensionally correct nor numerically.
(c) It is dimensionally correct but not numerically.
(d) It is numerically correct but not dimensionally.
[8]
B
14. Suppose refractive index  is given as   A  , where A and B are constants and  is wavelength, then
2
dimensions of B are same as that of
(a) wavelength (b) Volume (c) Pressure (d) Area
15. Which of the following has the dimensions of pressure?
(a)  ML2T 2  (b)  ML2T  (c)  ML1T 1  (d)  ML1T 2 
16. The velocity v (in ms–1) of a particle is given in terms of time t (in second) by the equation
b
v  at 
tc
The dimensions of a, b, c are
a b c
(a) L T LT 2
2
(b) LT LT L
(c) LT 2 L T
(d) L2 LT T2
17. The resistive force F acting on a ball of radius r moving with velocity v is given by
F  Krv
The dimensional formula or K is
(a)  MLT  (b)  M 1 LT  (c)  M 1 L1T  (d)  ML1T 1 
18. Force F on a particle as a function of time t is given as
P
F  Qt
t
The unit of P is same as that of
(a) Displacement (b) velocity (c) acceleration (d) momentum
19. If frequency F, velocity V, and density D are considered fundamental units, the dimensional formula for
momentum will be
(a) DVF 2 (b) DV 2 F 1 (c) D 2V 2 F 2 (d) DV 4 F 3
20. If force F, acceleration a, and time T are taken as the fundamental physical quantities, the dimensions of length
on this system of units are
(a) FAT 2 (b) FAT (c) FT (d) AT 2
21. The equation of the stationary wave is
 2 ct   2 x 
y  2 A sin   cos  
     
Which of the following statements is wrong?
(a) The unit of ct is same as that of  . (b) The unit of x is same as that of  .
(c) The unit of 2 c /  is same as that of 2 x / t. (d) The unit of c /  is same as that of x / .
 2  
22. Given that: y  A sin    ct  x   , where y and x are measured in the unit of length. Which of the following
   
statements is true?
(a) The unit of  is same as that of x and A.
(b) The unit of  is same as that of x but may not be same as that of A.
(c) The unit of c is same as that of 2 
(d) The unit of  ct  x  is same as that of 2 
23. A physical quantity x depends on quantities y and z as follows: x  Ay  B tan  Cz  , where A, B, and C are
constants. Which of the following do not have the same dimensions?
(a) x and B (b) C and z 1 (c) y and B A (d) x and A
[9]
24. Resistance of a conducting wire depends on resistivity, length and area of cross section as:
Resistivity  Length
Resistance =
Area
The dimensional formula for resistivity of conductor is
(a)  ML2T 2 A2  (b)  ML3T 3 A2  (c)  ML2T 2 A2  (d)  ML2T 2 A3 
25. Electrostatic potential at a point is the potential energy of a charge q kept at the point per unit its charge. The
dimensional formula for electric potential is
(a)  ML2T 3 A1  (b)  MLT 3 A1  (c)  ML2T 3 K 1  (d) None of these
1 T
26. The frequency  n  of vibration of a string is given as n  , where T is tension,  is mass per unit length
2l 
and l is the length of vibrating string, then the dimensional formula of n is:
(a)  M 0 LT
1 1
 (b)  M 0 L0T 0  (c)  M 0 L0T 1  (d)  ML0T 0 
27. In the relation y  r sin t  kx  , x and t represent position and time. Then the dimensions of  k are
(a)  M 0 L0T 0  (b)  M 0 LT1 1
 (c)  M 0 L0T 1  (d)  M 0 LT
1 0

28. Speed c of electromagnetic wave is
1
c
0 0
The dimensions of  0 0 are
(a)  LT 1  (b)  LT 2  (c)  L2T 2  (d)  L2T 2 
ANSWER KEY
Length 12. (d)

1. (i) Mass 
Time 13. (c)
Mass 14. (d)
(ii)
Length  Time  Time 15. (d)
2. (i) 6.1m/s (ii) 0.003m2 (iii) 30,000kg/m3 16. (c)
17. (d)
3. 1m/s; 10-3 kgm/s2; 10-1 kgm2/s2; 10-7 kg/(ms2)
18. (d)
4.  M 2 L2T 2 
19. (d)
5.  MLT  ;  MLT 
3 4
20. (d)
6. T  21. (d)
22. (a)
7.  M 1 L3T 2 
23. (d)
8. (i) incorrect (ii) correct. 24. (b)
9. V F E 
2 0 25. (a)
26. (c)
mv 2
10. K (K is a dimensionless constant) 27. (b)
r
28. (d)
11. k  g (K is a dimensionless constant)
[10]
PART B: Experimental Skills
An experiment is the formulation of a question we ask from nature, and measurement is the acceptance of the answer
given by nature. Quality of an experiment is characterized by two parameters: Accuracy and Precision, defined as:
Accuracy: The closeness of the measured value to the true value of the physical quantity is known as the accuracy of
the measurement.
Precision: It is the measure of the extent to which successive measurements of a physical quantity differ from one
another.
Suppose the true value of a measurement is 35.75 and two measured values are 35.73 and 35.725. Here 35.73 is closest
to 35.75, so its accuracy is more than 35.725 but 35.725 is more precise than 35.73 because 35.725 is measured up to
after 3 decimal places.
3. SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
The number of digits in the measured value about the correctness of which we are sure plus one more digit are
called significant figures. Significant figures indicate the precision of measurement which depends on the least
count of measuring instrument. A choice of change of units does not change number of significant figures in a
measurement.
3.1 Identification of significant figures: Significant digits are identified based on following rules:
(i) All non-zero digits are significant. For example, 322m has three significant figures.
(ii) All zeros occurring between two non-zero digits are significant. For example, 230089 contain
six significant figures.
(iii) All leading zeros to the left of leftmost non-zero digit are non-significant. For example, 0.0023
or 046 contain only two significant figures.
(iv) In presence of a decimal, all trailing zeros (zeros on right end) are significant. For example,
0.00230 contains three significant figures.
(v) In absence of a decimal, all trailing zeros are non-significant. For example, 230 contains only
two significant figures.
(vi) Precisely known constants have infinite number of significant figures. For example, the ratio
of diameter and radius of a circle has infinite number of significant figures.
To avoid complexities, measured values are ideally represented in scientific notations.
3.2 Rules of operations with significant figures: In any experiment, some observation is measured from
the experiment. And based on measured values, some other physical quantity can be calculated. It is
considered that calculated values cannot be more precise than original measured values. Thus the final
calculated values should not have number of significant figures more than that from the data from
which it is obtained. The conventional rules are as following:
(i) In addition or subtraction, the final result should retain as many decimal places are there are in
the number with the least decimal places. All decimal places are to be counted in scientific
notations.
(ii) In multiplication or division, the final result should retain as many significant figures as are
there in the original measured observation with the least significant figures.
Example 9: Mention the number of significant figures in the following measured values of an experiment:
(i) 430m (ii) 0.320N (iii) 4.83 103 kg (iv) 4.9080cm3
[11]
Solution: Using the above described rules, we get number of significant figures as
(i) Two : Using rule (v) described above
(ii) Three : Using rule (iv) described above
(iii) Three : Using rule (i) described above
(iv) Five : Using rule (iv) described above
Now Solve: How many significant digits are there in 1.090m?
Answer: Four.
Example 10: Length and breadth of a rectangle are measured as 3.61cm and 2.1cm. Mention its perimeter and area
in proper number of significant figures.
Solution: Perimeter = 3.61cm + 2.1cm = 5.7cm (rounded off to proper decimal places)
Area = 3.61cm  2.1cm = 7.6cm2 (rounded off to proper significant figures)
Now Solve: Two resistors of resistances 12 and 20.2 are connected in series. What is their equivalent
resistance?
Answer: 32
4. Rounding off the uncertain digits
The last decimal digit of a number is called uncertain digit or insignificant digit. This uncertain digit is often
rounded off to keep the number of significant figures in the result correct.
4.1 Rules for rounding off: Following rules are adopted to perform the rounding off operations:
(i) The preceding digit is raised by 1 if the insignificant digit to be removed is more than 5 and is
left unchanged if the later is less than 5.
(ii) When the insignificant digit to be removed is 5 and the uncertain digit is even, 5 is simply
dropped and if it is odd, then the preceding digit is raised by 1.
5. Order of Magnitude
In physics we come across quantities which vary over a wide range. It becomes quite difficult to get a feel of
largeness or smallness of such quantities like when we talk of the size of a mountain and the size of the tip of a
pin or mass of our galaxy and the mass of the hydrogen atom. To express such widely varying numbers, we use
the power of ten method or scientific notation.
In this method, each number is expressed as N 10 x where 1  N  10 and x is the positive or negative integer.
To get an approximate idea of the number, one may round the number N to 1 if it is less than or equal to 5 and
to 10 if it is greater than 5. Thus the give number can be expressed approximately as 10 x or 10 x1 (depending on
whether N is greater than or less than 5). So, order of magnitude will be x if N  5 or x  1 if N  5 . For
example, speed of light c  3 108 m/s has order of magnitude = 8 and Avogadro number N A  6.023 1023 has
order of magnitude = 24.
Example11: Height of mountain Everest is 8815m. What is order of magnitude of this height? Round off the given
height to only three significant figures.
Solution: To know order of magnitude of this height, we represent this height into scientific notation as
8.815 103 m . The term 8.815 is close to 10. Thus order of magnitude is 4.
To round of the given height to three significant digits, possibilities are 8810m or 8820m. Since 2 is an
even number, we round off this height to 8820m.
Now Solve: What is order of magnitude of your height in centimeters?
Answer: 2.
[12]
6. Errors in measurement:
The measured value of a physical quantity is always assumed to be different from true value of the quantity.
This slight difference between measured and true value is called error in the measurement of the quantity.
7. Types of error:
The errors are of two kinds:
(i) One due to known causes called as Systematic Errors.
(ii) One due to unknown causes called as Random Errors.
7.1 Systematic Errors: These can be further classified as:
(i) Instrumental Errors: These arise due to imperfect design or calibration of the measuring
instrument. Following are examples of such error:
 If the length measurements are made with a metre rod at a temperature different from
the temperature at which it has been calibrated, then the measured length will either be
greater or smaller than the actual length. Suppose the rod is calibrated at 20°C and the
measurements are made at 32°C, then due to the linear expansion of the rod the
spacing between the graduations (markings) on the scale have increased, thus the
measured length is greater than the actual value.
 The time measurements from a stop watch will contain error, if it is running either too
slow or too fast. If the clock runs slow then the measured time is lesser than the actual
one; and vice versa.
 In a weighing machine during idle condition (the condition when there is no load on
the pan) if the needle does not coincide with the zero mark on the scale, then the
machine either measures larger or smaller than the actual value. Such errors are called
zero error (described in detail in subsequent section).
(ii) Imperfection in Experimental Technique: There can be error in observations made in an
experiment is due to incorrect procedure or technique of the experiment. Following cases fall
under this category:
 While measure weight of an object, error may be due to buoyancy of air. Such error
will be more when a large sized body is weighed. To avoid such errors, object should
be weighed in vacuum.
 While measuring resistance of a material in a circuit, the connecting wires may give
some errors. To avoid such errors, either resistance of connecting wires should be
known or length of connecting wires should be as less as possible.
7.2 Random Errors: If a person repeats the observation under similar conditions, it is found that every
time a different reading is obtained, even though the instrument used is very sensitive and the observer
is an experienced one. Therefore, one can not depend on single observation. When a large number of
observations are taken it is likely that some of them may have a value slightly greater than the actual
value and an equal number may have a value slightly less than the actual value. The effect of random
error may be minimized by taking a number (at least three) of measurements of the quantity to be
determined and using the arithmetic mean of the measured values as the best estimate of the actual
value of the quantity.
7.3 Zero Errors: If a measuring device gives non-zero reading even if the true value of the
measurement is zero, then the device is said to have zero error. For example, consider a weighing
machine used to measure weight of an object kept on its pan. If no weight is kept on the pan, still
[13]
weighing machine shows non-zero reading, then the weighing machine is said to have zero error. With
no weight on the pan, if the reading of weighing machine is positive the zero error is said to be
positive. If zero error in a device is (Z) and the measured value by the device is (M) then true value (T)
of the observation is:
T  M Z
Note that: Systematic errors always tend to occur in one direction, either positive or negative. But, on the
contrary, random errors are equally likely on either side of the true value. Systematic errors can be
removed by taking the precautionary measures but random errors cannot be removed. These can be
minimized by taking the large number of observations. The effect of zero error in an observation can
be minimised by finding the zero error before taking the observation, and accounting for its effects
using the above mentioned formula.
Example 12: Due to thermal expansion of pendulum of a pendulum clock, time period of the pendulum changes.
This causes error in time intervals measured by such a clock in any experiment. What category of error
is such kind of error?
Solution: Since source of error is known, the error is not random error and is systematic error. This systematic
error is due to imperfection in experimental technique. While performing the experiment, temperature
of the clock must be regulated within a certain range to conduct an ideal experiment.
Example 13: Temperature of melting ice and boiling water are measured by a thermometer as 0.1 oC and 100.1oC
respectively. What kind of error is in the thermometer? What will be the actual temperature of an
object, if such thermometer gives a reading of 30oC for measurement of temperature of the object?
Solution: The type of error is zero error. The value of zero error Z is (+ 0.1oC). The correct temperature (T)
corresponding to measured value M = 30oC is:
T  M  Z  30o C  0.1o C=29.9o C
8. Quantification of Errors:
In any experiment, even with best possible technique, there is always some scope of random error. To avoid
random errors we repeat the experiment as many times as possible. The mean value of the measurements taken
on repeated observations is considered as true value of the observation. The difference of a particular measured
value from true value is called error.
Error in an experiment can be quantified by following parameters:
8.1 Mean Absolute Error: It is the mean value of differences between each observation with the mean
observed value. If a1 , a2 , a3 ...etc represent measured value of a physical quantity in an experiment
repeated for n times, then true value aTrue is given as:
a1  a2  a3  ...  an
aTrue 
n
And individual errors in each measured value are given as:
a1  a1  aTrue a2  a2  aTrue a3  a3  aTrue etc.
Mean error, according to its definition is given as:
| a1 |  | a2 | ....  | an |
aMean 
n
If aMean exceeds least count of the measuring instrument used in experiment, final result of
measurement is reported as aTrue  aMean . Else the answer is reported as aTrue  L, where L represents
least count of the instrument.
[14]
8.2 Relative Error or Fractional Error: It is defined as ratio of the absolute error to the mean value of
the quantity measured. Mathematically,
aMean
 aRelative 
a True
The relative error may also be expressed in percentage (often called percentage error).
Example 14: The following are the observations taken for the time period of a pendulum
Serial Number 1 2 3 4 5 6
Time Period (s) 3.62 3.58 3.60 3.66 3.68 3.56
Express the time period in terms of TTrue  TMean . Also find the relative error in measurements.
Solution: The mean time period of the pendulum is
3.62s  3.58s  3.60s  3.66s  3.68s  3.56s
TTrue   3.62s
6
The absolute errors in the measurement are:
T1  3.62s  3.62s  0 T2  3.58s  3.62s  0.04s
T3  3.60s  3.62s  0.02s T4  3.66s  3.62s  0.04s
T5  3.68s  3.62s  0.06s T6  3.56s  3.62s  0.06s
The mean absolute error is given by:

