UNITS & DIMENSIONS — Complete Cheatsheet | HC Verma · Irodov · NCERT · Dimension Quantities (share same dim)
NEET/JEE [M L2 T-3 A-1] EMF, Voltage, Potential Difference
[M L2 T-2 A-2] Inductance L
(1) FUNDAMENTAL QUANTITIES — 7 SI Base Units [M L2 T-2 K-1] Entropy S, Boltzmann kB, R/NA
Quantity Sym SI Unit Dimension
(4) RULES, APPLICATIONS & LIMITATIONS OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
Length L metre (m) [L]
R1 Homogeneity Principle: both sides of any valid equation must have IDENTICAL dimensions.
Mass M kilogram (kg) [M]
R2 Quantities can be added or subtracted ONLY if they have the same dimensions.
Time T second (s) [T]
R3 Every term in a sum or difference has the same dimension.
Temperature th kelvin (K) [K]
R4 Arguments of sin, cos, tan, log, exp are always DIMENSIONLESS.
Electric Current I ampere (A) [A]
R5 Exponents, angles, and pure numbers are dimensionless.
Luminous Intensity Iv candela (cd) [cd]
A1 Check correctness of physical equations (necessary but not sufficient condition).
Amount of Substance n mole (mol) [mol]
A2 Derive relations between physical quantities (up to dimensionless constant).
Plane Angle (supp.) — radian (rad) dimensionless
A3 Convert units between systems using n1u1 = n2u2.
Solid Angle (supp.) — steradian (sr) dimensionless
A4 Find dimensions of an unknown constant in a formula.
(2) DIMENSIONS OF PHYSICAL QUANTITIES L1 CANNOT determine dimensionless constants (e.g. 1/2, 2pi).
— MECHANICS — L2 FAILS when expression is a SUM of terms (e.g. s = ut + 1/2 at2).
Quantity Dimension SI Unit L3 Cannot distinguish between scalar and vector quantities.
Velocity / Speed [L T-1] m/s L4 Cannot derive log, trig, or exponential relations.
-2 2
Acceleration [L T ] m/s L5 Cannot handle equations with more than 3 unknown dimensional indices.
-2
Force / Weight [M L T ] N
(5) UNIT CONVERSION FORMULA
Momentum / Impulse [M L T-1] kg m/s
Work / Energy / Heat [M L2 T-2] J Item Detail
Power [M L2 T-3] W Core Formula n2 = n1 x [M1/M2]a x [L1/L2]b x [T1/T2]c ; a,b,c = powers in MaLbTc
Pressure / Stress [M L-1 T-2] Pa Systems CGS: g, cm, s | MKS/SI: kg, m, s | FPS: lb, ft, s
Density [M L-3] kg/m3 G in CGS 6.67x10-8 dyn cm2/g2 (SI: 6.674x10-11) Dim [M-1L3T-2]
Torque (same dim as Energy) [M L2 T-2] Nm Force: 1 N = 1 kg m/s2 = 105 dyn (CGS) Dim [M L T-2]
Angular Velocity w [T-1] rad/s Energy: 1 J = 1 kg m2/s2 = 107 erg (CGS) Dim [M L2 T-2]
Angular Momentum [M L2 T-1] kg m2/s (6) TRICKY & SPECIAL CASES — IRODOV / JEE FAVOURITES
Moment of Inertia [M L2] kg m2
Quantity Dimension Key Note / Value
Grav. Const G [M-1 L3 T-2] N m2/kg2
Angle theta dimensionless Has unit (rad), NO dimension
Surface Tension [M T-2] N/m
Strain dL/L dimensionless Unitless AND dimensionless
Viscosity eta [M L-1 T-1] Pa s
Relative Density dimensionless rho/rho_water
Young / Bulk Modulus [M L-1 T-2] Pa
Refractive Index mu dimensionless Unitless AND dimensionless
Frequency [T-1] Hz
-1 -1
