Dimensional Analysis Tutorial Sheet
Parfait
Instructions: For each multiple choice question, only one answer is correct. Justify your choice by
identifying the fundamental dimensions (M, L, T) of each physical quantity. The nal two questions
are open ended and require you to derive the relation yourself.
1. What is the dimensional formula of momentum?
A. [M LT −1 ]
B. [M LT −2 ]
C. [M L2 T −1 ]
D. [M L2 T −2 ]
2. What is the dimensional formula of energy?
A. [M LT −2 ]
B. [M L2 T −2 ]
C. [M L2 T −3 ]
D. [M L−1 T −2 ]
3. What is the dimensional formula of pressure?
A. [M L−1 T −2 ]
B. [M LT −2 ]
C. [M L2 T −2 ]
D. [M L−2 T −1 ]
4. What are the dimensions of angular velocity?
A. [T −1 ]
B. [LT −1 ]
C. [M T −1 ]
D. [L−1 T ]
5. Among the following pairs, which one has strictly identical dimensions?
A. Work and Power
B. Torque and Energy
C. Force and Pressure
D. Momentum and Impulse (both listed: which pair is actually identical?)
6. What is the dimensional formula of surface tension?
A. [M T −2 ]
B. [M L−1 T −2 ]
C. [M LT −2 ]
D. [M L2 T −2 ]
7. Two physical quantities can only be added or subtracted if they have:
A. The same numerical value
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Dimensional Analysis Tutorial Sheet
B. The same dimensions
C. The same SI unit name
D. The same magnitude
8. How many fundamental dimensions are used in classical mechanics?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 7
9. In Stokes' law F = 6πηrv (where F is force, r is radius, v is velocity), what are the dimensions
of the viscosity coe cient η ?
A. [M L−1 T −1 ]
B. [M LT −1 ]
C. [M L−1 T −2 ]
D. [M L2 T −1 ]
a
10. In the van der Waals equation P + (V − b) = RT , what are the dimensions of a?
V2
A. [M L5 T −2 ]
B. [M L−1 T −2 ]
C. [M L5 T −1 ]
D. [M L3 T −2 ]
11. Given that E is energy, m is mass, and c is the speed of light, which relation is dimensionally
correct?
A. E = mc
B. E = mc2
C. E = m2 c
D. E = mc3
m1 m2
12. What are the dimensions of the universal gravitational constant G (from F = G )?
2 r
A. [M −1 L3 T −2 ]
B. [M L3 T −2 ]
C. [M −1 L3 T −1 ]
D. [M L−3 T −2 ]
13. If x = A sin(ωt + φ) represents a displacement, what is the dimension of ω ?
A. [LT −1 ]
B. [T −1 ]
C. [T ]
D. [L−1 T −1 ]
14. Can dimensional analysis determine the value of a dimensionless numerical constant (such as
the 21 in 21 mv 2 )?
A. Yes, always
B. No, never
C. Only for linear equations
D. Only if the constant is an integer
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Dimensional Analysis Tutorial Sheet
15. What is the dimensional formula of Planck's constant h (from E = hf )?
A. [M L2 T −1 ]
B. [M L2 T −2 ]
C. [M LT −1 ]
D. [M L3 T −2 ]
16. The period T of a simple pendulum depends on mass m, length l , and gravitational acceleration
g . Assuming T = k ma lb g c , which relation is correct?
A. T = k l/g
p
B. T = k ml/g
p
C. T = k l/g
D. T = k g/l
p
E2
17. A quantity X is de ned as X = , where E is an electric eld, m is mass, and B is a
mB 2
magnetic eld. The dimensions of X are the same as those of:
A. Time
B. Distance
C. Mass
D. Force a
18. In the equation P + (V − b) = nRT , dimensional analysis alone can con rm that a and
V2
b are dimensionally consistent, but it cannot:
A. Give the dimensions of a and b
B. Give the numerical values of a and b
C. Con rm that the equation has additive terms
D. Show that V and b have the same dimension
19. Dimensional analysis fails to fully determine the period of a physical (compound) pendulum
when the number of independent variables exceeds the number of available fundamental dimensions,
because:
A. It only applies to linear equations
B. The system of exponents becomes underdetermined
C. It cannot handle angular quantities
D. Period is not a measurable quantity
20. If v = k P ρ (speed of sound as a function of pressure P and density ρ), dimensional analysis
a b
gives a = 1/2, b = −1/2. This method, however, cannot verify whether the actual formula also
contains a factor like sin θ or a pure number like π , because:
A. Trigonometric functions and pure numbers are dimensionless, so they are invisible to dimensional
analysis
B. Trigonometric functions have their own dimensions
C. Dimensional analysis only applies to mechanical quantities
D. π is not a physical constant
21. A beam of length L, width b, and thickness d, made of a material of Young's modulus E
(dimension [M L−1 T −2 ]), carries a load W at its center. The de ection δ of the beam is assumed to
depend on W , L, E , b, and d according to
W p Lq
δ=k
E r bs dt
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Dimensional Analysis Tutorial Sheet
where k is a dimensionless constant. Using the condition that δ must have the dimension of length,
and taking p = 1, determine a set of exponents q , r, s, t that makes this relation dimensionally
consistent. Show your full working.
22. The fundamental frequency f of a vibrating stretched string depends on its tension F , its mass
per unit length µ, and its length L, so that
f = k F a µb Lc
where k is a dimensionless constant. Using dimensional analysis, nd the exponents a, b, and c, and
write the resulting structural form of the relation for f . Show your full working.