| T1 |  | T2 |  | T3 |  | T4 |  | T5 |  | T6 |
TMean 
6
0  (0.04s)  (0.02s)  (0.04s)  (0.06s)  (0.06s)

 TMean   0.04s
6
Hence, the time period of oscillation is T  3.62  0.04s
And the relative error is given by
TMean 0.04
T  100   100  1.1%
TTrue 3.62
Now Solve: In an experiment, weight of an object is measured. To reduce the random error in experiment, the
experiment is repeated 4 times and following is the measured values of weight:
Serial Number 1 2 3 4
Weight (N) 5.71 5.39 5.56 5.62
Find true value of the observation and percentage error in the observation.
Answer: 5.57  1.7%
9. Combination of Errors:
If a physical quantity (say P) depends on various other physical quantities measured in an experiment (say A,
B, C etc), then the calculated value of P contains some uncertainty due to possibility of error in the
measurement of A, B, C etc. The uncertainty in P depends on relation with which P depends on A, B, C etc.
9.1 Rules for Combination of errors: Following results are used to obtained error in calculation of the
physical quantity P depending on measured quantities A,B,C etc:
[15]
(i) When the measured quantities are added or subtracted, absolute error in the final result is the
sum of individual errors in the individual quantities. Hence:
If P  A  B  C ...
Then, P   A  B  C...
(ii) When two quantities are multiplied or divided, the fractional error in the result is the sum of
the fractional errors of the two measured quantities. Hence:
A B
If P
C
P  A B C
Then,    ...
P A B C
(iii) The fractional error in a physical quantity raised to a power n is the absolute value of power |n|
times the fractional error in the given physical quantity. Hence:
If P  An
P A
Then, | n |
P A
Also if P  An Bm
P A B
Then, | n | |m|
P A B
Example 15: Two resistances R1  123  5  and R2  234  8  are connected in series. Determine the equivalent
resistance of the series combination.
Solution: We know that in series combination R  R1  R2
  R   R1   R2  5  8  13 
Hence, the equivalent resistance is given by
R  123  234   13 
or R  357  13 
Now Solve: Length of two rods are L1  13.2m  0.3m and L2  32.5m  0.2 m . Find difference in length of the two
rods and sum of the lengths of the two rods.
Solution: Sum is 45.7m  0.5m and difference is L2  19.3m  0.5 m .
Example 16: The capacitance of a capacitor is C   20  1 μF and the applied voltage is V  240V  6V. Determine
the charge q on the capacitor using formula q=CV.
Solution: q  (20μF)(240V)  4800μC  4.8 mC
C 1
Now,   100  5%
C 20
V 6
  100  2.5%
V 240
q C V
    5%  2.5%  7.5%
q C V
The error in q is,
 7.5 
q    (4.8)  0.36mC
 100 
Thus, q   4.8  0.36  mC
Now Solve: Current constituted in a resistor of resistance 10.0  0.1 is 2.0  0.1A . Find potential difference V in
the resistor using Ohm’s law V  iR .
Answer: 20.0  1.2V
[16]
Example 17: The time period of oscillation of a simple pendulum is given by

T  2
g
The length of the pendulum is measured as   10  0.1 cm and the time period as T  0.5  0.02s .
Determine percentage error in the value of g.
4 2 
Solution: Here g
T2
 g  T
  2
g  T
    0.1 
Now     100    (100)  1%
    10 
 T   0.02 
T   100    (100)  4%
 T   0.5 
  g  1  2(4)  9%
Now Solve: Mass of an object is measured as 2.50  0.05kg and its speed is measured as 4.00  0.02m/s . Find
percentage error in kinetic energy and kinetic energy of the object.
Answer: 3% and 20.0  0.6 J .
a 2 b3
Example 18: A physical quantity x is calculated from the relation x  . If the percentage error in a, b, c, and d
c d
are 0.2%, 0.1%, 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively, what is the percentage error in x?
a 2 b3
Solution: As x
c d
x  a b c  d   x
  2 3   100
x  a b c 2 d  x
 1 
  2  0.2%  3  0.1%  0.3%   0.4%
 2 
  0.4%  0.3%  0.3%  0.2%  1.2%
a
Now Solve: A physical quantity x is calculated from the relation x  2
. If the percentage error in a, b and c are
bc
1%, 0.5% and 2%, respectively, what is the percentage error in x?
Answer: 3.5%.
10. Measuring instruments:
Instruments used in measurement of a physical quantity are called measuring instruments. Following are
characteristics of any measuring instrument:
10.1 Least Count: The least value of a quantity, which the instrument can measure accurately, is called the
least count of the instrument.
10.2 Zero Error: If the measuring instrument has nothing to measure, still its reading is non-zero then the
instrument is considered erroneous and the type of error is called zero error. Zero error may be positive
or negative according to reading of the instrument when nothing is measured. A weighing machine
showing some positive weight without keeping anything on the pan, then the weighing machine has
positive zero error.
[17]
11. Length measuring instruments:
For measurement of length we use a ruler, Vernier Calliper or Screw Gauge. Working principle and procedure
of using these instruments are described as under:
11.1 Ruler: Following is a diagram showing the method of measuring length of a rod using a ruler of least
count 1cm:
A B
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 (cm)
In the above diagram, we observe the greatest integer at end A and end B of the rod. The difference
between the reading gives the length of rod as 14cm  1cm . The error gives the maximum and
minimum possible length of the rod with given readings.
11.2 Vernier Calliper: It consists of two scales with slightly different length of single division. First scale
having division of a standard length is called Main scale. The second scale having slightly different
length of one division from main scale is called Vernier scale. Each division of any particular scale
remains equal. Schematic diagram of a Vernier Calliper is as shown:
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Vernier Scale
Main Scale
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 (cm)
In the above diagram, initial mark of both scales coincides and ten division of Vernier scale coincides
with 9 divisions (of 1cm each) of main scale. Hence we can say difference between single division of
 9cm  2  0.1cm  0.2cm ;
  0.1cm . Thus difference after their 2 division is
nd
each scale is 1cm –
 10 
difference after their 3rd division is 3 × 0.1 cm = 0.3 cm and so on. These small differences in each
division accumulate to 1cm after ten divisions.
This pair of two scales can be used to measure a length more accurately than a ruler. To measure a
length of a rod AB, we keep zero of main scale at end A and zero of Vernier scale at end B as shown:
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Vernier Scale
A B
Main Scale
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 (cm)
As can be observed, the length of rod is slightly more than 5cm. If zero of Vernier scale had been on
5cm mark of main scale, there would have been a difference of 0.4cm between 4 th division mark of
Vernier scale and 9cm of main scale. Since in the above diagram, 4th division of Vernier scale
coincides with 9cm mark of Main scale, therefore zero of Vernier scale has moved 0.4cm from 5cm
[18]
mark on Main scale. Thus length of the given rod is 5.4cm. In this manner, we may measure a
minimum of 0.1cm of using such set of two scales. Thus 0.1cm is least count of this instrument.
In general case, if N divisions of a Vernier scale match with N – 1 divisions of main scale, the
difference between single division of main scale and single division of Vernier scale is least count L
for the instrument. Thus, if m is length of one division on main scale,
N × (Length of Vernier Scale Division) = (N – 1) × (Length of Main Scale Division)
Length of Main Scale Division

