Capterr 1

Units &Dimensions
Physics

DR. Asmaa Hassan

 Types of Units ‫أنواع الوحدات‬
Fundamental or basic units ‫الوحدات األساسية‬
Derived units ‫الوحدات المشتقة‬
supplementry units ‫الوحدات التكميلية‬
fundamental or basic units units ‫الوحدات األساسية‬
1. Mass ‫الكتلة‬
2. Length ‫الطول‬
3. Time ‫الزمن‬
These three forms of “fundamental set “can be used to
derive the dimensions of some other physical quantities.

The dimensions of a pgysical quantity mean that “what

kind of physical quantity is it ?
(It is a length,time,mass or some combination of these
three sets )

Standard units of fundamental units

There are three systems of units : ‫يوجد ثالث أنظمة للوحدات‬
International French system unit British system
system unit ‫ النظام الرنسي للوحدات‬unit ‫البريطاني‬
(SI) ‫النظام العالمي‬ (C.G.S) ‫(للوحدات‬F.P.S)
‫(للوحدات‬M.K.S)
M:Meter (m) C:centimeter(cm)‫ سم‬F:foot(ft) ‫قدم‬
‫متر‬ G:gram(gm) ‫جرام‬ P:Pound(Ib) ‫رطل‬
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K:Kilogram S:Second(S) ‫ثانية‬ S:second ‫ثانية‬
(Kg)‫كيلوجرام‬
S:Second
(S)‫ثانيه‬
Mass is Mass is measured Mass is measured
measured by by (g) by (Ib)
(Kg) Length is measured Length is
Length is by (cm) measured by (ft)
measured by Time is measured Time is measured
(m) by (S) by (S)
Time is
measured by
(S)

Dimensional analysis ‫التحليل البعدي‬

It is the three fundamental dimensions Mass,(M)
Length(L) Time(T)
‫بمعني اني برجع أي كمية مشتقة الي وحداتها األساسية تاني زي الكثافة‬
‫بترجعل الكتلة والحجم‬

Physical Quantites ‫الكميات الفيزيائية‬

basic ‫كميات أساسية‬ ‫ كميات‬Derived quantity
quantity ‫مشتقة‬

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 ‫كما هي ال يمكن اشتقاقها من‬ ‫يمكن اشتقاقها من كمية فيزائية‬
‫كمية فيزائية اخري‬ ‫اخري‬
Ex:Mass Ex:Area
Length Volume
Time Velocity
Acceleration
Force ,Work Density

The following Ex show the dimensional equation

of some known physical quantities:
1.Area
In general ,the area is obtained by multiplying two
lengths together.
Dimensional equation of (Area) L*L=L2

Units :
(M.K.S system ) m2 length (L)

(C.g.s
system ) cm2
length (L)

The density of a substance is defined as the mass per unit volume of a

substance .

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2.Density
𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝑀
𝑫𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 = 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝜌=
𝑉
‫الكثافة هي كتلة المادة لكل وحدة حجم ويمكن القول بطريقة اخري انها نسبة الكتلة الي‬
.‫الحجم‬

But since the dimension of (mass is M) and (volume is

L3 ), we can easily see that the dimensional equation of
density is ML-3.
Units (MKS system ) Kg.m-3
(Cgs system ) gm.cm-3

3.Velocity:
Velocity is defined as the rate of change of distance with respect to time .

𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
Dimensional equation of velocity is L .T-1

Units : (MKS system ) M.T

(cgs system ) cm.s

4.Acceleration

Acceleration =𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

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 ‫ العجلة هو معدل تغير السرعة بالنسبة للزمن‬Accelration is defined as the rate

of change of velocity with respect to time .

Units : (MKS system ) m.s-2

(Cgs system )cm.s-2

5.Force
The force is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration : ‫يعرف القوة‬

‫انه اصل ضرب الكتلة ف العجلة‬

The force =mass*acceleration (F=mg)

Dimensional equation of acceleration is

M.LT-2
Units : (MKS system )kg.m.s-2
(Cgs system )gm.cm.s-2

6.Work
Work is defined as the force multiplied by the distance through
which it acts.
‫يعرف الشغل علي انه مقدار الطاقة الالزمة لتحريك جسم له كتلة معينةلمسافة معينة‬
This means that : ‫الشغل = القوة*المسافة‬

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 Work =Force *distance
Dimensional equation of work is given by :
M.LT* L=ML 2T -2
Units (MKS system )kg.m2.s-2
(Cgs system ) gm.cm2.s-2

7.Power
Power is defined as the rate of work with respect to time .
‫تعرف القدرة علي انها تغير الشغل بالنسبة للزمن‬
‫الشغل‬
This means that : = ‫القدرة‬
‫الزمن‬

𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘
Power =
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑀𝐿𝑇
Dimensional equation of Power is given by ;
𝑇
=ML 2T-3
Units ;(MKS system ) kg.m2.s-3
(Cgs system )gm.cm2.s-3
The following table gives the dimensions of some physical
quantities.

