Dimension

1. Physical quantities are quantities that can be __measured____.

2. Each quantity is expressed by a ___symbol___ of the quantity, a _magnitude_ of the quantity in a

particular _unit__, e.g. l = 10.0 m.

 A(i) 7 base quantities / units / dimensions

Base quantities Base Units
Physical quantities Symbol Unit Unit symbol Dimension
Length L meter m L
Mass M kilogram kg M
Time T second s T
Temperature T kelvin K 
Electric current I ampere A I
Number of particles N mole mol N
Luminous intensity I candela cd -

 A(ii) Derived quantities are physical quantities derived __from base quantities___ through
_multiply____ or __division __ .

Derived quantities Formula Derived units Dimension

Physical quantities Symbol Units Special name
Area
Volume
Speed / velocity
Acceleration
Momentum
Force
Work / energy
Power
Density
Relative density
Pressure
Frequency
Mechanical
advantage
Velocity ratio
Efficiency

Q1 It was already noon when Murny woke up. The temperature was 38 C and she was sweating all
over. As it was already late, she was given only 10 minutes to pack her things. She wondered how
she could pack a 1.5 kg tin of milk powder, 850 cm3 of mineral water, 980 g of rare rock, a 1.2m
long stem of a special plant and finally not to forget a 6.5 m2 of tent into her bag.
From the above description, identify the physical quantities. Then classify them into base and
derived quantities.
Base quantities: ________________________________________________________________
Derived quantities: ______________________________________________________________

Q2 An electric kettle used to boil water of mass 1.2 kg. When the switch is turned on, the electric
current in the heating element produces heat energy. The temperature of water increases steadily
until it starts to boil after 15 minutes. If another kettle with greater power is used, the time taken to
boil the same volume of water would be less than 15 minutes.
Base quantities: ________________________________________________________________
Derived quantities: ______________________________________________________________

 A(iii) Standard form / scientific notation: is based on powers of the base _________
A  10N
A: _______________________________________________________________________
N: _______________________________________________________________________
计算机按法: ______________________________________________________________
Q3 Express the following in standard form:
(i) 1 = ___________________________ (ii) 10 =________________________________
(iii) 100 = ________________________ (iv) 15000 = ____________________________
(v) 0.1 =__________________________ (vi) 0.025 =_____________________________
(vii) 99.9  103 =__________________ (viii) 0.0000345 102 =___________________

 A(iv) Prefix:
A prefix is a letter placed at the beginning of a word to modify its meaning. The SI units, used
with prefixes, indicate ______________ or _____________

prefix symbol Power factor 计算机按法

tera T
G
M
k
hector- h
deka- da
deci- d
c
m

n
p
fecto- f

Conversion of units:
1. Chain – link – conversion:

2. Direct by calculator: ____________________________________________________________

Q4 Fill in the blank:

(i) 1.5 Mm = ____________m (ii) 1.25 x 10-2 km = __________m
(iii) 123 m = ____________mm (iv) 123.45 cm = _____________m
(v) 0.00123 km = _________cm (vi) 980.05 Gs = ___________h
(vii) 2.34 x 105 nm = ______ m (viii) 2.05 x 10-5 cm = ________ Mm
(ix) 2345 dm = ___________km (x) 0.002515 mm = _________ Gm
(xi) 1 ______s = 106 s (xii) 1 mA = _____________ A
(xiii) 1 cm = ______ m (xiv) 1 ____ W = 106 W
(xv)1 km2 = _______ m2 (xvi) 0.00125 Mm2 = ___________ cm2
(xvii) 123m2 = _________ cm2 (xviii) 35 x 10-2 mm2 = __________ km2
(xix) 1l (litre) = __________cm3 (iix) 1.5 ml = __________ cm3
(iixi)125 mm3 = __________ ml (iixii) 250 x103 m2 = _________ l

Dimension:
1. Procedures to derive the dimensions of a physical quantity.
(1) Write down the concerning equation
(2) Express the quantity, which you decide to find, as unknown
(3) Express the formula in the basic quantities
(4) [Write down all units of other physical quantities]
Note: __________________________________________________
(5) Derive the dimension of the physical quantity you ought to find (kg M; m L; s T;
K ;A I;………)
(6) The dimensions should be in the order of MLTI….