Main Scale Division – Vernier Scale Division =
N
m
So, Least count L=
N
If main scale reading for measurement of a length is M, while kth division of Vernier scale matches
with one of the mark on main scale, then reading R of the instrument is said to be
R  M  kL  L
Following is an actual diagram of a Vernier Calliper measuring diameter of a sphere:
S
C D Main Scale
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(cm)
V
P
A B
SPHERE
11.3 Screw Gauge: A screw gauge has threaded rod which slides along its length if it is rotated about its axis
(like a screw). The length moved by the rod in one complete rotation is called Pitch of the screw gauge.
This pitch gives main scale reading of a screw gauge. After an integral number of rotation, the fractional
part of last rotation gives circular scale reading. Following is a schematic diagram of a screw gauge:
[19]
0 1
If length of one pitch is m and there are N divisions on circular scale, then least count L of the screw
gauge is given by:
m
L
N
If the integral number of pitches translated by screw is M and after the last complete pitch, number of
divisions rotated on circular scale is k, then reading R of the screw gauge is written as:
R  M ( m)  k ( L )  L
Example 19: A Vernier callipers has 1 mm marks on the main scale. It has 20 equal divisions on the Vernier-scale,
which match with 16 main scale divisions. Find least count of such Vernier calliper.
Solution: Here, 16 Main Scale Division = 20 Vernier Scale Division
 1Vernier Scale Division  4 Main Scale Division
5
 4  4
Least Count = 1MSD 1VSD = 1   MSD  1   (1 mm) = 0.2 mm
5  5   
Now Solve: A Vernier callipers has 1mm marks on the main scale. It has 20 equal divisions on the Vernier-scale,
which match with 18 main scale divisions. Find least count of such Vernier calliper.
Answer: 0.1mm
Example 20: Mention the diameter of following sphere as measured by Vernier calliper shown :
S
C D Main Scale
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(cm)
V
P
A B 2
SPHERE
1
Solution: Here least count is 1 mm 
10
Main scale reading = 1.3 cm
Vernier scale reading = 3
1
Reading = 1.3 cm + 3× (1 mm) = 1.33 cm
10
Hence diameter is (1.33 + 0.01) cm
[20]
Now Solve: Find reading of the following Vernier Calliper:
S
C D Main Scale
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(cm)
V
P
4
A B
Answer: 3.44cm
Example 21: A screw gauge has pitch length 1 mm. Number of divisions on its circular scale is 50. Find least count
of the screw gauge.
1
Solution: Least count =  1 mm   0.02 mm
50
Now Solve: A screw gauge has pitch length 2mm. Number of divisions on its circular scale is 100. Find least count
of the screw gauge.
Solution: 0.02 mm
Example 22: 10 rotations of the cap of a screw gauge are equivalent to 5 mm. The cap has 100 divisions. Find the
least count. A reading taken for the diameter of wire with the screw gauge shows four complete
rotations and 35 divisions on the circular scale. Find the diameter of the wire.
0.5
Solution: Least count  0.005 mm
100
The diameter of the wire =  4  0.5  35  0.005 mm  2.175 mm
Now Solve: Consider a screw gauge of least count 0.01mm and pitch length 2mm. It is used to measure thickness
of a book. The measurement gives 4 rotations and 23 divisions on circular scale. Find thickness of the
book. How many divisions are there on circular scale?
Answer: 8.23mm and 200.
[21]
IN CHAPTER EXERCISE -II
1. Measured values of length, breadth, and thickness of a block are written as 125.5 cm, 5.0 cm, and 0.32 cm,
respectively. What are the errors in measurement of length, breadth and thickness? Which one of the
measurement has least relative error?
2. Taking into account the significant figures, what is the value of 9.99 + 0.0099 m?
3. With due regard to significant figures, add the following:
(i) 953 and 0.324 (ii) 953 and 0.625 (iii) 953.0 and 0.3240 (iv) 953.0 and 0.374
4. Find the value of the multiplication 3.124  4.576 to correct significant figures.
5. If the value of resistance is 10.845  and the value of current is 3.23 A, the potential difference is 35.02935 V.
Find its value in correct significant number.
6. Calculate the area enclosed by a circle of radius 0.56 m to correct number of significant figures.
7. Solve with due regard to significant figures:
5.00  0.60
0.0300
8. The length of a rectangular sheet is 1.5 cm and the breadth is 1.203 cm. Find the area of the face of a
rectangular sheet to the correct number of significant figures.
9. Each side of a cube is measured to be 5.402 cm. Find the total surface area and the volume of the cube in
appropriate significant figures.
10. The value of resistance is 10.845  and the current is 3.23 A. On multiplying them, we get the potential
difference = 35.2935 V. What is the value of potential difference considering correct significant figures?
11. A body travels uniformly a distance of 10.0  0.2  m in a time  4.0  0.2  s. Find the velocity of the body within
error limits and the percentage error.
12. The error in the measurement of the radius of a sphere is 1%. Find the error in the measurement of the volume.
13. The length of one rod is 2.53 cm and that of the other is 1.27 cm. The least count of the measuring instrument
is 0.01 cm. If the two rods are put together end to end, find the combined length.
14. The pressure on a square plate is measured by measuring the force on the plate and the length of the sides of
the plate by using the formula P  F 2 . If the maximum errors in the measurement of force and length are 4%
l
and 2%, respectively, then what is the maximum error in the measurement of pressure?
V
15. The resistance R  , where V  100  5 V and i  10  0.2 A. What is percentage error in R?
i
A3 B1/ 2
16. A physical quantity P is given by P  . Which quantity among A, B, C, and D brings in the maximum
C 4 D3 / 2
percentage error in P?
17. The smallest division on the main scale of a Vernier callipers is 1 min, and 10 Vernier divisions coincide with
9 scale divisions. While measuring the diameter of a sphere, the zero mark of the Vernier scale lies between
[22]
2.0 and 2.1 cm and the fifth division of the Vernier scale coincide with a scale division. Find the measured
value of diameter.
18. The length of a cylinder is measured with the help of a Vernier calipers whose smallest division on the main
scale is 0.5 mm, and nine divisions of the main scale are equal to ten divisions of the Vernier scale. It is
observed that 78th divisions of the main scale coincides with the sixth division of the Vernier scale. Calculate
the length of the cylinder.
19. In four complete revolutions of the cap, the distance traveled on the pitch scale is 2 mm. If there are fifty
divisions on the circular scale, then
(a) Calculate the pitch of the screw gauge.
(b) Calculate the least count of the screw gauge.
20. The pitch of a screw gauge is 1 mm and there are 100 divisions on its circular scale. When nothing is put in
between its jaws, it shows 4 circular scale division as positive zero error. When a steel wire is placed between
the jaws, two main scale divisions are clearly visible and 67 divisions on the circular scale are observed.
Determine the diameter of the wire.
21. The best method of reduce random error is
(a) To change the instrument used for measurement
(b) To take help of experienced observer
(c) To repeat the experiment many times and to take the average results
(d) None of the above
22. Which of the following numbers has least number of significant figures?
(a) 0.80760 (b) 0.80200 (c) 0.08076 (d) 80.267
23. A length is measured as 7.60 m. This is the same as
(a) 7600 mm (b) 0.0076 mm (c) 7.60 103 mm (d) 7.600 103 mm
24. The order of magnitude of 0.00701 is
(a) –2 (b) –1 (c) 2 (d) 1
25. The number of significant figures in 5.69 10 kg is
15
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d)18

26. The effective length of a simple pendulum is the sum of the following three: length of string, radius of bob, and
length of hook. In a simple pendulum experiment, the length of the string, as measured by a meter scale, is 92.0
cm. The radius of the bob combined with the length of the hook, as measured by a Vernier callipers is 2.15 cm.
The effective length of the pendulum is
(a) 94.1 cm (b) 94.2 cm (c) 94.15 cm (d) 94 cm
27. The length l, breadth b, and thickness t of a block of wood were measured with the help of a measuring scale.
The results with permissible errors (in cm) are l  15.12  0.01, b  10.15  0.01, and t  5.28  0.01 . The
percentage error in volume up to proper significant figures is
(a) 0.28% (b) 0.35% (c) 0.48% (d) 0.64%
28. 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 KE obtained by the measuring mass and speed?
[23]
(a) 5% (b) 1% (c) 8% (d) 11%
29. The resistance of a metal is given by R  V / I , where V is potential difference and I is the current. In a circuit,
the potential difference across resistance is V   8  0.5 V and current in resistance, I   4  0.2  A. What is the
value of resistance with its percentage error?
(a)  2  5.6%   (b)  2  0.7%   (c)  2  35%   (d)  2  11.25%  
30. Which of the following is the most precise instrument for measuring length?
(a) Meter rod of least count 0.1 cm (b) Vernier callipers of least count 0.01 cm
(c) Screw gauge of least count 0.001 cm (d) Data is not sufficient to decide
31. Least count of a Vernier scale (also called Vernier constant) is the
(a) value of one MSD divided by total number of divisions on the main scale
(b) value of one VSD divided by total number of divisions on the Vernier scale
(c) total number of divisions on the main scale divided by total number of divisions on the Vernier scale
(d) difference between value of one main scale division and one Vernier scale division
32. What is the reading of micrometer screw gauge shown in figure
0 1 2 35
mm 30
25
(a) 2.31 mm (b) 2.29 mm (c) 2.36 mm (d) 2.41 mm
ANSWER KEY
1. 0.08%, 2% and 3.1%; length 18. 3.63cm.

2. 1.0 10 m1
19. (a) 0.5mm (b) 0.01mm

3. (i) 953, (ii) 954, (iii) 953.3, (iii) 953
4. 14.30 20. 2.63 mm
5. 35.0 V. 21. (c)
2
6. 0.99 m 22. (c)
7. 1.0 102 23. (c)
2
8. 1.8 cm 24. (a)
2 3
9. 175.1 cm 157.6 cm 25. (c)
10. 35.3 V 26. (b)
11.  2.5  0.2  ms1 ; 8% 27. (b)
12. 3% 28. (c)
29. (d)
13.  3.80  0.02  cm
30. (c)
14. 8%
31. (d)
15. 7%
32. (a)
16. C
17. 2.05cm
[24]
EXERCISE- 1
dy
1. In the relation  2 sin t  0  , the dimensional formula for t  0  is
dt
(A) [ MLT ] (B) [MLT 0 ] (C) [ML0T 0 ] (D) [M 0 L0T 0 ]
2. Which of the following numbers has least number of significant figures?
(A) 0.80760 (B) 0.80200 (C) 0.08076 (D) 80.267
3. If the order of magnitude of 499 is 2, then order of magnitude of 501 will be
(A) 4 (B) 2 (C) 1 (D) 3
4. The order of magnitude of 0.00701 is
(A) 2 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 1
5. The order of magnitude of 379 is
(A) 1 (B) 3 (C) 2 (D) 4
6. The number of significant figures in 5.69  10 kg is15
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 15

