UNITS AND DIMENSIONS (FPP)

1. ASI unit of intensity of wave is

(A) Jm−2 s−1 (B) Jm−1 s−2 (C) Wm−2 (D) Jm−2
2. Which one of the following pairs of quantities and their unit is properly matched?
(A) Electric field - coulomb/m (B) Magnetic flux - Weber /m2
(C) Power – Farad (D) Capacitance-Henry
3. Farad is not equivalent to ( q = coulomb, V = volt and J = joule)
q q2 J
(A) (B) qV 2 (C) (D)
V J V2

4. The density of a cube is measured by measuring its mass and length of its sides. If the
maximum errors in the measurement of mass and length are 3% and 2% respectively,
then the maximum error in the measurement of density is
(A) 7% (B) 5% (C) 1% (D) 9%
5. A physical quantity is represented by X = M a Lb T−c . If percentage errors in the
measurements of M, L and T are α%, β% and γ% respectively, then total percentage
error is
(A) (αa + βb − γc)% (B) (αa + βb + γc)%
(C) (αa − βb − γc)% (D) 0%
6. If there is a positive error of 50% in the measurement of speed of a body, then the error
in the measurement of kinetic energy is
(A) 25% (B) 50% (C) 100% (D) 125%
7. The radius of the sphere is (4.3 ± 0.1)cm. The percentage error in its volume is
0.1 0.1×100 1 0.1×100 0.1×100
(A) × 100 (B) 3 × (C) × (D) 3 +
4.3 4.3 3 4.3 4.3

l
8. The time period of a simple pendulum is given by T = 2π√ . The measured value of
g

the length of pendulum is 10 cm known to a 1 mm accuracy. The time for 200

oscillations of the pendulum is found to be 100 s using a clock of 1 s resolution. The
percentage accuracy in the determination of g using this pendulum is x. The value of x
to the nearest integer is
(A) 2% (B) 3% (C) 5% (D) 4%

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 UNITS AND DIMENSIONS (FPP)
T
9. The velocity of transverse wave in a string is v = √ where T is the tension in the
M

string and M is mass per unit length. If T = 3.0kgf, mass of string is 2.5 g and length of
string is 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
10.Given, potential difference V = (8 ± 0.5)V and current I = (2 ± 0.2)A. The value of
resistance R (in Ω ) is
(A) 4 ± 16.25% (B) 4 ± 6.25% (C) 4 ± 10% (D) 4 ± 8%
11.One side of a cubical block is measured with the help of a vernier callipers of vernier
constant 0.01 cm. This side comes out to be 1.23 cm. What is the percentage error in
the measurement of area?
1.23 0.01
(A) × 100 (B) × 100
0.01 1.23
0.01 0.01
(C) 2 × × 100 (D) 3 × × 100
1.23 1.23
a2 b2/3
12.A physical quantity z depends on four observables a, b, c and d , as z = . The
√cd3

percentages of error in the measurement of a, b, c and d are 2%, 1.5%, 4% and 2.5%,
respectively. The percentage of error in z is
(A) 13.5% (B) 16.5% (C) 14.5% (D) 12.25%
13.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
14.The current voltage relation of diode is given by I = (e1000V/T − 1)mA, where the
applied voltage V is in volt and the temperature T is in kelvin. If a student makes an
error measuring ±0.01 V while measuring the current of 5 mA at 300 K, what will be
the error in the value of current (in mA )?
(A) 0.2 mA (B) 0.02 mA
(C) 0.5 mA (D) 0.05 mA