Example 1:
m1 m2
F=G 2
In the formula expressing Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitational, r , the dimensions of
G, the universal gravitational constant, are _____________.

2. Quantities can be added or subtracted only if they have the same dimensions, we said that their
dimensions are ________________.
Example 2:
What are the dimensions of the quantities a, b and c in the following equation?
y = at3 + bt2 - ct + x, where x is the distance traveled by a vehicle and t is its time taken.

Example 3:
a
( p+ )(V −b)=nRT
In the gas equation V2 , what are the dimensions of the constant a and b? Where p is
pressure, V is volume, n is number of substance, R is molar gas constant = 8.31 Jmol –1K–1, T is
temperature.

3 Furthermore, the quantities on each side of an equation must have the same dimensions, e.g. the
equation in example 2,
[y] = [x] = L

4. There are some physical quantities have no dimension.

Numerical constant, trigonometrically value
Relative density, weight …
Degree, angular displacement…
Refractive index, mechanical advantage, efficiency…

Example 4
The displacement of a progressive can be expressed as y= A sin (ωt±kx) , where t is time and x is
distance from the source. Find the dimensions of A,  and k.

5. Uses of dimension: to derive or check a specific formula.

Example 5
Suppose that during an examination you wish to derive the formula for the distance x traveled by a
car in a time t if the car starts from rest and moves with constant acceleration a. Thus x = ½ at2, is
this equation is correct?
From a dimensional analysis,
We know that the quantity x on the left side has a dimension of length, L. In order for the equation
to be dimensionally correct, the quantity on the right side must also have the dimension of length.
[½ at2] = [½][a][t]2 = 1×LT-2×T2 = L = dimension of left side [Q.E.D]
 Example 6
Suppose a small mass is suspended from a long thread so as to form a simple pendulum. We may
reasonably suppose that the period, T, of the oscillations depends only on mass m, the length l of
the thread, and the acceleration, g, of free-fall at the place concerned.
T = k mx ly gz , where x, y, z and k are unknown numbers.
[T] = [k][m]x[l]y[g]z
T = 1 × Mx × Ly× (LT-2)z
M0L0T1 = Mx Ly + z T-2z -------- (1)
Now the dimensions of both sides of (1) must be the same, therefore
x=0
y+z=0
-2z = 1
z = - ½ , y = ½ , x =0 1 1
so, from the above, the period T is given by T =km0 l 2 g−2

=k √ l
g

Q1 By the dimensions of a physical quantity, we mean the way it is related to the fundamental
quantities. Thus, i.e. M, L and T represent the fundamental quantities mass, length and time
respectively. The `power` has dimensions
A. ML2T-3 B. ML-2 T2 C. MLT-1 D. ML2 T-2

Q2 Which of the following physical quantities have no dimensions?

i. specific heat capacity ii. ½ iii. 30 iv. height
A. i, ii B. i, iv C. ii, iii D. ii, iv

Q3 Given a formula p + kv2 = constant, where p is pressure and v is velocity, as which of the following
physical quantities does k have the same dimension?
A. force B. density C. pressure D. acceleration

Q4 The formula of a distance traveled by a uniformly accelerated car can be expressed by x = ut + kat2,
where a is its acceleration and t is the time taken, what is the dimension of k?
A. L2T-2 B. ML2 T-2 C. M0L0T0 D. N.O.T.A

Q5 Use dimensional analysis to determine which of the following equations is certainly wrong:
 = vt F=m/a F = mv/t h = v2/2g v = (2gh)½

Q6 If s is distance and t is time, what must be the dimensions of C1, C2, C3 and C4 in each of the
following equations?
S = C1t s = ½C2 t2 s = C3 sin(C4t)

Q7 The speed v of a wave on a string depends on the tension T in the string and the mass per unit
length m/l of the string. Find the constants a and b in the following equation for the speed of a wave
on a sting v = k T a (m/l) b [½, - ½]