7. If the error in the measurement of velocity of a particle is  100 %, then the error in the measurement of kinetic
energy is
(A) 25% (B) 200% (C) 300% `(D) 400%
8. In the relation y  r sin t  kx  , the dimensions of  are
k
0 0 0 0 1 1
(A) [M L T ] (B) [M LT ] (C) [M 0 L0T 1 ] (D) [M 0 LT
1 0
]
The time dependence of physical quantity P is given by P  P0 e t , where  is a constants and t is time. Then,
2
9.
constant  is
(A) dimensionless (B) has dimensions of T2 (C) has dimensions of P (D) has dimensions of T2
1 T
10. The frequency (n) of vibration of a string is given as n  m
, where T is force of tension and  is the
2
length of vibrating string. Then, the dimensional formula for m is
(A) [M 0 LT
1 1
] (B) [M 0 L0T 0 ] (C) [M 1 L1T 0 ] (D) [ML0T 0 ]
11. If frequency (F), velocity (V) and density (D) are considered as fundamental units, the dimensional formula for
momentum will be
(A) [ F 2VD] (B) [ F 1V 2 D] (C) [ F 2V 2 D2 ] (D) [ F 3V 4 D]
12. If force (F), acceleration (A) and time (T) be taken as the fundamental physical quantities, the dimensions of
length on this system of units are
(A) [ FAT 2 ] (B) [ FAT ] (C) [ FA0T ] (D) [ F 0 AT 2 ]
13. The position x of a particle at time t is given by x 

V0
a
1  e at  , where V0 is constant and a  0 . The term e is
an irrational number similar to . The dimensions of V0 and a are
(A) [M 0 LT 1 ] and [T 1 ] (B) [M 0 LT 0 ] and [T 1 ]
(C) [M 0 LT 1 ] and [ LT 2 ] (D) [M 0 LT 1 ] and [T ]
14. If c the velocity of light, g the acceleration due to gravity and p the atmospheric pressure be the fundamental
quantities in M.K.S. system, then the dimensions of length will be same as that of
2
(A) c g (B) c p (C) pcg (D) c g
[25]
a t 2
15. Write the dimensions of a b in the relation p  , where p is the pressure, x is the distance and t is the
bx
time.
(A) [M1L0 T 2 ] (B) [ML0 T 2 ] (C) [ML0 T 2 ] (D) [MLT 2 ]
b  x2
16. Write the dimensions of ab in the relation E  , where E is the energy, x is the displacement and t is
at
time.
(A) [ML2 T] (B) [M1L2 T] (C) [ML2 T 2 ] (D) [MLT 2 ]
  Pr 4
17. In the relation V  , where the letters have their usual meanings , the dimensions of V are :
8 
(r = radius,  P  pressure difference,   coefficient of viscosity and l = length)
(A) [M0 L3T0 ] (B) [M0 L3T 1 ] (C) [M0 L-3T1 ] (D) [ML3T0 ]
18. If the force (F), acceleration (A) and velocity (V) are taken as fundamental quantities instead of mass (M),
length (L) and time (T), the dimensions of Young’s modulus (Y) would be
(A) [FA2 V 4 ] (B) [FA2 V 5 ] (C) [FA2 V 3 ] (D) [FA2 V 2 ]
19. The mass of a liquid flowing per second per unit area of cross section of a tube is proportional to p x and v y ,
where p is the pressure difference and v is the velocity. Then, the relation between x and y is
(A) x  y (B) x   y (C) y 2  x (D) y   x 2
20. Given that y  a sin t  bt  ct 2 cos t . The unit of abc is same as that of
   
2 3
(A) y (B) y t (C) y t (D) y t
1
Ax 2
21. The potential energy of a particle varies with distance x as U  , where A and B are constants. The
x2  B
dimensional formula for A  B is
11
7 5 9
(A) [ML 2 T 2 ] (B) [ML 2 T 2 ] (C) [ML 2 T 2 ] (D) [ML 2 T 2 ]
22. If the percentage errors in measurement of A, B and C are a, b and c, respectively, then the total percentage
error in the product ABC is
1 1 1
(A) abc (B) a  b  c (C)   (D) ab  bc  ca
a b c
23. A physical quantity X is represented by X  [M x L y T  z ] . The maximum percentage errors in the measurement
of M, L and T, respectively, are a%, b% and c%. The maximum percentage error in the measurement of X will
be
(A)  ax  by  cz  % (B)  ax  by  cz  % (C)  ax  by  cz  % (D)  ax  by  cz  %
24. The length  , breadth b and thickness t of a block of wood are measured with the help of a meter scale. The
results after calculating the errors are given as   15.12  0.01 cm, b  10.15  0.01 cm and t  5.28  0.01 cm.
The percentage error in volume up to proper significant figures is
(A) 0.35% (B) 0.28% (C) 0.48% (D) 0.64%
1
a 2b2
25. An experiment measures quantities a, b, c and then X is calculated from X  . If the percentage errors in
c3
a, b and c are  1%,  3% and  2%, respectively, then the percentage error in X can be
[26]
(A) 12.5% (B) 7% (C) 1% (D) 4%
2
ab
26. A physical quantity x is calculated from x  . Calculate the percentage error in measuring x when the
c
percentage errors in measuring a, b, c are 4, 2 and 3 percent, respectively.
(A) 7% (B) 9% (C) 11% (D) 9.5%
27. While measuring the acceleration due to gravity by a simple pendulum, a student makes a positive error of 1%
in the length of the pendulum and a negative error of 3% in the value of time period. His percentage error in
 T  will be
the measurement of g by the relation, g  4 2  2
(A) 2% (B) 4% (C) 7% (D) 10%

28. While measuring acceleration due to gravity by a simple pendulum, a student makes a positive error of 2% in
the length of the pendulum and a positive error of 1% in the value of time period. His actual percentage error in
the measurement of the value of g will be
(A) 3% (B) 0% (C) 4% (D) 5%
1 3 2
29. Dimensional formula of a physical quantity x is [M L T ]. The errors in measuring the quantities M, L and T,
respectively, are 2%, 3% and 4%. The maximum percentage of error that occurs in measuring the quantity x is
(A) 9% (B) 10% (C) 14% (D) 19%
30. The heat generated in a circuit is given by Q  I Rt , where I is current, R is resistance and t is time. If the
2
percentage errors in measuring I, R and t are 2%, 1% and 1%, respectively, then the maximum error in
measuring heat will be
(A) 2% (B) 3% (C) 4% (D) 6%
31. The values of measurement of a physical quantity in 5 trials were found to be 1.51, 1.53, 1.53, 1.52 and 1.54
then which of the following is incorrect.
(A) average absolute error is 0.01 (B) average relative error is 0.01
(C) average percentage error is 0.01 % (D) percentage error is 1%
32. The main scale of a Vernier calipers reads in millimeter and its Vernier is divided into 10 divisions which
coincide with 9 divisions of the main scale. When the two jaws of the instrument touch each other the seventh
division of the Vernier scale coincide with a scale division and the zero of the Vernier lies to the right of the
zero of main scale. Furthermore, when a cylinder is tightly placed along its length between the two jaws, the
zero of the Vernier scale lies slightly to the left of 3.2 cm; and the fourth Vernier division coincides with a
scale division. Calculate the mesured length of the cylinder.
(A) 3.14cm (B) 3.21cm (C) 3.07cm (D) None of these
33. The pitch of a screw gauge is 1 mm and there are 50 divisions on its cap. When nothing is put in between the
studs, 44th division of the circular scale coincides with the reference line. When a glass plate is placed between
the studs, the main scale reads three divisions and the circular scale reads 26 divisions. Calculate the thickness
of the plate.
(A) 3.52mm (B) 2.64mm (C) 3.40mm (D) None of these
Comprehension (Q.No. 34 to 38)
For van der Waal’s equation of state for some gases can be expressed as
 a 
 p  2  V  b   RT
 V 
where p is the pressure, V is the molar volume and T is the absolute temperature of the given sample of gas and
a, b and R are constants.
34. The dimension of a are
(A) [ML5T 2 ] (B) [ML1T 2 ] (C) [M0 L3T0 ] (D) [M0 L6 T0 ]
[27]
35. The dimensions of constant b are
(A) [ML5T 2 ] (B) [M0 L1T 2 ] (C) [M0 L3T0 ] (D) [M0 L6 T0 ]
36. Which of the following does not have the same dimensional formula as that for RT?
a ab
(A) pV (B) pb (C) (C)
V2 V2
ab
37. The dimensional representation of is
RT
(A) [ML5T 2 ] (B) [M 0 L3T 0 ] (C) [ML1T 2 ] (D) None of these
38. The dimensional formula of RT is same as that of
(A) energy (B) force (C) specific heat (D) latent heat
Comprehension (Question number 39 to 41)
Dimensional methods provide three major advantages in verification, derivation and changing the system of
units. Any empirical formula that is derived based on this method has to be verified and proportionality
constants found by experimental means. The presence or absence of certain factorsnon dimensional constants
or variablescannot be identified by this method. So every dimensionally correct relation cannot be taken as
perfectly correct relation.
39. If we take  kg,  metre and  second as the fundamental units, 1 calorie can be expressed in new system of
units as (1 cal  4.2 J)
(A) 1  2  (B) 1 2 (C) 4.21  (D) 4.2122
40. Time period of oscillation of a drop depends on surface tension , density of the liquid  and radius r. The
relation is
r2 r2 r3 
(A) (B) (C) (D)
   r3
41. Energy of a simple harmonic motion is dependent on mass m, frequency f and amplitude A of oscillation. The
relation is
mf mA2 mf 2
(A) (B) (C) (D) mf 2 A2
A2 f A2
ANSWER KEY
1. (D) 12. (D) 23. (C) 34. (A)

2. (C) 13. (A) 24. (A) 35. (C)
3. (D) 14. (D) 25. (A) 36. (C)
4. (A) 15. (B) 26. (D) 37. (D)
5. (C) 16. (B) 27. (C) 38. (A)
6. (C) 17. (B) 28. (B) 39. (D)
7. (C) 18. (A) 29. (D) 40. (C)
8. (B) 19. (B) 30. (D) 41. (D)
9. (B) 20. (D) 31. (C)
10. (C) 21. (B) 32. (C)
11. (D) 22. (B) 33. (B)
[28]
EXERCISE- 2
Instruction: Use the reference given after problems for the required formula to solve the problems. The reference
corresponds to the list of formula given at the end of this chapter.
Note that the formula given are not exact but can be used for dimensional analysis. There is no
requirement of remembering these formula before it gets discussed in class during lecture of associated
chapters. During any examination, you will not be provided with any such formula.
PART 1:Problems asked in AIEEE or JEE-Mains
1. Identify the pair whose dimensions are equal (Refer 1, 2 and 4) AIEEE-2002
(A) Torque and work (B) stress and energy (C) force and stress (D) force and work
1
2. Dimension of , where symbols have their usual meaning, are (Refer 5 and 6) AIEEE-2003
0 ε o
(A) [L1T] (B) [L2 T2 ] (C) [L2 T 2 ] (D) [LT1 ]
3. The physical quantities not having same dimensions are (Refer 9)
(A) torque and work (B) momentum and Planck's constant
(D) speed and  0 o 
1
(C) stress and young's modulus 2
4. Which one of the following represents the correct dimensions of the coefficient of viscosity? (Refer 10)
AIEEE-2004
(A) [ML1T1 ] (B) [MLT 1 ] (C) [ML1T 2 ] (D) [ML2 T 2 ]
5. Out of the following pair, which one does NOT have identical dimensions is (Refer 1, 2, 8, 9, 11 and 12)
AIEEE-2005
(A) impulse and momentum
(B) angular momentum and Planck's constant
(C) work and torque
(D) moment of inertia and moment of a force
6. The dimension of magnetic field in Mass (M), Length (L), Time (T) and Charge (C) is given as AIEEE-2008
(A) [MLT 1C 1 ] (B) [MLT 2C 2 ] (C) [MT 1C 1 ] (D) [MT 2C 1 ]
7. A body of mass m  3.513 kg is moving along the x-axis with a speed of 5.00 ms–1. The magnitude of its
momentum is recorded as
(A) 17.6 kg ms–1 (B) 17.565 kg ms–1 (C) 17.56 kg ms–1 (D) 17.57 kg ms–1
8. Two full turns of the circular scale of a screw gauge cover a distance of 1 mm on its main scale. The total
number of divisions on the circular scale is 50. Further, it is found that the screw gauge has a zero error of
0.03 mm. While measuring the diameter of a thin wire, a student notes the main scale reading of 3 mm and
the number of circular scale divisions in line with the main scale as 35. The diameter of the wire is
(A) 3.32 mm (B) 3.73 mm (C) 3.67 mm (D) 3.38 mm
9. In an experiment the angles are required to be measured using an instrument, 29 divisions of the main scale
exactly coincide with the 30 divisions of the Vernier scale. If the smallest division of the main scale is half a
degree (  0.5o ), then the least count of the instrument is AIEEE-2009
(A) half minute (B) one degree (C) half degree (D) one minute
10. The respective number of significant figures for the numbers 23.023, 0.0003 and 2.1103 are AIEEE-2010
(A) 5, 1, 2 (B) 5, 1, 5 (C) 5, 5, 2 (D) 4, 4, 2

