BRIDGE COURSE-IIT JEE 2022

LECTURE-1

UNIT AND DIMENSION

1. PHYSICAL QUANTITY
A physical Quantity is a quantity that can be measured: i.e. it is properly defined, has proper units, and its
value can be measured by an instrument, while non physical quantities are those which can not be measured
e.g., happiness, determination etc.

2. UNIT
Physics is about the study of energy and forces. In order to test and measure physical quantities we need to
define some standard measures which we everyone can agree on. These standards can never perfectly
accurate because they are rooted in the physical world but every endevour is made to make them as precise
as possible. The internationally recognised authority for the definition of these standards is the Conference
Generale des Poids et Measures (CGPM).

Beware of units!!
We must ensure that the result we use in our calculations are in the correct units. The consequence of
getting it wrong can be very expensive as with the loss of the NASA Mars Climate Orbiter spacecraft in 1999.
It spun out of control because part of the software assumed Imperial units and another part assumed metric
units.

In order to measure a physical quantity a "standard" is required: this "standard" is called the unit of that
physical quantity.
The magnitude M of a physical quantity = NU, where
N = Numerical value of the measure of the quantity and
U = unit of the quantity

Fundamental/Base Units
Fundamental quantities are those that are defined directly by their process of measurement only. They are not
defined in terms of other quantities; their units are not defined in terms of other units.
In mechanics we treat length, mass and time as basic or fundamental quantities.
Derived Units
The units of all other physical quantities, which can be obtained from fundamental units, are called derived
unit. Units of all other physical quantities can be expressed in terms of the base units; e.g.
density=mass/volume
Illustration 1: Find the unit of acceleration?
m
velocity v s  m / s 2  ms -2
Solution: Acceleration =  
time s s

2
Exercise 1: What is the unit of pressure? Ans. Pa or N/m

2.1 System Of Units

Some common system of units used in mechanics are given below
Name of system Fundamental unit of

Length Mass Time

F.P.S. Foot Pound Second

C.G.S. Centimetre Gram Second

M.K.S. (S.I.) Meter Kilogram Second

The units by which we now measure physical quantities is called the S.I. (System International) system
established in 1960. Within this system, the most commonly used set of units in physics are M.K.S (Metres,
Kilograms, Seconds) system.
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In physics, the SI system is based on seven fundamental and two derived units.

(i) Fundamental units:

S.No. Basic Physics Fundamental Unit Symbol

1. Mass kilogram kg

2. Length meter m

3. Time second s

4. Electric current or Charge ampere or coulomb A or Q

5. Temperature Kelvin or Celsius K or C

6. Luminous intensity candela Cd

7. Quantity of matter mole Mol

(ii) Supplementary units:

S.No. Supplementary Physical Supplementary Symbol
Quantities unit

1. Plane angle Radian rad

2. Solid Angle Steradian sr

2.2 DEFINITION OF FUNDAMENTAL UNITS (just for your knowledge)

(i) Meter:
th
The currently accepted definition of meter is the length of path travelled by light in vacuum in 1/299,792,458
second.

(ii) Kilogram:
Kilogram is the fundamental unit of mass. It is defined as the mass of a specific cylinder of platinum - iridium
kept at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Paris.
.
(iii) Second:
Second is the fundamental unit of time. It is defined as 86,400th part of a mean solar day. Second is
accurately measured by an atomic clock.

(iv) Coulomb:
9
Coulomb is the fundamental unit of charge. It is defined as the charge required to obtain 910 newton of force
between two equal charges separated at a distance of one meter in vacuum.

(v) Candela:
Candela is the fundamental unit of luminous intensity. It is defined as luminous intensity observed from a
12
source of monochromatic light of frequency 54010 Hz, that has an intensity of 1/683 watt per steradian.

(vi) Kelvin:
Kelvin is the fundamental unit of temperature. It has value of zero where the molecular activity of gases cease.

(vii) Mole:
Mole is the fundamental unit of quantity of matter. It is defined as amount of substance of a system that
contains as many elementary particle as there are in 0.012 kg of carbon-12 (C-12).