Q8 The period of vibration t of a liquid drop is given by t = kaxy z , where k is a constant, a is the
radius of the drop,  is density of the liquid and  is surface tension of dimension MT-2. By

t=k
dimensions, find the values of x, y, z and the relation of t. [ 3/2, ½ , -½; √ a3 ρ
γ ]

Q9 A body moving through air at a high speed v experiences a retarding force F given by F = kAvx,
where A is the surface area of the body,  is the density of the air and k is a numerical constant.
Deduce the value of x.
Q13 The volume per second of a liquid flowing through a horizontal pipe of length l is given by kpax/
l, where k is a constant, p is the excess pressure, a is the radius of the pipe and  is a frictional
quantity of dimensions ML-1T-1. By dimensions, find the number x. [4]
Q14 The period T of a tuning fork depends on the density , Young modulus E and length l of the
tuning fork. Which of the following equations can be used to relate T with the quantities mentioned:

(i)
T=
Aρ
E
√ gl 3
(ii)
T = Al
ρ
E √ (iii)
T=
AE l
ρ g √
where A is a dimensionless constant and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

Q15 The viscous drag F between two layers of liquid with surface area of contact A in a region of
dv
F=ηA dv
dx , where  is the coefficient of viscosity of the liquid.
velocity gradient dx is given by:
What is the dimension of ? Hence, write the unit for  in terms of the base units in S.I. [ML-1T-1;
kgm-1s-1]

Q16 What is the S.I. units of k so that the equation, velocity = k  density, is dimensionally correct?
Given your answer in terms of the base units. [M-1L4T-1]

Q17 A sphere of radius r moving a velocity v under streamline conditions in a viscous fluid
experiences a retarding force F given by F = krv where k is a constant. What is the dimension of k?
[ML-1T-1]

Q18 The heat capacity C of a solid can be expressed as a function of temperature T to fit the
expression: C = T + T2. Find the dimensions of  and . [ML2T-2-2; ML2T-2-4]

Q19 Bernoulli’s equation, which applies to fluid flow, state that: p + ½v2 + gh = k, where p is
pressure,  density, v velocity, g acceleration due to gravity, h height and k is a constant. Show that
the equation is dimensionally consistent and state the dimension of k. [ML-1T-2]

Q20 The drag coefficient CD of a car moving with speed v through air of density  is given by:
F
CD= 1 2
ρv A
2 , where F is the drag force exerted on the car and A is the maximum cross-sectional
area of the car perpendicular to the direction of travel. Show that CD is dimensionless.

Q21 The following equations had been suggested to describe the variation of the pressure P with
velocity v of a liquid which flows in a horizontal pipe. (i) P + Agv = X; (ii) P + Bv2 = Y; (iii) P +
Cgv-2 = Z.
Where A, B and C are non-dimensional constants; X, Y and Z are constants with the same units as
pressure, g is the acceleration due to gravity,  is the density of the liquid and  is the surface
tension of the liquid with dimension MT-2.
Which equation is dimensionally homogeneous?

Q22 The speed of sound v in a medium depends on its wavelength , the Young modulus E and the
density  of the medium. Use the method of dimension to derive a formula for the speed of the

sound v in a medium. [
v=k √ E
ρ]

Q23 The velocity v of sea waves depends on the wavelength , surface tension  and the density  of

seawater. Deduce an equation to show the relationship between these quantities. [

v=k √ γ
λρ ]

Q24 A stretch string, when plucked and then released, gives off a note of frequency f which depends
on the length l, tension T and mass per unit length . Derive an equation by the method of
dimension to relate the quantities mentioned.

Q25 The frequency f of a vibration of mass m attached to the end of a vertical spring of force constant
k depends on m and k. Derive an expression for the frequency f in terms of k and m.

Q26 An obstacle of width d is placed in a fluid having density , and viscosity . The streamline flow of the fluid becomes
turbulent if the flow speed exceeds a critical value v. Which of the equations below relates v, d,  and ?

Q27 Among the following products, which of the following does not have the same dimension as work?
C A. power x time
B. pressure x volume
C. torque x angular velocity
D. mass x (velocity)2