11. A screw gauge gives the following reading when used to measure the diameter of a wire. AIEEE-2011
Main scale reading : 0 mm
[29]
Circular scale reading : 52 divisions
Given that l mm on main scale corresponds to 100 divisions of the circular scale. The diameter of wire from
the above data is
(A) 0.052 cm (B) 0.026 cm (C) 0.005 cm (D) 0.52 cm
12. Resistance of a given wire is obtained by measuring the current flowing in it and the voltage difference applied
across it. If the percentage errors in the measurement of the current and the voltage difference are 3% each,
then error in the value of resistance of the wire is AIEEE-2012
(A) 6 % (B) zero (C) 1 % (D) 3 %
13. A spectrometer gives the following reading when used to measure the angle of a prism.
Main scale reading : 58.5 degree
Vernier scale reading : 09 divisions
Given than division on main scale corresponds to 0.5 degree. Total divisions on the Vernier scale is 30 and
match with 29 divisions of the main scale. The angle of the prism from the above data
(A) 58.59o (B) 58.77o (C) 58.65o (D) 59o
14. Let [ε o ] denote the dimensional formula of the permittivity of vacuum. If M  mass, L  length, T  time
and A  electric current, then (Refer 5) AIEEE-2013
1 3 2 1 3 4 2
(A) [εo ]  [M L T A] (B) [εo ]  [M L T A ] (C) [εo ]  [M L T A ] (D) [εo ]  [M L T A]
1 3 5 2 1 2 1
15. A student measured the length of a rod and wrote it as 3.50 cm. Which instrument did he use to measure it?
JEE-Main 2014
(A) A meter scale
(B) A Vernier caliper where the 10 division in Vernier scale matches with 9 divisions in main scale and
main scale has 10 divisions in 1 cm
(C) A screw gauge having 100 division in the circular scale and pitch as 1 mm and pitch as 1 mm
(D) A screw gauge having 50 divisions in the circular scale
L
16. The period of oscillation of a simple pendulum is T  2 . Measured value of L is 20.0 cm known to 1 mm
g
accuracy and time for 100 oscillations of the pendulum is found to be 90s using a wrist watch of 1s resolution.
The accuracy in the determination of g is : JEE-Main 2015
(A) 5% (B) 2% (C) 3% (D) 1%

17. A screw gauge with a pitch of 0.5 mm and a circular scale with 50 divisions is used to measure the thickness of
an thin sheet of Aluminium. Before starting the measurement, it is found that when the two jaws of the screw
gauge are brought in contact, the 45th division coincides with the main scale is barely visible. What is the
thickness of the sheet if the main scale reading is 0.5 mm and the 25th division coincides with the main scale
line? JEE-Main 2016
(A) 0.70 mm (B) 0.50 mm (C) 0.75 mm (D) 0.80 mm
18. A student measures the time period of 100 oscillations of a simple pendulum four times. The data set is 90s, 91s,
95s and 92s. If the minimum division in the measuring clock is 1s, then the reported mean time should be:
(A)  92  1.5 s (B)  92  3 s (C)  92  2  s (D)  92  5 s JEE-Main 2016
19. In the following ‘I’ refers to current and other symbols have their usual meaning, Choose the option that
corresponds to the dimensions of electrical conductivity: JEE-Mains 2016 (Online)
(A) M 1 L3T 3 I (B) M 1 L3T 3 I 2 (C) M 1 L3T 3 I (D) ML3T 3 I 2
[30]
20. A, B, C and D are four different physical quantities having different dimensions. None of them is
dimensionless. But we know that the equation AD = C in (BD) holds true. Then which of the combination is
not a meaningful quantity? JEE-Mains 2016 (Online)
C AD 2 A
C
 A  C
(A)  (B) A2  B 2C 2 (C) (D)
BD C B D
21. Time (T), velocity (C) and angular momentum (h) are chosen as fundamental quantities instead of mass, length
and time. In terms of these, the dimensions of mass would be: JEE-Mains 2017 (Online)
(A)  M   T 1C 2 h  (B)  M   T 1C 2 h  (C)  M   T 1C 2 h1  (D)  M   TC 2 h 
22. A physical quantity P is described by the relation P  a1/2b2 c3 d 4 . If the relative errors in the measurement of
a, b, c and d respectively, are 2%, 1%, 3% and 5%, then the relative error in P will be:
JEE-Mains 2017 (Online)
(A) 8% (B) 12% (C) 32% (D) 25%
23. The relative error in the determination of the surface area of a sphere is . Then the relative error in the
determination of its volume is JEE-Mains 2018 (Online)
2 2 3
(A)  (B)  (C)  (D) 
3 3 2
24. The characteristic distance at which quantum gravitational effects are significant, the Plank length, can be
determined from a suitable combination of the fundamental physical constants G, h and c. Which of the
following correctly gives the Plank length? JEE-Mains 2018 (Online)
1
 Gh  2
1
(A) G 2 hc (B)  3  (C) G 2 h 2 c (D) Gh 2 c 3
c 
25. The percentage errors in quantities P,Q,R and S are 0.5%, 1%, 3% and 1.5% respectively in the measurement
P 3Q 2
of a physical quantity A  . The maximum percentage error in value of A will be:
RS
JEE-Mains 2018 (Online)
(A) 8.5% (B) 6.0% (C) 7.5% (D) 6.5%
[31]
26. In form of G (universal gravitational constant), h (Plank constant) and c (speed of light), the time period will be
proportional to JEE-Mains 2019 (January)
Gh hc5 c3 Gh
(A) (B) (C) (D)
c5 G Gh c3
27. The density of a material in SI units is 128 kg m–3. In certain units in which the unit of length is 25 cm and the
unit of mass is 50 g, the numerical value of density of the material is JEE-Mains 2019 (January)
(A) 40 (B) 16 (C) 640 (D) 410
28. The diameter and height of a cylinder are measured by a meter scale to be 12.6 0.1 cm and 34.2  0.1 cm,
respectively. What will be the value of its volume in appropriate significant figures?
(A) 4300  80 cm3 (B) 4260  80 cm3 (C) 4264.4  81.0 cm3 (D) 4264  81 cm3
 x2 
29. The force of interaction between two atoms is given by F   exp    ; where x is the distance, k is
  kt 
Boltzmann constant and T is temperature and  and  are two constants. The dimension of  is:
JEE-Mains 2019 (January)
(A)  MLT 2  (B)  M 0 L2T 4  (C)  M 2 LT 4  (D)  M 2 L2T 2 
30. If speed (V), acceleration (A) and force (F) are considered as fundamental units, the dimensions of Young's
modulus will be JEE-Mains 2019 (January)
(A) [V 4 A2 F ] (B) [V 2 A2 F 2 ] (C) [V 2 A2 F 2 ] (D) [V 4 A2 F ]

31. Let l, r, c, and v represent inductance, resistance, capacitance and voltage, respectively. The dimension of
rcv
in SI units will be JEE-Mains 2019 (January)
(A)  LT 2  (B)  LTA (C)  A1  (D)  LA2 
[32]
Part - 2: Problems asked in IIT-JEE or JEE Advanced

32. Give the MKS units for each of the following quantities. IIT-JEE 1980
(i) Young's modulus (ii) Magnetic Induction (iii) Power of a lens
33. A gas bubble, from an explosion under water, oscillates with a period T proportional to p a d b E c . Where p is the
static pressure d is the density of water and E is the total energy of the explosion. Find the values of a, b and c.
IIT-JEE 1981
34. Write the dimensions of the following in terms of mass, time, length and charge (Refer 7 and 14)
(i) Magnetic flux (ii) Rigidity modulus IIT-JEE 1982
35. Match the physical quantities given in column I with dimensions expressed in terms of mass (M), length (L),
time (T), and charge (Q) given in column II and write the correct answer against the matched quantity in a
tabular form in your answer book. (Refer 1, 8, 15, 16, 17 and 18) IIT-JEE 1983
Column I Column II
Angular momentum [ML2 T 2 ]
Latent heat [ML2 Q2 ]
Torque [ML2 T1 ]
Capacitance [ML3T 1Q2 ]
Inductance [M1L2 T 2 Q2 ]
Resistivity [L2 T 2 ]
36. The dimensions of the quantities in one (or more) of the following pairs are the same. Identify the pair (s)
(Refer 1, 2, 7, 8 and 20) IIT-JEE 1986
(A) Torque and Work (B) Angular momentum and Work
(C) Energy and Young's modulus (D) Light year and Wavelength
37. Column-I gives three physical quantities. Select the appropriate units for the choices given in Column-II. Some
of the physical quantities may have more than one choice correct: (Refer 13, 16 and 17) IIT-JEE 1990
Column I Column II
(i) Capacitance (p) ohm-second
(ii) Inductance (q) coulomb2-Joule–1
(iii) Magnetic Induction (r) coulomb (volt)–1
(s) Newton (amp-metre)–1
(t) Volt-second (ampere)–1
38. The pairs of physical quantities that have the same dimensions is (are): (Refer 1, 9, 15, 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24)
IIT-JEE 1995 S
(A) Reynolds number and coefficient of friction (B) Curie and frequency of a light wave
(C) Latent heat and gravitational potential (D) Planck's constant and torque
[33]
39. The SI unit of inductance, the Henry can be written as (Refer 15) IIT-JEE 1998
(A) weber/ampere (B) volt-sec/amp
2
(C) Joule/(ampere) (D) ohm-second
40. Let [ε o ] denote the dimensional formula of the permittivity of the vacuum, and [  0 ] that of the permeability of
the vacuum. If M  mass, L  length, T  time and I  electric current, (Refer 5 and 6) IIT-JEE 1998
(A) [o ]  [M 1 L3T 2 I ] (B) [o ]  [M 1 L3T 4 I 2 ]
(C) [0 ]  [MLT 2 I 2 ] (D) [0 ]  [ML2T 1 I ]
41.  
The dimension of 1 2 0 E 2 ( o : permittivity of free space, E electric field) is: (Refer 5 and 25)
IIT-JEE 2000 S
(A) [MLT 1 ] (B) [ML2 T 2 ] (C) [ML1T 2 ] (D) [ML2 T 1 ]
V
42. A quantity X is given by o  where o is the permittivity of the free,  is a length, V is a potential
t
difference and t is a time interval. The dimensional formula for X is same as that of: (Refer 5, 26, 27)
IIT-JEE-2001 S
(A) Resistance (B) Charge (C) Voltage (D) Current
43. A cube has a side of length 1.2 102 m. Calculate its volume. IIT-JEE-2003 S
(A) 1.7 106 m3(B) 1.73 106 m3 (C) 1.70 106 m3 (D) 1.732 106 m3
If nth division of main scale coincides with  n  1 divisions of Vernier scale. Given one main scale division is
th
44.
equal to a units. Find the least count of the Vernier. IIT-JEE-2004 S
 z 
45. Pressure depends on distance as, p    exp    , where ,  are constants, z is distance, k is Boltzmann's
 k 
constant and  is temperature. The dimension of  are: (Refer 28) IIT-JEE-2004 S
0 0 0 1 1 1 0 2 0 1 1 2
(A) [M L T ] (B) [M L T ] (C) [M L T ] (D) [M L T ]
46. A wire of length   6  0.06 cm and radius r  0.5  0.005 cm and mass m  0.3  0.003 gm. Maximum
percentage error in density is IIT-JEE-2004 S
(A) 4 (B) 2 (C) 1 (D) 6.8
47. A screw gauge having 100 equal divisions and a pitch of length 1 mm is used to measure the diameter of a wire
of length 5.6 cm, The main scale reading is 1 mm and 47th circular division coincides with the main scale. Find
22
the curved surface area of wire in cm2 to appropriate significant figure. (use   ). IIT-JEE-2004 S
7
48. In Searle's experiment, which is used to find Young's Modulus of elasticity, the diameter of experimental wire
is D  0.05 cm (measured by a scale of least count 0.00 1 cm) and length is L  110 cm (measured by a scale of
least count 0.1 cm), A weight of 50 N causes an extension of X  0.125 cm (measured by a micrometer of least
count 0.001 cm), Find maximum possible error in the values of Young's modulus. Screw gauge and meter scale
are free from error. IIT-JEE-2004 S
[34]
49. Which of the following set have different dimensions? (refer 2, 4, 7, 25, 26, 29 and 30) IIT-JEE-2005 S
(A) Pressure, Young's modulus, Stress (B) EMF, Potential difference, Electric potential
(C) Heat, Work done, Energy (D) Dipole moment, Electric flux, Electric field
50. The side of a cube is measured by Vernier calipers (10 divisions of a Vernier scale coincide with 9 divisions of
main scale, where 1 division of main scale is 1 mm). The main scale reads 10 mm and first division of Vernier
scale coincides with the main scale. Mass of the cube is 2.736 gm. Find the density of the cube in appropriate
significant figures. IIT-JEE-2005 S
51. In a screw gauge, the zero of main-scale coincides with fifth division of circular scale in figure (i). The circular
division of screw gauge are 50. It moves 0.5 mm on main scale in one rotation. The diameter of the ball in
figure (ii) is IIT-JEE 2006
20 25 30
0 5 10
0 0
(A) 2.25 mm (B) 2.20 mm (C) 1.20 mm (D) 1.25 mm