Dielectric Const K dimensionless Pure ratio eps/eps0
Velocity Gradient dv/dx [T ] s
-2 -2
Mach Number dimensionless v/vsound
Pressure Gradient dP/dx [M L T ] Pa/m
-2 2
Reynolds Number Re dimensionless rho v L / eta
Angular Acceleration [T ] rad/s
Poisson's Ratio dimensionless lat./axial strain
— THERMAL / THERMODYNAMICS —
Power factor cos(phi) dimensionless R/Z; 0 <= cos(phi) <= 1
Quantity Dimension SI Unit
tau = RC (capacitive) [T] Time constant (s)
Specific Heat c [L2 T-2 K-1] J/(kg K)
tau = L/R (inductive) [T] Time constant (s)
Latent Heat L [L2 T-2] J/kg -1 3 -2
G (grav. const) [M L T ] 6.674x10-11 SI
Thermal Conductivity k [M L T-3 K-1] W/(m K)
h (Planck) [M L2 T-1] 6.626x10-34 J s
Boltzmann kB [M L2 T-2 K-1] J/K
h-bar = h/(2pi) [M L2 T-1] Same dim as h and L
Stefan const sigma [M T-3 K-4] W/(m2 K4)
Wien's const b [L K] 2.898x10-3 m K
Wien's const b [L K] mK
2 -2 -1 -1 Action S = int(L dt) [M L2 T-1] Same dim as h (Irodov fav)
Gas Const R [M L T K mol ] J/(mol K)
2 -2 -1 Hubble Const H0 [T-1] ~2.27x10-18 s-1
Entropy S [M L T K ] J/K
-1 -2 3 Fine Structure alpha dimensionless e2/(4pi eps0 hbar c) ~1/137
Thermal Resistance [M L T K] K/W
-1 e/m (specific charge) [M-1 T A] 1.76x1011 C/kg
Temp. Gradient dT/dx [L K] K/m
— ELECTRICAL & MAGNETIC — (7) KEY FORMULAE WITH DIMENSIONAL VERIFICATION
Quantity Dimension SI Unit Formula Dimension Verification
Charge Q [T A] C v = u + at [L T-1] [L/T] = [L/T]+[L/T2.T] ok
2 -3 -1
EMF / Voltage V [M L T A ] V s = ut + (1/2)at2 [L] [L] = [L/T.T]+[L/T2.T2] ok
Resistance R [M L2 T-3 A-2] Ohm v2 = u2 + 2as [L2 T-2] [L2/T2] both sides ok
Resistivity rho [M L3 T-3 A-2] Ohm m F = ma [M L T-2] Newton 2nd law ok
Conductance G [M-1 L-2 T3 A2] S W = Fs cos(th) [M L2 T-2] cos dim-less; [N m]=[J] ok
-1 -3 3 2 2 2 -2
Conductivity sigma [M L T A ] S/m KE = (1/2)mv [M L T ] [kg m2/s2]=[J] ok
-1 -2 4 2 2 -2
Capacitance C [M L T A ] F PE = mgh [M L T ] ok
Inductance L [M L2 T-2 A-2] H p = mv [M L T-1] ok
-3 -1
Electric Field E [M L T A ] V/m F = Gm1m2/r2 [M L T-2] [M-1L3T-2.M2/L2] ok
-2 -1
Magnetic Field B [M T A ] T T = 2pi sqrt(l/g) [T] [sqrt(m/m.s-2)]=[s] ok
-1 -3 4 2
Permittivity eps0 [M L T A ] F/m vesc = sqrt(2GM/R) [L T-1] [sqrt(L3T-2/L)] ok
-2 -2
Permeability mu0 [M L T A ] H/m E = hf [M L2 T-2] [J.s . s-1]=[J] ok
Electric Flux phiE [M L3 T-3 A-1] Vm lambda = h/(mv) [L] [J s / kg m/s]=[m] ok
Magnetic Flux phiB [M L2 T-2 A-1] Wb E = mc2 [M L2 T-2] [kg m2/s2]=[J] ok
2 -2
Electric Dipole p=qd [L T A] Cm PV = nRT [M L T ] [Pa m3]=[mol.J/(mol K).K] ok
Mag. Dipole m=IA [L2 A] A m2 F = qvB (Lorentz) [M L T-2] [C.m/[Link]/(A.s2)] ok
Current Density J [L-2 A] A/m2 tau = RC = L/R [T] Both = [s] ok
Impedance Z / XC / XL [M L2 T-3 A-2] Ohm phiB = LI [M L2 T-2 A-1] [Wb=V s] ok
— OPTICS / MODERN PHYSICS —
Quantity Dimension SI Unit / Note
(8) SIGNIFICANT FIGURES — COMPLETE RULES
Refractive Index mu dimensionless No unit Rule Description Example
2 -1 R1 All non-zero digits are significant. 2468 -> 4 S.F.