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 UNITS AND DIMENSIONS (FPP)
15.You measure two quantities as A = 1.0 m ± 0.2 m, B = 2.0 m ± 0.2 m . We should
report correct value for √AB as
(A) 1.4 m ± 0.4 m (B) 1.41 m ± 0.15 m
(C) 1.4 m ± 0.3 m (D) 1.4 m ± 0.2 m
16.The equation of alternating current is I = I0 e−t/CR where t is time, C is capacitance and
R is resistance of coil, then the dimensions of CR is
(A) [MLT −1 ] (B) [M 0 LT]
(C) [M 0 L0 T] (D) None of these
17.Which of the following pairs has same dimensions?
(A) Current density and charge density (B) Angular momentum and momentum
(C) Spring constant and surface energy (D) Force and torque
18.The dimensions of magnetic field in M, L, T and C is given as
(A) [MLT −1 C −1 ] (B) [MT 2 C −2 ] (C) [MT −1 C −1 ] (D) [MT 2 C −1 ]
2
19.The time dependence of a physical quantity P is given by P = P0 e−αt , where α is a
constant and t is time. Then constant α is
(A) dimensionless (B) dimension of t −2
(C) dimensions of P (D) dimension of t 2
20.The dimensional formula of magnetic permeability is
(A) [M 0 L−1 T] (B) [M 0 L2 T−1 ]
(C) [M 0 L2 T−1 A2 ] (D) [MLT −2 A−2 ]
21.In the relation y = rsin (ωt − kx), the dimensional formula of ω/k are
(A) [M 0 L0 T0 ] (B) [M 0 L1 T−1 ]
(C) [M 0 L0 Tl ] (D) [M 0 L1 T0 ]
dx x
22.∫ = an sin−1 ( − 1). The value of n is
√2ax−x2 a

(A) 0 (B) -1 (C) 1 (D) None of these

(You may use dimensional analysis to solve the problem.)
23.The period of a body under SHM is represented by T = pa Db S c , where p is pressure, D
is density and S is surface tension. The value of a, b and c are
3 1 1 −3 −1 1
(A) − , , 1 (B) −1, −2,3 (C) , , (D) 1,2,
2 2 2 2 2 3

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 UNITS AND DIMENSIONS (FPP)
24.If p represents radiation pressure, v represents speed of light and q represents radiation
energy striking a unit area per second, then non-zero integers a, b and c are such that
pa qb v c is dimensionless, then
(A) a = 1, b = 1, c = −1 (B) a = 1, b = −1, c = 1
(C) a = −1, b = 1, c = 1 (D) a = 1, b = 1, c = 1
25.The wavelength associated with a moving particle depends upon power p of its mass
m, q th power of its velocity v and r th power of Planck's constant h. Then the correct
set of values of p, q and r is
(A) p = 1, q = −1, r = 1 (B) p = 1, q = 1, r = 1
(C) p = −1, q = −1, r = −1 (D) p = −1, q = −1, r = 1
26.If speed V, area A and force F are chosen as fundamental units, then the dimensional
formula of Young's modulus will be
(A) [FA2 V−3 ] (B) [FA−1 V0 ]
(C) [FA2 V−2 ] (D) [FA2 V−1 ]
27.If speed (v), acceleration (A) and force (F) are considered as fundamental units, the
dimension of Young's modulus will be
(A) [v −4 A−2 F] (B) [v −2 A2 F2 ]
(C) [v −2 A2 F−2 ] (D) [v −4 A2 F]
28.The dimension of stopping potential V0 in photoelectric effect in units of Planck's
constant h, speed of light c, gravitational constant G and ampere A is
(A) h−2/3 c −1/3 G 4/3 A−1 (B) h1/3 G 2/3 c1/3 A−1
(C) h0 c 5 G−1 A−1 (D) h1/3 G 2/3 c1/3 A−1
n2 −n1
29.The number of particles given by n = D are crossing a unit area perpendicular to
x2 −x1

X-axis in unit time, where n1 and n2 are the number of particles per unit volume for the
values x1 and x2 of x respectively. Then the dimensional formula of diffusion constant
D is
(A) [M 0 LT 0 ] (B) [M 0 L2 T−4 ]
(C) [M 0 LT −3 ] (D) [M 0 L2 T−1 ]
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 UNITS AND DIMENSIONS (FPP)
IFv2
30.A quantity x is given by x = where, I is moment of inertia, F is force, v is work and
WL4