 4 2  
52. A student performs an experiment for determination of g   2 
. The error in length  is  and in time T
 T 
is T and n is number of times the reading is taken. The measurement of g is most accurate for
 T n IIT-JEE 2006
(A) 5mm 0.2 sec 10
(B) 5mm 0.2 sec 20
(C) 5mm 0.1 sec 10
(D) 1mm 0.1 sec 50
53. A student performs an experiment to determine the Young's modulus of a wire, exactly 2 m long, by Searle's
method. In a particular reading, the student measures the extension in the length of the wire to be 0.8 mm with
an uncertainty of 0.05 mm at a load of exactly 1.0 kg. The student also measures the diameter of the wire to
be 0.4 mm with an uncertainty of 0.01 mm. Take g  9.8 m/s2 (exact). The Young's modulus obtained from
the reading is IIT-JEE 2007
(A)  2.0  0.3 1011 N/m2
(B)  2.0  0.2  1011 N/m2
(C)  2.0  0.1 1011 N/m2 (D)  2.0  0.05 1011 N/m2
Note: We can also take the value of Y from option given without calculating it as it is same in all options,
hence Y   2  0.2  1011 N/m2
54. Some physical quantities are given in Column I and some possible SI units in which these quantities may be
expressed are given in Column II. Match the physical quantities in Column I with the units in Column II and
indicate your answer by darkening appropriate bubbles in the 4  4 matrix given in the ORS. (Refer 16, 31, 32
and 13) IIT-JEE 2007
[35]
Column I Column II
GM e M s (volt) (coulomb) (metre)

(p)
(A) G – universal gravitational constant,
Me – mass of the earth, Ms – mass of the Sun
3RT
M (kilogram) (metre)3(second)–2
(B) (q)
R – universal gas constant,
T – absolute temperature, M – molar mass
F2
(metre)2(second)–2
q2 B2 (r)
(C)
F – Force, q – charge, B – magnetic field
GM e
Re (farad) (volt)2(kg)–1
(D) (s)
G – universal gravitational constant,
Me – mass of the earth, Re – radius of the earth
55. Students I, II and III perform an experiment for measuring the acceleration due to gravity (g) using a simple
pendulum. They use different lengths of the pendulum and /or record time for different number of oscillations.
The observations are shown in the table. IIT-JEE 2008
Least count for length  0.1 cm
Least count for time  0.1 s
Student Length of the pendulum No. of oscillations Total time Time period
(cm) (n) for (n) oscillations (s)
I 64.0 8 128.0 16.0
II 64.0 4 64.0 16.0
III 20.0 4 36.0 9.0
 g 
If E I , EII and EIII are the percentage errors in g, i.e.  100  for students I, II and III, respectively, then
 g 
(A) EI  0 (B) E I is minimum (C) EI  EII (D) EII is maximum
56. A Vernier calipers has 1 mm marks on the main scale. It has 20 equal divisions on the Vernier scale which
match with 16 main scale divisions. For this Vernier calipers, the least count is IIT-JEE 2010
(A) 0.02 mm (B) 0.05 mm (C) 0.1 mm (D) 0.2 mm
57. A student uses a simple pendulum of exactly l m length to determine g, the acceleration due to gravity. He uses
a stop watch with the least count of 1 sec for this and records 40 seconds for 20 oscillations. For this
observation, which of the following statement(s) is (are) true? IIT-JEE 2010
(A) Error T in measuring T, the time period, is 0.05 seconds
(B) Error T in measuring T, the time period, is l second
(C) Percentage error in the determination of g is 5 %
(D) Percentage error in the determination of g is 2.5 %
58. The density of a solid ball is to be determined in an experiment. The diameter of the ball is measured with a
screw gauge, whose pitch is 0.5 mm and there are 50 divisions on the circular scale. The reading on the main
scale is 2.5 mm and that on the circular scale is 20 divisions. If the measured mass of the ball has a relative
error of 2 %, the relative percentage error in the density is IIT-JEE 2011
(A) 0.9 % (B) 2.4 % (C) 3.1 % (D) 4.2 %
[36]
Passage for Q No. 59 and 60
A dense collection of equal number of electrons and positive ions is called neutral plasma. Certain solids containing
fixed positive ions surrounded by free electrons can be treated as neutral plasma. Let N be the number density of free
electrons, each of mass m. When the electrons are subjected to an electric field, they are displaced relatively away from
the heavy positive ions. If the electric field becomes zero, the electrons begin to oscillate about the positive ions with a
natural angular frequency p which is called the plasma frequency. To sustain the oscillations, a time varying electric
field needs to be applied that has an angular frequency , where a part of the energy is absorbed and a part of it is
reflected. As  approaches p all the free electrons are set to resonance together and all the energy is reflected. This is
the explanation of high reflectivity of metals. IIT-JEE 2011
59. Taking the electronic charge as e and the permittivity as o . Use dimensional analysis to determine the correct
expression for p. (Refer 5 and 31)
Ne m o Ne 2 Ne 2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
m o Ne m o m o
60. Estimate the wavelength at which plasma reflection will occur for a metal having the density of electrons
N  4 1027 m3. Taking o  1011 and mass m  1030 kg, where the quantities are in proper SI units.
(A) 800 nm (B) 600 nm (C) 300 nm (D) 200 nm

 4MLg 
In the determination of Young's modulus  Y  using Searle's method, a wire of length L  2 m and
 d 2 
61.