Small or large?
Obviously small or large both are relative term, absolute value can’t be small or large. For example the most
intelligent person you know individually may be the most duffer in a community of scientists like Einstein,
Newton, Howking etc. Therefore small or large are always compared with general or most occurring value in
nature, or a value you are acquainted with. Now comment on following by comparing with some known
values
(a) 1Newton (b) 1m/s
3
(c) 1Kg/m (d) 1Ohm
(e) 1A (f) 1Coulomb

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(g) 1 farad (SI unit of capacitor) (h) 1Tesla

2.3 Prefixes to the Power of 10

The physics quantities whose magnitude is either too large or too small can be expressed more compactly
by the use of certain SI prefixes. Eg.
Prefix Multiplyin Prefi Multiplying factor
g factor x

deca 10 centi 1/100

Kilo 1000 mili 1/1000

6 -6
mega 10 micro 10

6 -9
million 10 nano 10

9 -12
billion 10 pico 10

deci 1/10

3. DIMENSION
In order to obtain the unit of a physical quantity, the fundamental units are raised by power, which represents
its dimension.
For example if we write, [Y] = [MaLbTc] then a, b and c are dimension of Y in M, L and in T respectively.
Dimensionless Quantity
In the equation [Y] = [MaLbTc], if a = b= c = 0, then the quantity is called dimensionless.

Fundamental Physical Quantities

PHYSICAL SYMBOL DIMENSION MEASUREMENT UNIT UNIT

QUANTITY
length s L Meter m
mass M M Kilogram Kg
time t T Second Sec
electric charge q Q Coulomb C
luminous I C Candle Cd
intensity
temperature T K Kelvin K
angle  None Radian None

Illustration 2: Find the relation between cgs and mks system of unit of speed.
Solution: 1ms 1  100cm / sec  1mks unit=100cgs unit

(Nice question, this!) In science and math, "pi" is a dimensionless quantity. Why?

4. DIMENSIONS OF DERIVED QUANTITIES

Many physical quantities are derived from the base quantities by set of algebraic relations defining the
physical relation between these quantities. The dimension of the derived quantity is written as a power of the

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dimensions of the base quantities. For example velocity is a derived quantity and the dimension is given by
the relationship
For example
(length)/(time) = LT . where L ≡ length , T ≡ time
-1
Dimension of velocity =
Dimension of force = (mass)(acceleration)


mass  Velocity 
time

mass   length 
time 
2

M ⋅ L ⋅T where M ≡ mass.
-2
=

Illustration 3: Convert 1 N into dyne

Key Concept: Since Newton is SI unit while dyne is cgs unit, we will have to convert Kg and meter to gram and
centimeter, the corresponding cgs units.
Solution: Dimensional formula of force is
F = [M1L1T–2]
Now we have to convert M.K.S system into C.G.S. system
M = 1 kg L = 1m T = 1s (M.K.S)
M=1g L = 1cm T = 1s (C.G.S.)
1
F=M L T 1 –2
F = (SI) = [1kg] [1m ] [s–2] = [103g] [102] [s–2] = 105 dynes.

Illustration 4: Find the dimensions of (a) Electric field E (b) Electric potential? (b) resistance R
Key concept: Electric field can be defined as the force per unit charge, while electric potential is equal to
Energy per unit charge.

Solution: (a) E
Force 
[MLT ]
2

 [MLT A ]
3 1

Ch arg e [ AT ]
2 2
Energy [ML T ] 1
(c) V    [ML T A ]
2 3

Ch arg e [ AT ]

Potential Difference V [ML2T 3 A1 ]

(b) R =    2 3 2
 [ML T A ]
Current I [ A]
Note: Keep in mind that dimension of charge can be taken as Q as well as AT both.

5. BASIC PHYSICAL QUANTITIES

Mechanical Physical Quantities (derived)
PHYSICAL SYMBOL DIMENSION MEASURMENT (in SI) UNIT
QUANTITY
EQUATION
2 2
area A L square meter m
3 3
volume V L cubic meter m

velocity v L/T meter per second m/sec

2 2
acceleration a L/T meter per square second m/sec
2 2
force F ML/T Newton Kg m/sec
2 2 2 2
energy E ML /T Joule Kg m /sec
2 2 2 2
work W ML /T Joule Kg m /sec
2 2 2 2
heat Q ML /T Joule Kg m /sec

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2 3 2 3
power P ML /T watt or joule/sec Kg m /sec
3 3
density D or  M/L kilogram per Kg/m
cubic meter
-1 2 -1 2
Pressure/Elas P ML /T newton per square meter Kg m /sec
ticity