L is length. The dimensional formula for x is same as that of

(A) Planck's constant (B) force constant
(C) coefficient of viscosity (D) energy density

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 UNITS AND DIMENSIONS (FPP)
ANSWER
1. A 2. B 3. B 4. D 5. B 6. D 7. B 8. B 9. D 10. A
11. C 12. C 13. B 14. A 15. D 16. C 17. C 18. C 19. B 20. D
21. B 22. A 23. A 24. B 25. D 26. B 27. D 28. C 29. D 30. D

SOLUTIONS
Energy J
1. Intensity (I) = = or Jm−2 s −1
Area × Time m2 s

2. Magnetic flux has the unit as weber /m2 .

Charge q
3. Capacitance, C = =
Potential V
work W
Also, potential = (∵ V = )
charge q

q2 J
∴ C= as well as C =
J V2

Thus, (a), (c) and (d) are equivalent to farad but (b) is not equivalent to Farad.
M [M]
4. We know that, density, ρ = = [L3 ]
V

Δρ ΔM ΔL
∴ × 100 = × 100 + 3 × 100
ρ M L
= 3% + 3(2%) = 9%
5. Given, X = [M a Lb T −c ]
ΔX ΔM ΔL ΔT
∴ = ± [a +b +c ]
X M L T
= ±[aα + βb + γc]%
1
6. Kinetic energy, E = mv 2
2

ΔE Δv 2 − v 2
∴ × 100 = × 100
E v2
= [(1.5)2 − 1] × 100 = 125%
0.1
7. Percentage error in radius is × 100
4.3

Again,
V ∝ R3
3×0.1
∴ Error in volume = × 100
4.3
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 UNITS AND DIMENSIONS (FPP)
l 4π2 l
8. Given, T = 2π√ ⇒ g =
g T2

Δg Δl 2ΔT 0.1 1
∴ = + = + 2( )
g l T 10 0.5 × 200
Δg 1 1
× 100 = × 100 + × 100 = 3%
g 100 50
1/2 1/2
T m′ g m′ lg
9. v = √ = [ ] =[ ]
m M/l M

Δv 1 Δm′ Δl ΔM
It follows from here, = [ + + ]
v 2 m l M

1 0.1 0.01 0.1

= [ + + ]
2 3.0 1.000 2.5
1
= [0.03 + 0.001 + 0.04]
2
= 0.036
Percentage error in the measurement = 3.6
10.As, V = (8 + 0.5)V
and I = (2 + 0.2)A
8
∴ R = = 4Ω ( R = resistance )
2
ΔR ΔV ΔI
⇒ %=( + )
R V I
0.5 0.2
=( + ) × 100 = 16.25%
8 2
∴ R = (4 ± 16.25%)Ω
0.01
11.Percentage error in measurement of a side = × 100
1.23

∴ Percentage error in measurement of area

0.01
=2× × 100
1.23
a2 b2/3
12.Given, z =
√cd3
2 1
According to question, % error in z = (2)% error in a + ( ) % error in b + ( ) %
3 2

error in c + (3)% error in d

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 UNITS AND DIMENSIONS (FPP)
Δz Δa 2 Δb 1 Δc Δd
=2 + + +3
z a 3 b 2 c d
2 1
= 2 × 2% + × 1.5% + × 4% + 3 × 2.5%
3 2
= 14.5%
13.Volume of a cylinder of radius r and height h is given by
V = πr 2 h
1
or V = πD2 h, where D is the diameter of circular surface. Here, D = 12.6 cm and
4