diameter d  0.5 mm is used. For a load M  2.5 kg, an extension   0.25 mm in the length of the wire is
observed. Quantities d and  are measured using a screw gauge and a micrometer, respectively. They have the
same pitch of 0.5 mm. The number of divisions on their circular scale is 100. The contributions to the
maximum probable error of the Y measurement IIT-JEE 2012
(A) due to the 'errors in the measurements of d and  are the same.
(B) due to the error in the measurement of d is twice that due to the error in the measurement of .
(C) due to the error in the measurement of  is twice that due to the error in the measurement of d.
(D) due to the error in the measurement of d is four times that due to the error in the measurement of .
62. The diameter of a cylinder is measured using a Vernier calipers with no zero error. It is found that the zero of
the Vernier scale lies between 5.10 cm and 5.15 cm of the main scale. The Vernier scale has 50 divisions
equivalent to 2.45 cm, The 24th division of the Vernier scale exactly coincides with one of the main scale
divisions. The diameter of the cylinder is IIT-JEE 2013
(A) 5.112 cm (B) 5.124 cm (C) 5.136 cm (D) 5.148 cm
63. Using the expression 2d sin    , one calculates the values of d by measuring the corresponding angles  in
the range 0 to 90°. The wavelength  is exactly known and the error in  is constant for all values of . As 
increases from 0° IIT-JEE 2013
(A) The absolute error in d remains constant (B) The absolute error in d increases
(C) The fractional error in d remains constant (D) The fractional error in d decreases
[37]
64. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes gives below the lists: (Refer 9, 10, 28,
and 34) IIT-JEE 2013
List I List II
P. Boltzmann constant 1. [ML2 T 1 ]
Q. Coefficient of viscosity 2. [ML1T1 ]
R. Planks constant 3. [MLT 3 K 1 ]
S. Thermal conductivity 4. [ML2 T 2 K 1 ]
Codes:
P Q R S
(A) 3 1 2 4
(B) 3 2 1 4
(C) 4 2 1 3
(D) 4 1 2 3
65. To find the distance d over which a signal can be seen clearly in foggy conditions, a railway engineer uses
dimensional analysis and assumes that the distance depends on the mass density  of the fog, intensity
 S  Power Area  of the light from the signal and its frequency f. The engineer finds that d is proportional
to S 1/ n . The value of n is _____. JEE-ADVANCED 2014
66. During Searle's experiment, zero of the Vernier scale lies between 3.20 102 m and 3.25 102 m of the
main scale. The 20th division of the Vernier scale exactly coincides with one of the main scale divisions.
When an additional load of 2 kg is applied to the wire, the zero of the Vernier scale still lies between
3.20 102 m and 3.25 102 m of the main scale but now the 45th division of Vernier scale coincides with
one of the main scale divisions. The length of the thin metallic wire is 2 m and its cross-sectional area is
8 107 m2 . The least count of the Vernier scale is 1.0 105 m. The maximum percentage error in the Young's
modulus of the wire is _______. JEE-
ADVANCED 2014
67. Planck's constant h, speed of light c and gravitational constant G are used to form a unit of length L and a
unit of mass M. Then the correct option(s) is (are) (Refer 9 and 31) JEE-ADVANCED 2015
(A) M  c (B) M  G (C) L  h (D) L  G
68. In terms of potential difference V, electric current I, permittivity 0, permeability 0 and speed of light c, the
dimensionally correct equation(s) is(are) (Refer 5, 6 and 26) JEE-ADVANCED 2015
(A) 0 I   0V
2 2
(B)  0 I  0V (C) I   0 cV (D) 0 cI   0V
69. The energy of a system as a function of time t is given as E(t) = A2 exp(– t), where  = 0.2s–1. The
measurement of A has an error of 1.25%. If the error in the measurement of time is 1.50%, the percentage error
in the value of E(t) at t = 5 s is______. JEE-ADVANCED 2015
70. Consider a Vernier callipers in which each 1 cm on the main scale is divided into 8 equal divisions and a screw
gauge with 100 divisions on its circular scale. In the Vernier callipers, 5 divisions of the Vernier scale coincide
with 4 divisions on the main scale and in the screw gauge, one complete rotation of the circular scale moves it by
two divisions on the linear scale. Then: JEE-ADVANCED 2015
(A) If the pitch of the screw gauge is twice the least count of the Vernier callipers, the least count of the
screw gauge is 0.01 mm.
[38]
(B) If the pitch of the screw gauge is twice the least count of the Vernier callipers, the least count of the screw
gauge is 0.005 mm.
(C) If the least count of the linear scale of the screw gauge is twice the least count of the Vernier callipers, the
least count of the screw gauge is 0.01 mm.
(D) If the least count of the linear scale of the screw gauge is twice the least count of the Vernier callipers, the
least count of the screw gauge is 0.005 mm.
71. A length-scale (l) depends on the permittivity () of a dielectric material. Boltzmann constant (kB), the absolute
temperature (T), the number per unit volume (n) of certain charged particles and the charge (q) carried by each of
the particles. Which of the following expression(s) for l is(are) dimensionally correct? (Refer 5 and 28)
JEE-ADVANCED-2016
 nq 2  k T   q2   q2 
(A) l    (B) l   B2  (C) l    (D) l   
  k BT    n k BT    n k BT 
2/3 1/ 2
 nq 
72. There are two Vernier calipers both of which have 1 cm divided into 10 equal divisions on the main scale. The
Vernier scale of one of the calipers (C1) has 10 equal divisions that correspond to 9 main scale divisions. The
Vernier scale of the other caliper (C2) has 10 equal divisions that correspond to 11 main scale divisions. The
readings of the two calipers are shown in the figure. The measured values (in cm) by calipers C1 and C2
respectively, are JEE-ADVANCED-2016
(A) 2.87 and 2.87 (B) 2.87 and 2.86 (C) 2.87 and 2.83 (D) 2.85 and 2.82
73. In an experiment to determine the acceleration due to gravity g, the formula used for the time period of a period
7R  r
of a periodic motion is T  2 . The values of R and r are measured to be (60  1)mm and (10  1)mm
5g
respectively. In five successive measurements, the time period is found to be 0.52s, 0.56s, 0.57s, 0.54s and 0.59s.
The least count of the watch used for the measurement of time period is 0.01 s. Which of the following
statement(s) is (are) true? JEE-ADVANCED-2016
(A) The error in the measurement of r is 10% (B) The error in the measurement of T is 3.57%
(C) The error in the measurement of T is 2% (D) The error in the determined value of g is 11%
74. A person measures the depth of a well by measuring the time interval between dropping a stone and receiving the
sound of impact with the bottom of the well. The error in his measurement of time is  T  0.01 seconds and he
measures the depth of the well to be L = 20 meters. Take the acceleration due to gravity g = 10 ms –2 and the
velocity of sound is 300 m/s. Then the fractional error in the measurement,  L / L , is closest to
(A) 5% (B) 3% (C) 0.2% (D) 1% JEE-ADVANCED-2017

In electromagnetic theory, the electric and magnetic phenomena are related to each other. Therefore, the dimensions of
electric and magnetic quantities must also be related to each other. In the questions below. [E] and [B] stand for
[39]
dimensions of electric and magnetic fields respectively, while [ 0 ] and [ 0 ] stand for dimensions of the permittivity
and permeability of free space respectively. [L] and [T] are dimensions of length and time respectively. All the
quantities are given in SI units. JEE-ADVANCED-2018
75. The relation between [E] and [B]
(A) [E] = [B] [L] (B) [T] [ L]1 [T ] (C) [ E ]  [ B][ L][T ]1 (D) [E] = [B] [L] 1 [T] 1
76. The relation between [ 0 ] and [ 0 ] is
(A) [ 0 ] [ 0 ][ L]2 [T ]2 (b) [ 0 ] [ 0 ][ L]2 [T ]2 (C) [ 0 ] [ 0 ]1 [ L]2 [T ]2 (D) [ 0 ] [ 0 ]1 [ L]2 [T ]2
If the measurement errors in all the independent quantities are known, then it is possible to determine the error in any
dependent quantity. This is done by the use of series expansion and truncating the expansion at the first power of the
error. For example, consider the relation z = x/y. If the errors in x, y and z are  x,  y and  z , respectively, then
1
x  x x  x   x 
z  z   1   1   .
y  y y  x  y 
1
 y 
The series expansion for 1   , to first power in  y / y , is 1  (  y / y ) . The relative errors in independent
 y 
variables are always added. So the error in z will be
 z  y 
z  z   .
 x y 
The above deviation makes the assumption that  x  1,  y  1. Therefore, the higher power of these quantities
x y
are neglected. JEE-ADVANCED-2018
(1  a )
77. Consider the ratio r  to be determined by measuring a dimensionless quantity a. If the error in the
(1  a )
measurement of a is a (a/a << 1, then what is the error r in determining r?
a 2 a 2 a 2 aa
(A) (B) (C) (D)
(1  a ) 2
(1  a ) 2
(1  a ) 2
1  a 2 
78. In an experiment the initial number of radioactive nuclei is 3000. It is found that 1000  40 nuclei decayed in
the first 1.0 s. For |x| << 1, ln(1 + x) = x up to first power in x. The error  , in the determination of the
decay constant  , in s 1 , is
(A) 0.04 (B) 0.03 (C) 0.02 (D) 0.01
79. A steel wire of diameter 0.5 mm and Young's modulus 2  1011 Nm2 carries a load of mass M. The length of
the wire with load is 1.0 m. A vernier scale with 10 divisions is attached to the end of this wire. Next to the steel
wire is a reference wire is a reference wire to which a main scale, of least count 1.0 mm, is attached. The 10
divisions of the vernier scale correspond to 9 divisions of the main scale. Initially, the zero of vernier scale
coincides with the zero of main scale. If the load on the steel wire is increased by 1.2 kg, the vernier scale
division which coincides with a main scale division is _______. Take g = 10 ms 2 and   3.2.
JEE-ADVANCED-2018
ANSWER KEY
1. (A) 2. (C)
[40]
3. (B) 40. (B, C)
4. (A) 41. (C)
5. (D) 42. (D)
6. (C) 43. (A)
7. (A) a
44.
8. (D) n 1
9. (D) 45. (C)
10. (A) 46. (A)
11. (A) 47. 2.6 cm2
12. (A) 48. 1.09  1010 N/m2
13. (C) 49. (D)
14. (B) 50. 2.66g/cm3
15. (B) 51. (C)
16: (C) 52. (D)
17. (D)
53. (B)
18. (C)
54. A : p, q B : r, s C :  r, s D : r, s
19. (B)
55. (B)
20. (D)
56. (D)
21. (A)
57. (A, C)
22. (C)
58. (C)
23. (C)
59. (C)
24. (B)
60. (B)
25. (D)
61. (A)
26. (A)
62. (B)
27. (A)
63. (D)
28. (B)
64. (C)
29. (C)
30. (D) 65. 3
31. (C) 66. 4
32. (i) N/m2 (ii) Tesla or Ns/C-m 67. (A), (C), (D)
68. (A, C)
(iii) Dioptre or m-1 69. (4)
33.  5 ; 1 and 1 70. (B), (C)
6 2 3
1 2 1 1 1 2
71. (B)
34. (i) [M L T Q ] (ii) [ML T ] 72: (B)
35. [ ML2T 1 ] ; [ L2T 2 ] ; [ ML2T 2 ] ; [ M 1 L2T 2Q 2 ] ; 73: (A, B, (D)
[ ML2Q 2 ] ; [ ML3T 1Q 2 ] 74: (D)
75. (C)
36. (A, D)
76. (D)
37. (i)  (q) and (r);
77. (C)
(ii)  (p) and (t); (iii)  (s) 78. (C)
38. (A, B, C) 79. (3.00)
39. (A, B, C, D)
EXERCISE - 3
[41]
E2I
1. IF E, M, I and G, respectively, denote energy, mass, moment of inertia and gravitational constant, then
M 5G 2
has the dimensions of
(A) time (B) angle (C) mass (D) length
2. A gas bubble formed from an explosion under water oscillates with a period proportional to p a d b E c , where p is
the static pressure, d is the density of water and E is the energy of explosion. Then, a, b, c are, respectively.
(A) 1, 1, 1 (B) 13 , 1 2 ,  5 6 (C)  5 6 , 1 2 , 13 (D) 1 2 ,  5 6 , 13
3. In the formula X  3YZ 2 , X and Z have the dimensions of capacitance (C) and magnetic induction (B),
respectively. The dimensions of Y in M.K.S. system are
(A) [M3 L2 T2 A4 ] (B) [ML2 T0 A0 ] (C) [M3 L2 T8 A4 ] (D) [M3 L2 T4 A4 ]
4. If the Planck’s constant h, velocity of light c and the universal gravitational constant G be chosen as
fundamental units, then the dimensions of mass in this system are
1 1 1
(A) [h 2 c 2 G 2
] (B) [h1c 1G] (C) [hcG 1 ] (D) [hcG ]
5. The relative density of the material of a body is found by weighing it first in air and then in water. If the weight
of the body in air is W1  8.00  0.05 N and weight in water is W2  6.00  0.05 N, then the relative density,
W1
r  with the maximum permissible error is
W1  W2
(A) 4.00  0.62% (B) 4.00  0.82% (C) 4.00  3.2% (D) 4.00  5.62%
 r2R
6. The specific resistance  of a circular wire of radius r, resistance R and length  is given by   . Given:

r  0.24  0.02 cm, R  30  1 , and   4.80  0.01 cm. The percentage error in  is nearly
(A) 7% (B) 9% (C) 13% (D) 20%
7. The internal and external diameters of a hollow cylinder are measured with the help of a Vernier calipers. Their
values are 4.23  0.01 cm and 3.87  0.01 cm, respectively. The thickness of the wall of the cylinder is :
(A) 0.36  0.02 cm (B) 0.18  0.02 cm (C) 0.36  0.01 cm (D) 0.18  0.01 cm
8. The frequency f of vibrations of a mass m suspended from a spring of spring constant k is given by f  Cm x k y ,
where C is a dimensionless constant. The values of x and y are, respectively
(A) 1 2 , 1 2 (B)  1 2 ,  1 2 (C) 1 2 ,  1 2 (D)  1 2 , 1 2
 v0   t
9. The position of a particle at time t is given by the relation x  t      2  , where v0 is a constant and   0 .
 