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 ‫الكمية الفيزيائية‬ ‫التعريف‬ ‫البعد‬ ‫الوحدة بالنظام‬
Physical Defintion Dimensions ‫البريطاني‬cgs
quantity units
Derived Physical Quantites
Area ‫المساحة‬ Length*Length L2 Cm2
Volum ‫الحجم‬ (Length )3 L3 Cm3
Density ‫الكثافة‬ 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 ML-3 gm.cm3
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
Velocity ‫السرعة‬ 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 L.T-1 cm.sec-1
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 L.T-2 cm.sec-2
Accelaration ‫العجلة‬ 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
Force ‫القوة‬ Mass*acceleration M.L.T-2 gm.cm.sec-2
Work ‫الشغل‬ Force *distance M.L 2.T-2 gm.cm2.sec-2
Moment of Force *Distance M.L2.T-2 gm.cm2.sec-2
force ‫عزم القوة‬
Power ‫القدرة‬ 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 M.L2.T-3 gm.cm2.sec-3
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
Pressure ‫الضغط‬ 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 M.L-1.T-2 gm.cm-1.sec-2
𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎
Modules of 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 M.L-1.T-2 gm.cm-1.sec-2
𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛
elasticity ‫معامل‬ 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
‫المرونة‬ OR 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎
Momentum ‫ الدفع‬Mass*Velocity M.L.T-1 gm.cm.sec-1

Notes 
1) There are quantites which have no dimensions (or their
dimensional equation is equal to 1 ).They are called non
dimensional quanatities such as angles ,ratios and some
constants .

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 2) In the above Table one can easily see that some physical
quantites have the same dimensions such as Work and
moment of force ,both have the dimensions ML 2.T-2 .Also both
pressure and modules of elasticity have the same dimensions
,ML -1.T-2 .

Application of dimensional analysis (Dimesional equation )

A)Testing the correctness of physical laws ‫اختبار صحة القوانين‬
.‫الفيزيائية‬
The correctness of any physical relation or law can be tested by
obtaining the dimensional equation of both sides.
. ‫باخد معادلة معينة وبيتم التأكد من صحتها ف االبعاد الفيزيائية‬
If the dimensions of both sides are equal ,the physical relation
under test is correct .
‫لو الطرفين شبه بعض وليهم الوحدات األساسية تكون العالقة الفيزياية صحيحة‬

EX:
1)the period of complete oscillation of a simple pendulum is given by:
‫معطي عالقة زمن التذبذب للبندول البسيط‬

𝐿
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝑔

WhereT:is the time of one complete oscillation (sec) ‫زمن الذبذبة الكاملة‬
L:is the length of pendulum (cm) ‫طول البندول‬
𝜋 : is equal to 22/7or 3.14(dimensionless) ‫ثابت ليس له وحدة‬
g:is the earth gravity acceleration (cm.sec-2 )
L.H.S R.H.S

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(T)=T (L)=L
(g)=L.T-2
𝐿 𝐿
(√𝑔 = (𝐿.𝑇_2 )1/2=T

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Dimensions of L.H.S=Dimensions of R.H.S=T
So the relation which governesthe period of oscillation
of the simple pendulum is correct .
(2) The velocity of a transverse wave of a string is given by :

𝑇
V=√
𝑚
Where:V is the velocity of the transverse wave (Cm.sec-1)
‫سرعة انتقال الموجة‬
T;is the tension force of the string(dynes) ‫قوة الشد للخيط‬
M:the mass per unit length of the string ‫كنلة وحدة االطوال للخيط‬

Dimension of L.H.S is :
L.T-1

Dimension of R.H.S is :

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 Dimension of tension force T is: ‫افتكر ان بعد قوة الشد هو نفس بعد القوة‬

MLT-2
Dimension of mass per unit length m is : ‫كتلة وحدة االطوال‬

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑀
(m)=𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ = 𝐿 =ML-1

Hence,the dimensional equation of the R.H.S is :

𝑇 𝑀𝐿𝑇 −2
√ =( )1⁄2 = (L2T-2)1⁄2
𝑚 𝑀𝐿 −2

Dimemsion of L.H.S=Dimension of R.H.S=L.T

So the relation which governs the velocity of transvers
vibration of a string is correct .
(2)The position of a freely falling body is giving by : ‫موضع‬
‫السقوط الحر لالجسام‬

X=v0t+12gt2
Where x: is the position (Length )
V0 : is the initial speed (Length/time )
g; is the accelartion due to gravity (Length /time 2)
t:is the time

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 iIf we analyxe the equation dimensionally
Quantity ‫الكمية‬ Meaning ‫المعني‬ Dim
X ‫مسافة السقوط‬ L
V0 ‫السرعة االبتدائية‬ L.T-1
G ‫عجلة الجاذبية‬ L.T-2
T ‫الزمن‬ T