h = 34.2 cm
π
⇒ V = × (12.6)2 × (34.2)
4
V = 4262.22 cm3
V = 4260 (in three significant numbers)
Now, error calculation can be done as
ΔV ΔD Δh 2 × 0.1 0.1
= 2( ) + = +
V D h 12.6 34.2
ΔV
⇒ = 0.0158 + 0.0029
V
⇒ ΔV = (0.01879) × (4262.22)
⇒ ΔV = 79.7 ≃ 80 cm3
∴ For proper significant numbers, volume reading will be V = 4260 ± 80 cm3 .
14.Given, I = (e1000 V/T − 1)mA
dV = ±0.01 V, T = 300 K
I = 5 mA
⇒ I = e1000V/T − 1
I + 1 = e1000V/T
Taking log on both sides, we get
1000 V
log (I + 1) =
T
d(I + 1) 1000
⇒ = dV
I+1 T

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 UNITS AND DIMENSIONS (FPP)
dI 1000
= dV
I+1 T
1000
⇒ dI = × (I + 1)dV
T
1000
dI = × (5 + 1) × 0.01 = 0.2 Ma
300
So, error in the value of current is 0.2 mA.
15.Given A = 1.0 m ± 0.2 m
B = 2.0 m ± 0.2 m
x = √AB = √1.0 × 2.0 = 1.414 m
Rounding-off to two significant digits,
x = √AB = 1.4 m
Δx 1 ΔA ΔB
Now, = [ + ]
x 2 A B

1 0.2 0.2
= [ + ]
2 1.0 0.2
0.6
=
2 × 2.0
0.6 × x
Δx = = 0.15 × 1.414 = 0.2121
2 × 2.0
Rounding-off to one significant digits, Δx = 0.2 m Thus,
√AB = 1.4 m ± 0.2 m
16.CR is known as time constant
CR = [T]
F
17.Spring constant = = [ML0 T −2 ]
L
Energy
Surface energy = = [ML0 T −2 ]
Area
Spring constant and surface energy has same dimensions.
18.From the relation F = qvB
⇒ [MLT −2 ] = [C][LT −1 ][B]
⇒ [B] = [MC −1 T −1 ]

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 UNITS AND DIMENSIONS (FPP)
1
19.Here αt 2 is a dimensionless, therefore α = and has the dimension of [t −2 ].
t2
F μ0 I1 I2
20.As, =
l 2πr
[F] [MLT−2 ]
or [μ0 ] = [I ]
= [A2 ]
= [MLT −2 A−2 ]
1 I2

21.Given, y = rsin (ωt − kx)

where, ωt = angle
1
∴ ω= = [T −1 ](∵ angle is dimensionless )
T

Similarly, kx = angle
1
∴ k= = [L−1 ]
x
ω [T −1 ]
∴ = −1 = [LT −1 ]
k [L ]
22.Trigonometric function has no dimension, so
x
= dimensionless
a
Thus, a has the dimensions as x in equation.
LHS of given equation is dimensionless and hence, an is dimensionless
⇒ n=0
23.By substituting the dimensions of each quantity, we get
T = [ML−1 T −2 ]a [ L3 M b [MT −2 ]c
3 1
By solving, we get a = − , b = and c = 1
2 2

24.Here, [M 0 L0 T 0 ] = [ML−1 T −2 ]a [ML−3 ]b [LT −1 ]c

or [M 0 L0 T 0 ] = [M a+b L−a+c T −2a−3b−c ]
Comparing powers of M, L and T, we get
a + b = 0, −a + c = 0, −2a − 3b = 0
Solving, a = 1, b = −1, c = 1
25.λ = mp v q hr
[M 0 LT 0 ] = [M p ][LT −1 ]q [ML2 T −2 ]r
[M 0 LT 0 ] = [M p+r Lq+2r T −q−r ]