Find the dimensions of v0 and  .
A x
10. The potential energy of a particle varies with distance x from a fixed origin as U  , where A and B are
x2  B
dimensional constants. Find the dimensional formula of A  B .
[42]
11. If the time period T  of vibration of liquid drops depends on surface tension  S  , radius  r  of the drop, and
density    of the liquid, then find the expression of T.
12. Formula for energy (E ) stored in capacitor and inductor are:

Q2 1
E and E  Li 2
2C 2
Formula for power (P) dissipated in a resistor is
P  i2 R
Q = charge in capacitor, C = capacitance, i = current, L = Inductance, R = Resistance
(i) Write dimensional formula of C, L and R
(ii) Combine L & C such that it gives dimension of frequency.
(iii) Check dimensional correctness of:
 
t

(a) q  CE 1  e RC  ( E  emf , R  Resistance , t = time)
 
E  
tR
(b) i  1  e L
 ( E  emf , R  Resistance, L= Inductance , t = time)
R 
13. The force of repulsion F between two particles carrying charges q1 and q2 separated by distance r is given as:
1 q1q2
F
4  0 r 2
The dimensional formula for permittivity of free space   0  in the equation is:
(a)  M 1 L3 A2T 4  (b)  M 1 L3T 4 A2  (c)  M 1 L3 A2T 4  (d)  M 1 L3T 2 A4 
14. What is the unit of k in the relation?

ky
U
y2  a2
Where U represents the potential energy, y represents the displacement and a represents the maximum
displacement i.e., amplitude?
(a) ms–1 (b) ms (c) Jm (d) Js–1
15. Force F is given in terms of time t and distance x by F  a sin ct  b cos dx.
a c
Then the dimensions of and are given by
b d
(a)  MLT 2 , M 0 L0T 1  (b)  MLT 2 , M 0 L1T 0  (c)  M 0 L0T 0 , M 0 LT
1 1
 (d)  M 0 LT
1 1
, M 0 L0T 0 
16. A rectangular beam which is supported at its two ends and loaded in the middle with weight W sags by a length
 such that
Wl 3

4Yd 3  x 
Here l, d and Y represent length, depth and Young’s modulus of elasticity respectively. Guess the unknown
factor x using dimensional considerations.
(b)  breadth  (c)  breadth 
2 3
(a) breadth (d) mass
[43]
17. If E, m, J and G represent energy, mass, angular momentum and gravitational constant respectively, then the
2
dimensional formula of EJ is
m5 G 2
(a) angle (b) length (c) mass (d) time
18. The velocity of transverse wave in a string is v  T m where T is the tension in the string and m is the mass
per unit length. If T  3.0 N, the mass of string is 2.5 g and the length of string is v  1.000 m, then the
percentage error in the measurement of velocity is
(a) 0.5 (b) 0.7 (c) 2.3 (d) 3.6
ANSWER KEY
1. (B) 12. (i) M 1 L2 A2T 4 ; [ L] A2 and ML2 A2T 3
2. (C) K
3. (C) (ii) [K = dimensionless number]
LC
4. (A)
(iii) Both are dimensionally correct.
5. (D)
13. (B)
6. (D)
7. (D) 14. (C)
8. (D 15. (C)
9. T 1  and  LT 1  16. (A)
17. (A)
10.  ML11/ 2T 2 
18. (D)
r 3
11. K [K = Dimensionless number]
S
[44]
List of formula for dimensional analysis
Physical Quantity SI Units Depends On: Relation


Torque       
1. (also called
(Newton)(meter) abbreviated as
Nm
 
Force F and position r    rF
moment of force)

 
Force F and displacement  
2. Work W  Joule abbreviated as J  W  F s

s
Elongation in length  l  l
3. Strain  s  Unit-less s
and initial length  l  l
(Newton)(meter)-2 abbreviated as F
4. Stress  S  Force  F  and area  A  S
N/m2 A
It is a constant, relating force
Permittivity of free (Newton)-1(meter)-2(Coulomb)2

 F  between charges 1 q1q2
F
space  ε o   q1 and q2  and distance
5.
abbreviated as C2/Nm2 4 ε o r 2
between charges  r 
per unit length  f  between
Permeability of -2
(Newton)(Ampere) abbreviated o i1i2
two wires having current F
free space  o 
6.
as N/A2
 i1 and i2  and distance 2 r
between wires  r 
Young’s modulus
Y  It is a constant, relating S
(Newton)(meter)-2 abbreviated as Y
stress  S  and strain  s 
7. (also called
s
modulus of
rigidity)

Angular
 (Newton)(meter)(second) 
Position vector r and   
8.
momentum L   abbreviated as

momentum  P 
L  rP
It is a constant, relating
Plank’s constant (Newton)(meter)(second) angular momentum  L  and L  n
h
9.
 h abbreviated as 2
integer  n 
 
Co-efficient of (Newton)( second) (meter)-2  
Force F , velocity v   
10.
viscosity  
F  6  r v
abbreviated as and radius  r 
   
11. Impulse J   (Newton)(second) abbreviated as Change in momentum  P   J  P
[45]
Mass of object  M  and
radius of gyration  k  .
Moment of Inertia
(kilogram)(meter)2 abbreviated as I  Mk 2
12.
I  Radius of gyration is a form
of distance.
Charge  q  moving with
Magnetic field

 B    
13.
(also called Tesla abbreviated as T 
velocity v in a magnetic 
F  q v B 

magnetic
induction)
field B  

Magnetic Flux  
Magnetic field B and area  
  B A

14.
 Weber abbreviated as Wb
A  
(Joule)(kilogram)-1 abbreviated as
15. Latent Heat  L  Heat  Q  and mass  m  Q  mL
J/kg
1 q2
16. Capacitance  C  Farad abbreviated as F Energy U  and charge  q  U
2C
1 2
17. Inductance  L  Henry abbreviated as H Energy U  and current  i  U  Li
2
Resistance  R  , length  l  l
18. Resistivity    (Ohm)(meter) abbreviated as m R
and area  A  A
1
19. Frequency f Hertz abbreviated as Hz Time period T  f 
T
Speed of wave  v  and
20. Wavelength    meter abbreviated as m vf
frequency of wave f
Disintegrations per second Decay constant    and
Activity of nuclear
21.
reaction  A 
abbreviated as dps. Other unit is number of nuclei present A   N
Curie. N
Gravitational (Joule)(kilogram)-1 abbreviated as Potential energy U  and U
22.
potential V 
V
J/kg mass  m  m
Density    , velocity  v  ,
Reynold’s Number diameter  d  and  vd
R
23.
 R Unit-less

coefficient of viscosity  
Co-efficient of Frictional force  f  and

f  N
friction   
24. Unit-less
normal force  N 

25. Electric field  E 
-1
(Newton)(Coulomb) abbreviated  
Electric force F and  
F  qE
as N/C charge  q 
[46]
Electric potential
26. V  Volt abbreviated as V Energy U  and charge  q  V

U
Also called voltage q
or emf
Potential difference  V 
27. Resistance  R  Ohm abbreviated as  V  iR
and current  i 
Boltzmann’s 3
28.
constant  kB 
-1
(Joule)(Kelvin) abbreviated asJ/K average kinetic energy K avg  kBT
 
K avg and temperature T  2

Electric Flux   
 
Electric field E and area  
  E A
29. 
 A
(Volt)(meter) abbreviated as Vm
Dipole moment (Coulomb)(meter) abbreviated as Charge  q  and separation

p  ql
30.
 p Cm between the charges  l 
Gravitational (Newton)(meter)2(kilogram)-2
 F  between masses m1m2
constant  G 
F G
31.
abbreviated as Nm2/kg2  m1 and m2  separated by a r2
distance  r 
Universal gas -1
(Joule)(Kelvin) (mole) -1 pressure  P  , volume V 
32.
constant  R 
PV  nRT
abbreviated as J/K-mol , number of moles
 n  and temperature T 
Angular frequency
33.
  Hertz abbreviated as Hz Frequency f   2 f
Heat flown  Q  in time Q

34. Heat Current  iH  Watt abbreviated as W iH 
 t  t
Heat current  iH  , length
Thermal (Watt)(meter)-1(Kelvin)-1  l  , cross-sectional area kA
34.
conductivity  k 
iH  T
abbreviated as W/m-K  A and temperature l
difference  T 
   
  
Spring Constant
35.
k  (Newton)(meter)-1 Force F and length x F  k x

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[1]

PART A: Units and Dimensional Analysis

PART A: Units and Dimensional Analysis

Suppose the formula is F  k   (r )b (v)c

Length 12. (d)

PART B: Experimental Skills

T3  3.60s  3.62s  0.02s T4  3.66s  3.62s  0.04s

T5  3.68s  3.62s  0.06s T6  3.56s  3.62s  0.06s

The mean absolute error is given by:

0  (0.04s)  (0.02s)  (0.04s)  (0.06s)  (0.06s)

N × (Length of Vernier Scale Division) = (N – 1) × (Length of Main Scale Division)

Length of Main Scale Division

Following is an actual diagram of a Vernier Calliper measuring diameter of a sphere:

IN CHAPTER EXERCISE -II

(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d)18

(a) 2.31 mm (b) 2.29 mm (c) 2.36 mm (d) 2.41 mm

1. 0.08%, 2% and 3.1%; length 18. 3.63cm.

19. (a) 0.5mm (b) 0.01mm

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 15

13. The position x of a particle at time t is given by x 

(A) 2% (B) 4% (C) 7% (D) 10%

1. (D) 12. (D) 23. (C) 34. (A)

(A) 5, 1, 2 (B) 5, 1, 5 (C) 5, 5, 2 (D) 4, 4, 2

(A) 5% (B) 2% (C) 3% (D) 1%

(A) M 1 L3T 3 I (B) M 1 L3T 3 I 2 (C) M 1 L3T 3 I (D) ML3T 3 I 2

JEE-Mains 2017 (Online)

(A) 8% (B) 12% (C) 32% (D) 25%

JEE-Mains 2018 (Online)

(A) 8.5% (B) 6.0% (C) 7.5% (D) 6.5%

JEE-Mains 2019 (January)

(A)  MLT 2  (B)  M 0 L2T 4  (C)  M 2 LT 4  (D)  M 2 L2T 2 

(A) [V 4 A2 F ] (B) [V 2 A2 F 2 ] (C) [V 2 A2 F 2 ] (D) [V 4 A2 F ]

(A)  LT 2  (B)  LTA (C)  A1  (D)  LA2 

Part - 2: Problems asked in IIT-JEE or JEE Advanced

Latent heat [ML2 Q2 ]

Torque [ML2 T1 ]

Capacitance [ML3T 1Q2 ]

(A) 2.25 mm (B) 2.20 mm (C) 1.20 mm (D) 1.25 mm

GM e M s (volt) (coulomb) (metre)

(A) 800 nm (B) 600 nm (C) 300 nm (D) 200 nm

Q. Coefficient of viscosity 2. [ML1T1 ]

R. Planks constant 3. [MLT 3 K 1 ]

S. Thermal conductivity 4. [ML2 T 2 K 1 ]

(A) 5% (B) 3% (C) 0.2% (D) 1% JEE-ADVANCED-2017

Passage for Q No. 75 and 76

12. Formula for energy (E ) stored in capacitor and inductor are:

14. What is the unit of k in the relation?

Physical Quantity SI Units Depends On: Relation

Permittivity of free (Newton)-1(meter)-2(Coulomb)2

Mass of object  M  and

Co-efficient of Frictional force  f  and

26. V  Volt abbreviated as V Energy U  and charge  q  V

Dipole moment (Coulomb)(meter) abbreviated as Charge  q  and separation

Heat flown  Q  in time Q

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