DATE-21/08/2020
CLASS-XI-PHYSICS
DIMENSIONS OF PHYSICAL QUANTITIES: - The dimensions of a physical
quantity are the powers (or exponents) to which the base quantities are raised to represent
that quantity.
Example:- force, as the product of mass and acceleration, can be expressed as
Force = mass × acceleration
= mass × (length)/(time)2
The dimensions of force = [M] [L]/[T]2
= [M L T–2].
Thus, the force has one dimension in mass, one dimension in length, and –2 dimensions in
time. The dimensions in all other base quantities are zero.
DIMENSIONAL FORMULA:- The expression which shows how and which of the
base quantities represent the dimensions of a physical quantity is called the dimensional
formula of the given physical quantity.
Example:- Dimensional formula of the force is [M L T-2]
Dimensional Formulas for Some Physical Quantities:-
Dimensional
Physical quantity Unit
formula
Displacement m L
Velocity (displacement/time) ms–1 LT–1
Acceleration ms–2 LT–2
Momentum (mass x velocity) kgms–1 MLT–1
Force (mass x acceleration) newton (N) MLT–2
Pressure (force/area) Nm–2 or Pa ML–1T–2
Energy (capacity to do work) joule ML2T–2
Work (force x displacement) J ML2T–2
Power (work/time) Js–1 or watt (W) ML2T–3
Frequency (1/period) Hz T–1
o
Temperature C or θ MoLoToθ
Suneel Kumar Vishwakarma, PGT(Physics) , [email protected] , 7523988747
DIMENSIONAL EQUATIONS- An equation obtained by equating a physical
quantity with its dimensional formula is called the dimensional equation of the physical
quantity.
For example, the dimensional equations of volume [V], speed [v], force [F] and mass density
[ρ] may be expressed as
[V] = [M0 L3 T0]
[v] = [M0 L T–1]
[F] = [M L T–2]
[ρ] = [M L–3 T0]
What are Dimensional Constants?
The physical quantities which have dimensions and have a fixed value are called dimensional
constants. e.g.: Gravitational constant (G), Planck’s constant (h), Universal gas constant (R),
Velocity of light in a vacuum (C) etc.
What are the Dimensionless quantities?
Dimensionless quantities are those which do not have dimensions but have a fixed value.
Dimensionless quantities without units: Pure numbers, π, e, sin θ, cos θ, tan θ etc.
Dimensionless quantities with units: Angular displacement – radian, Joule’s constant –
joule/calorie, etc.
What are Dimensional variables?
Dimensional variables are those physical quantities which have dimensions and do not have
a fixed value. e.g.: velocity, acceleration, force, work, power, etc.
What are the Dimensionless variables?
Dimensionless variables are those physical quantities which do not have dimensions and do
not have a fixed value. For example Specific gravity, refractive index, the coefficient of
friction, Poisson’s ratio, etc.
Suneel Kumar Vishwakarma, PGT(Physics) , [email protected] , 7523988747
The principle of homogeneity of dimensions:-
Principle of Homogeneity states that dimensions of each of the terms of a dimensional
equation on both sides should be the same.
Applications of Dimensional Analysis:
Dimensional analysis is very important when dealing with physical quantities.
The Dimensional formulas are used to:
1. Converting the units of a physical quantity from one system to another system.
2. Verify the correctness of a physical equation,
3. Derive a relationship between physical quantities
Suneel Kumar Vishwakarma, PGT(Physics) , [email protected] , 7523988747
Suneel Kumar Vishwakarma, PGT(Physics) ,
[email protected] , 7523988747
Suneel Kumar Vishwakarma, PGT(Physics) ,
[email protected] , 7523988747
Suneel Kumar Vishwakarma, PGT(Physics) ,
[email protected] , 7523988747
Limitations of Dimensional Analysis:-
1. Dimensionless quantities cannot be determined by this method. Constant of
proportionality cannot be determined by this method. They can be found either by
experiment (or) by theory.
2. This method is not applicable to trigonometric, logarithmic and exponential functions.
3. In the case of physical quantities which are dependent upon more than three physical
quantities, this method will be difficult.
4. In some cases, the constant of proportionality also possesses dimensions. In such
cases, we cannot use this system.
5. If one side of the equation contains addition or subtraction of physical quantities, we
cannot use this method to derive the expression.
Quantities Having the Same Dimensional Formula:-
1. Impulse and momentum.
2. Work, energy, torque, the moment of force, energy
3. Angular momentum, Planck’s constant, rotational impulse
4. Stress, pressure, modulus of elasticity, energy density.
5. Force constant, surface tension, surface energy.
6. Angular velocity, frequency, velocity gradient
7. Gravitational potential, latent heat.
8. Thermal capacity, entropy, universal gas constant and Boltzmann’s constant.
9. Force, thrust.
10.Power, luminous flux.
Suneel Kumar Vishwakarma, PGT(Physics) , [email protected] , 7523988747