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 UNITS AND DIMENSIONS (FPP)
∴ p + r = 0, q + 2r = 1, −q − r = 0
After solving, we get
p = −1, q = −1, r = 1
26.Let Young's modulus is related to speed, area and force, as Y = F x Ay V z
Substituting dimensions, we have
[ML−1 T −2 ] = [MLT −2 ]x [ L2 ]y [LT −1 ]z
Comparing power of similar quantities, we have
x = 1, x + 2y + z = −1 and − 2x − z = −2
Solving these, we get
x = 1, y = −1, z = 0
So,
[Y] = [FA−1 V 0 ]
27.Dimensions of speed are [v] = [LT −1 ]
Dimensions of acceleration are [A] = [LT −2 ]
Dimensions of force are [F] = [MLT −2 ]
Dimension of Young modulus is, [Y] = [ML−1 T −2 ]
Let dimensions of Young's modulus is expressed in terms of speed, acceleration and
force as
[Y] = [v]α [A]β [F]γ …(i)
Then substituting dimensions in terms of M, L and T, we get
[ML−1 T −2 ] = [LT −1 ]α [LT −2 ]β [MLT −2 ]γ
= [M γ Lα+β+γ T −α−2β−2γ ]
Now comparing powers of basic quantities on both sides, we get
γ=1
and
α + β + γ = −1
−α − 2β − 2γ = −2
Solving these, we get
α = −4, β = 2, γ = 1
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 UNITS AND DIMENSIONS (FPP)
Substituting α, β, and γ in Eq. (i), we get
[Y] = [v −4 A2 F1 ]
28.Let V0 = (h)a ⋅ (c)b ⋅ (G)c ⋅ (A)d …(i)
potential energy
Then, [V0 ] = [ potential ] = [ ]
charge

[ML2 T −2 ]
= = [ML2 T −3 A−1 ]
[AT]
Energy [ML2 T −2 ]
[h] = [ ]= = [ML2 T −1 ]
Frequency −1
[T ]
[c] = [ Speed ] = [LT −1 ]
Force × ( Distance )2
[G] = [ ]
(Mass)2
[MLT −2 ][L2 ]
=
[M 2 ]
= [M −1 L3 T −2 ]
Substituting the dimensions of V0 , h, C, G and A in Eq. (i) and equating dimension on
both sides, we get
[ML2 T −3 A−1 ] = [ML2 T −1 ]a × [LT −1 ]b
× [M −1 L3 T −2 ]c × [A]d
⇒ a−c=1 …(ii)
2a + b + 3c = 2 …(iii)
−a − b − 2c = −3 …(iv)
d = −1 …(v)
On solving above equations, we get
a = 0, b = 5, c = −1, d = −1
Substituting these values in Eq. (i), we get
V0 = h0 ⋅ c 5 ⋅ G−1 ⋅ A−1

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 UNITS AND DIMENSIONS (FPP)
n(x2 −x1 )
29.From the given relation, D =
n2 −n1
1 1
Here, [n] = [ ]=[ = [L−2 T −1 ]
area × time L2 T]

x2 − x1 = [L]
1 1
and n2 − n1 = [ ] = [ 3 ] = [L−3 ]
volume L
[L−2 T−1 L]
So, [D] = [L−3 ]
= [L2 T −1 ]
IFv2
30. Given that, x =
WL4

Dimensionally,
[I][F][v]2 [M1 L2 ][M1 L1 T −2 ][L1 T −1 ]2
[x] = =
[W][L]4 [M1 L2 T −2 ][L1 ]4
[M1 L1 T −2 ][L2 T −2 ]
= [M1 L2]
[M1 L2 T −2 ][L4 ]
= [M1 L−1 T −2 ] …(i)
On checking the alternatives
(a) Planck's constant ⇒ [h] = [M1 L2 T −1 ] doesn't match with dimensional formula
of x.
(b) Force constant ⇒ [K] = [M1 T −2 ] doesn't match with dimensional formula of x.
(c) Coefficient of viscosity ⇒ [η] = [M1 L−1 T −1 ] doesn't match with dimensional
formula of x.
(d) Energy density ⇒ [Ed ] = [M1 L−1 T −2 ] matches with dimensional formula of x.

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