Rotational Quantities

impulse p ML/T newton second Kg m/sec

(change in momentum)
angular velocity (Rate  1/T radians per second 1/sec
at which angle is
covered )
2 2
angular acceleration  1/T radians per square 1/sec
second
2 2 2 2
torque  ML /T newton meter Kg m /sec
2 2
Moment of inertia I ML Kilogram square meter Kg m
2 2 2
Angular momentum L ML /T newton meter second or Joule- Kgm /s
sec

Electrical Physical Quantities (derived) : Skip this for Now

electric I Q/T Ampere C/sec

current
2 2 2 2
emf, voltage, E ML /T Q Volt Kg m /sec C
potential
2 2 2 2
resistance or R ML /TQ ohm Kg m /secC
impedance
2 2 2 2 3
electric  TQ /M L mho per meter sec C /Kg m
conductivity
2 2 2 2 2 2
capacitance C T Q /ML Farad sec C /Kgm
2 2 2 2
inductance L ML /Q Henry Kg m /C
2 2
current J Q/TL ampere per C/sec m
density square meter

magnetic field B M/TQ Tesla Kg/sec C

2 2
Electric field E ML/T Q volt/meter or Kg m/sec C
newton/coulomb
2 2
Permeability  ML/Q henry per meter Kg m/C
2 2 3 2 2 3
Permittivity  T Q /ML farad per meter sec C /Kg m
0 0 0
dielectric K MLT None None
constant
-1
frequency f or  1/T Hertz sec
-1
angular  1/T radians per second sec
frequency
wave length  L Meters M

Note: You do not have to memorize all these, you will learn almost all of these quantities in details later on.
Meanwhile you may consult this table for any new quantity asked in questions.

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CONCEPT EVALUATION TEST (CET) -1

1. Which of the following quantities has same dimensions as the gravitational constant?
(velocity )2 force
(A) (B)
mass per unit length mass
(momentum)2 work
(C) (D)
force time

2. Light year is a unit of

(A) Time (B) Mass (C) Distance (D) Energy

3. Which of the following is not equal to watt

(B) Ampere  volt (Ampere)  ohm (D)
2
(A) Joule/second (C) Ampere/volt

4. Newton–second is the unit of

(A) Velocity (B) Angular momentum (C) Momentum (D) Energy

5. The unit of power is

(A) Joule (B) Joule per second only
(C) Joule per second and watt both (D) Only watt

6. Unit of moment of inertia in MKS system

(A) kg  cm2 (B) kg/cm
2
(C) kg  m2 (D) Joule  m

–1 –2
7. Dimensional formula ML T does not represent the physical quantity
(A) Young's modulus of elasticity (B) Stress
(C) Strain (D) Pressure
2 –3
8. Dimensional formula ML T represents
(A) Force (B) Power (C) Energy (D) Work
9. Which pair has the same dimensions?
(A) Work and power (B) Density and relative density
(C) Momentum and impulse (D) Stress and strain

10. Dimensions of one or more pairs are same. Identify the pairs
(A) Torque and work (B) Angular momentum and work
(C) Energy and Young's modulus (D) Light year and wavelength
11. Dimensional formula for latent heat is
(A) M0L2T 2 (B) MLT 2 (C) M1L2T 2 (D) M1L2T1

12. The dimensional formula of angular velocity is

(A) M0L0T 1 (B) MLT 1 (C) M0L0T1 (D) ML2T 2

13. The dimensions of power are

(A) M1L2T 3 (B) M2L1T 2 (C) M1L2T1 (D) M1L1T 2

14. Out of the following, the only pair that does not have identical dimensions is
(A) Angular momentum and Planck's constant (B) Moment of inertia and moment of a force
(C) Work and torque (D) Impulse and momentum
15. Which of the following quantities has the same dimensions as that of energy?
(A) Power (B) Force (C) Momentum (D) Work
16. Dimensions of charge are
(A) M0L0T 1A 1 (B) MLTA 1 (C) T1A (D) TA
17. In this chapter we described how the Earth’s daily rotation on its axis was once used to define the standard unit of
time. What other types of natural phenomena could serve as alternative time standards?
Ans. Pulse, Carbon dating

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