Planck's Const h [M L T ] Js
de Broglie wavelength [L] m R2 Zeros BETWEEN non-zeros ARE significant. 1007 -> 4 S.F.
Intensity of Radiation [M T-3] W/m2 R3 Leading zeros NOT significant. 0.0032 -> 2 S.F.
Activity / Decay Const [T-1] Bq = s-1 R4 Trailing zeros AFTER decimal ARE significant. 3.200 -> 4 S.F.
Binding Energy [M L2 T-2] J or MeV R5 Trailing zeros WITHOUT decimal: ambiguous. 100 -> 1,2 or 3 S.F.
Hubble's H0 [T-1] s-1 R6 Scientific notation: all mantissa digits sig. 3.0x102 -> 2 S.F.
Stopping Potential [M L2 T-3 A-1] V R7 Changing units does NOT change S.F. 1.5m = 150cm (both 2 S.F.)
Work Function phi [M L2 T-2] J or eV R8 Dimensionless / pure numbers: infinite S.F. mu = 1.5 -> inf S.F.
R9 Defined (exact) quantities: infinite S.F. 1 m = 100 cm (exact)
(3) QUANTITIES WITH SAME DIMENSIONS
Op1 Add/Sub: round to LEAST decimal places. 33.3+3.11+0.313 = 36.7
Dimension Quantities (share same dim) Op2 Mul/Div: round to LEAST significant figures. 142.06 x 0.23 = 37 (2SF)
[M L2 T-2] Work, Energy, Heat, Torque, KE, PE, Binding E, Enthalpy Rnd1 Drop <5: round DOWN; Drop >5: round UP. 2.82->2.8; 2.87->2.9
[M L2 T-3] Power, Luminous flux, Radiant flux Rnd2 Drop = 5 followed by non-zero: round UP. 3.255 -> 3.26
[M L-1 T-2] Pressure, Stress, Y/B/G Moduli, Energy Density Rnd3 Drop = 5, nothing after: round to EVEN (banker). 2.35->2.4; 2.45->2.4
-2
[M L T ] Force, Weight, Thrust, Tension, Buoyancy
[M L T ]
-1
Momentum, Impulse
(9) ERROR ANALYSIS
[M L2 T-1] Angular Momentum, Planck h, Action int(L dt) Term / Operation Formula Key Point
-1 Mean Value am (a1+...+an)/n Best estimate of true value
[T ] Frequency, Angular velocity w, Vel. Gradient, Decay Const
[L T-1] Speed, Velocity, vrms Absolute Error |am - ai| Always positive
2 -2 2 Mean Abs. Error Sum|dai|/n Average of absolute errors
[L T ] Specific Heat, Latent Heat, v , Grav PE/mass
[M T-2] Surface Tension, Surface Energy per unit area Relative Error dam/am Dimensionless; most meaningful
[M L-1 T-1] Coefficient of Viscosity Percentage Error (dam/am) x 100 Express as percentage
[M L2 T-3 A-2] Resistance, XC, XL, Impedance Z Z = A +/- B dZ = dA + dB Absolute errors always ADD
[M-1 L-2 T4 A2] Capacitance C, Permittivity eps0 Z = A x B or A/B dZ/Z = dA/A + dB/B Relative errors add
Term / Operation Formula Key Point
Z = An dZ/Z = n (dA/A) Power amplifies error by n
Z = AaBb/Cc dZ/Z = [Link]/A + [Link]/B + [Link]/C General formula (max error)
Systematic error Consistent bias, same sign always Improve instrument/method
Random error Unpredictable in sign and size Take more readings
Gross error Blunders / outliers Repeat; discard outlier
(10) SI PREFIXES (21 Prefixes)
Y 1024 Z 1021 E 1018 P 1015 T 1012 G 109 M 106 k 103 h 102 da 101
d 10-1 c 10-2 m 10-3 mu 10-6 n 10-9 p 10-12 f 10-15 a 10-18 z 10-21 y 10-24
(11) FUNDAMENTAL CONSTANTS (Memorise for NEET/JEE)
Constant Sym Value Dimension
Speed of light c 3.00x108 m/s [L T-1]
-34
Planck's h h 6.626x10 Js [M L2 T-1]
Boltzmann const kB 1.381x10-23 J/K [M L2 T-2 K-1]
Grav. const G G 6.674x10-11 N m2/kg2 [M-1 L3 T-2]
Avogadro's N NA 6.022x1023 mol-1 [mol-1]
Electron charge e 1.602x10-19 C [T A]
Electron mass me 9.109x10-31 kg [M]
Proton mass mp 1.673x10-27 kg [M]
Neutron mass mn 1.675x10-27 kg [M]
