Chapter 1 – Assignment 1
Part A
1. Check the dimensional consistency of the equation FS = ½ mv2 – ½ mu2, where ‘S’ is
the displacement of the body, ‘u and ‘v’ the initial and final velocities of the body
and‘F’ is the force acting on the body.
2. Check the dimensional correctness of the relation λ = h / mv , where ‘λ’ is the
wavelength of the object/body, ‘h’ is Planck’s constant , ‘m’ is the mass of the body
and ‘v’ is the velocity of the body.
3. Check the dimensional consistency of the equation vc = kη / rρ where ‘vc’ is the
critical velocity of the liquid, ‘k’ is a dimensionless constant, ‘η’ coefficient of
viscosity of the liquid, ‘r’ radius of the tube through which liquid flows and ‘ρ’
density of the liquid.
4. Check the dimensional correctness of the relation Ʈ= Iα, where ‘Ʈ’ is the torque acting
on a body, ‘I’ is the moment of Inertia of the body and ‘α’ is the angular acceleration
of the body.
5. Check the dimensional correctness of the relation F = mv2/ r where ‘F’ is the
centripetal force, ‘m’ is the mass of the body; ‘v’ is the velocity of the body and ‘r’
the radius of the circular path.
6. The frequency ‘υ’ of a string of length ‘l’ vibrating under tension ‘F’ is given by the
relation below where ‘m’ is mass per unit length of the string. Check the dimensional
consistency of the equation.
7. Check the dimensional consistency of the equation v2 – u2 = 2as, where ‘u’ and ‘v’ are
the initial and final velocity of the body, ‘a’ acceleration of the body and ‘s’ is the
displacement of the body.
8. Check the dimensional correctness of the equation given below where ‘v is the speed
of sound in a medium, ‘E’ is the elasticity of the medium and ‘ρ’ density of the
medium.
9. Check the dimensional correctness of the relation given below, where ‘h’ is height of
the capillary tube , ‘r’ is the radius of capillary tube, ‘ρ’ the density of the medium,
‘S’ the surface tension of the liquid and ‘g’ is acceleration due to gravity.
Answers
1. Equation dimensionally Correct
2. Equation dimensionally Correct
3. Equation dimensionally Correct
4. Equation dimensionally Correct
5. Equation dimensionally Correct
6. Equation dimensionally Correct
7. Equation dimensionally Correct
8. Equation dimensionally Correct
9. Equation dimensionally Incorrect
►Refer NCERT Text Book for dimensional formulas of physical quantities you don’t know.
Part B
1. The velocity ‘v’ of sound through a medium may be assumed to depend on the
density ‘ρ’ of the medium and modulus of elasticity of the medium ‘E’. Deduce by the
method of dimensions the formula for velocity of sound.
2. Assuming that the frequency (υ) of a vibrating string depends upon the load applied
‘F’, length of the string ‘l’ and mass per unit length ‘m’, deduce by the method of
dimensions the formula for frequency of the vibrating string.
3. A body of mass ‘m’ is moving in a circle of radius ‘r’ with angular velocity ‘ω’. Find
expression for centripetal force ‘F’ acting on it using the method of dimensional
analysis.
4. The escape velocity ‘v’ of a body depends upon the acceleration due to gravity ‘g’ on
the planet and the radius ‘R’ of the planet. Establish a relationship between them
dimensionally.
5. Derive by the method of dimensions, an expression for the energy ‘E’ of a body
executing simple harmonic motion assuming that this energy depends upon the mass
‘m’, the frequency ‘υ’ and the amplitude of vibration ‘r’.
6. The velocity ‘v’ of water waves may depend upon their wavelength ‘λ’ , the density
of water ‘ρ’ and the acceleration due to gravity ‘g. Find the relation between these
quantities by the method of dimensions.
7. Assuming that the mass ‘m’ of the largest stone that can be moved by a flowing river
depends upon the velocity ‘v’, density ‘ρ’ and acceleration due to gravity ‘g’. Find an
expression for mass with the help of dimensions.
8. The wavelength ‘λ’ associated with a moving particle depends upon its mass ‘m’, its
velocity ‘v’ and Planck’s constant ‘h’. Derive an expression for wavelength with the
help of dimensions.
9. Obtain an expression for surface tension’S’ of a liquid rising in a capillary tube with
the help of dimensional analysis, if it depends upon the mass’s’ of the liquid, pressure
‘p’ of the liquid and radius ‘r’ of the capillary tube. The value of constant of
proportionality is found to be k = ½.
10. The coefficient of viscosity (η) of a gas depends on the mass ‘m’, the effective
diameter ‘d’ and the mean speed ‘v’ of the gas molecule. Use dimensional analysis to
find the relationship between them.
ANSWERS
1. v = k √ E/ρ
2. υ= k / l √F/m
3. F= kmrω2
4. v = k √gR
5. E = kmυ2r2
6. v = k √gλ
7. m = k v6ρ / g3
8. λ = k h / m v
9. S = k p r = ½ pr
10. η= k m v/d2
Part C
1. The SI unit of force is Newton and cgs unit is dyne. Find a relation between dyne and
Newton.
2. The value of acceleration due to gravity is 980cm/s2. What will be its value, if the unit
of length is kilometer and that of time is minute.
3. If the value of Planck’s constant in SI system is 6.62 × 10-34 Js, what will be its value
in cgs system of units.
4. If the value of Universal Gravitational constant in SI system is 6.6 × 10-11Nm2/kg2,
then find its value in cgs system of units?
ANSWERS
1. 1 dyne = 10-5 N or 1 N = 10 5 dyne
2. 35.28 km/ min2
3. 6.62 × 10 -27 erg s
4. 6.6 × 10 -8 dyne cm2/ g2