Dimension of L.HS is :
L
Dimension of R.H.S:
𝐿
(v0)(t) = *T=L
𝑇
(g)(t2)=𝑇𝐿2 *T2 =L
Finally, we get Dimensons of L.H.S=Dimensions of
R.H.S . so the realtion of a freely failing body is correct
If the equation is
1
X=V0t2+ gt2
2
Dimension of L.H.S is :

Dimension of R.H.S is :

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 2 𝐿 2 𝐿
(V0)(t ) = *T =
𝑇 𝑇
𝐿
(g)(t2)=𝑇 2 *T2 =L
Dimension of L.H.S and R.H.S are:
𝐿
L≠ +L
𝑇
So the eqution is not correct.
A) Deciding the nature of any constant contained
in a physical quantity ‫تحديد طبيعة أي ثابت وارد ف الكميات‬
‫الفيزيائية‬

Usally physical quantites contain a constant whose

nature may not be known.
Such a constant may be a pure number (with no
dimensions ),or may be itself a physical quantity whish
has dimensions.
1= ‫زي الثابت اللي ملوش بعد او كيمة فيزيائية اللي ملهاش بعد‬
In this case we,apply the theory of dimensional analysis to
discover the nature of such constant
Ex:
1) What is the nature of constant G included in Newton’s
general law os gravitation ‫ طبيعية الثابت‬G ‫الموجود ف‬
‫القانون‬
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 𝑚1𝑚2
F=G
𝑑2

Where,
F:is the force of attraction between the two masses (dynes) ‫قوة‬
‫التجاذب بين الكتلتين‬
m1and m2:are the two masses (gm) ‫الكتلة االولي‬m1 ‫والكتلة‬
‫التانية‬m2
d:is the distance which lies btween the centers of the
two masses (cm) ‫المسافة بين مركزالكتلتين‬
G:is the gravitational constant ‫ثابت الجاذبية‬

Solution
The costant Gcan be written as :

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 So the dimension of Gequal to the dimensions of R.H.S
The dimensions of R.H.S can be written as :

=
=M-1.L3.T-2

Dimensions of G=M-1.L3.T-2
Units : (MKS system )Kg-1.m 3.s-2
(sgs system )gm-1.cm3.s-2
Hence , the gravitational costant Gis not pure number
.But it is physical quantity and has dimensions .

B)Find the nature of constant k in the law which governs the

relation between the periods of oscillation of the simple pendulum:
‫ ف عالقة التذبذب سنجد طبيعة الثابت‬K ‫للبندول البسيط‬

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Where
T: the time of one complete oscillation (sec.)
L: the length of the pendulum (cm)
g: the earth gravity acceleration (cm.sec-2)
The cinstant Kis given by ;

Dimensions of K equal to the dimensons of R.H.S whish

can be written as :

The constant K is pure nimber

C)Determination of dimensions of an unknown physical

quantity
‫تحديد ابعاد الكميات الفيزيائية الغير معرفة‬
‫كالموضوع انه يعطي مجموعة من الكميات الفيزيائية المعلومة ومعها‬

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 ‫كمية فيزيائية غير معلوم ابعدها ومطلوب إيجاد بعد الكمية الغير‬
.‫معلوومة‬
Ex
Find the dimensions of the electrostatic chrge Q :

F: the force between the two point-charges (dynes)

k: the dielectric constant of the medium
Q1,Q2: the two electric charges
d: the distance between the two charges (cm).
Note K is constant =1
Solution

Q1=Q2 =Q ‫هنفصل الكمية المراد إيجاد بعدها ف طرف وباقي الكميات ف طرف‬

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 Q2=F*K*D

Q=√𝐹 ∗ 𝐾 ∗ 𝐷 2 =((M.L.T-2)*1*(L2))1⁄2 =M1⁄2.L1⁄2.T-1

D)The discovery of a new physical law:

Ex: Derive the exact law which governs the relation
between period of oscillation of the tunning fork
and both its density and elastitcity

Let the period of oscillation of tuning fork (T) depends

on :
• The length of the fork (L)
• The density of its material (D)
• The young modulus of its material (E)
Find the relation describes (T).
The relation can be written as :
T∝(LDE)

T=K (L)a(D)b(E)c
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Hence ,the dimensional equation of the above relation
can be written as follows :
Equation the powers of M,Land Tin each one of the
two sides of the dimensional equation ,We get :
1)comparing the powers of T in both sides we get :
1
1=-2*C so C= -
2
2)comparing the powers of M in both sides we get ;
0=b+c
1 1
0=b- b=
2 2
3)comparing the powers of L in both sides we get :
3 1
0=∝ _ _( ) ∝= 1
2 2
Putting the numerical value obtained for each of a,b
and c in the original equation which was assumed ,we
get :

𝐷
T=k(L) 1(D) 1
(E) 2 −1
=k√
2 𝐸

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