Permittivity eps0 8.854x10-12 F/m [M-1 L-3 T4 A2]
Permeability mu0 4pi x10-7 H/m [M L T-2 A-2]
Gas const R R 8.314 J/(mol K) [M L2 T-2 K-1 mol-1]
Stefan const sigma 5.670x10-8 W/(m2 K4) [M T-3 K-4]
Faraday const F 9.648x104 C/mol [T A mol-1]
Specific charge e/me 1.759x1011 C/kg [M-1 T A]
Rydberg const Rinf 1.097x107 m-1 [L-1]
Bohr magneton muB 9.274x10-24 J/T [L2 A]
Atomic mass unit u 1.661x10-27 kg [M]
(12) QUICK UNIT CONVERSIONS
Unit SI Equivalent Note
1 light year 9.461x1015 m Distance light travels in 1 yr
16
1 parsec 3.086x10 m = 3.26 light years
1 Angstrom (A) 10-10 m Atomic / molecular scale
1 fermi (fm) 10-15 m Nuclear scale (~proton radius)
1 eV 1.602x10-19 J 1 electron through 1 V
1 MeV 1.602x10-13 J = 106 eV
1 calorie 4.186 J Thermochemical calorie
1 kcal 4186 J Food calorie (dietary)
-27
1 amu (u) 1.661x10 kg Approx. proton mass
5
1 bar 10 Pa Slightly less than 1 atm
5
1 atm 1.013x10 Pa Standard atmosphere
1 hp 746 W Horsepower
1 kWh 3.6x106 J Commercial energy unit
1 dyne 10-5 N CGS force
1 erg 10-7 J CGS energy
1 gauss (G) 10-4 T CGS magnetic field
1 litre 10-3 m3 = 1000 cm3
(13) HC VERMA / NCERT — IMPORTANT POINTS
# Key Point
1 Physical quantities = measurable properties of matter/energy.
2 n x u = const => n1u1 = n2u2 (larger unit => smaller number).
3 Dimension of a quantity is INDEPENDENT of the unit system (SI, CGS, FPS).
4 Dimensions match => equation MAY be correct. Mismatch => DEFINITELY wrong.
5 Dimensionless quantity CAN have a unit (e.g. angle in radians).
6 A quantity can be dimensionless AND unitless (e.g. strain, relative density).
7 Supplementary units (rad, sr): have UNITS but NO dimensions.
8 c, h, G, kB, NA are fundamental constants (Irodov dim. problems).
9 Least count of an instrument limits measurement precision.
10 Systematic errors reproducible; random errors unpredictable.
11 Gross errors: blunders from carelessness.
12 More readings => smaller random error (mean more reliable).
13 Relative error is more meaningful than absolute error.
14 Torque and Work: same dim [M L2 T-2] but DIFFERENT quantities.
15 Angular Momentum and Planck h share [M L2 T-1].
16 Pressure = Stress = Y = B = G = Energy Density: [M L-1 T-2].
17 Action = int(L dt); dim = [M L2 T-1] = same as h. (Irodov classic)
18 Dimensional analysis cannot reveal vector nature of quantities.
19 Supplementary rad and sr are officially dimensionless.
20 1.5 m = 150 cm: value same, S.F. unchanged (both 2 S.F.).
(14) DIMENSIONLESS QUANTITIES — COMPLETE LIST
Quantity Definition / Formula Topic
Refractive Index mu c/v Optics
Relative Density rho/rho_water Fluids
Strain dL/L Elasticity
Poisson's Ratio lat./axial strain Elasticity
Mach Number v/vsound Fluid dynamics / Irodov
Reynolds Number rho v L / eta Fluid dynamics
Power Factor R/Z = cos(phi) AC Circuits
Dielectric Constant K eps/eps0 Electrostatics
All angles (theta, phi) arc/radius Geometry
sin, cos, tan, ... trig functions Mathematics
ln x, log x logarithms Mathematics
x
e exponential Mathematics
Coeff. of Friction Ffriction/N Mechanics
Emissivity e Ebody/Eblackbody Thermal radiation
2
Fine Structure alpha e /(4pi eps0 hbar c) Modern Physics (~1/137)
Specific Gravity rho/rho_water Fluids (= Rel. Density)