4.

Some Physical Constants

Constant Value Symbol
(with estimated error)
(i) Velocity of light 3x10'm/sec C
-2
(i) Gravitational constant 6:67x 10 "Nm kg G
(ii) Avogadro's constant 6-02 x 10 mol N
(iv) Planck's constant 6-63 x 10 Js h
JK
(v) Boltzmann constant 138x 10 k
-2
(vi) Acceleration due to gravity 98 m sec
(vii) Universal gas constant 8-31Jmol'K R
(vii) Permeability constant 4Tx10 Hm
(ix) Pemittivity constant 8-85x 10 Fm Eo
(x) Rydberg constant 1-097x 10'm R
(xi) Electron rest mass 9-11x10 kg me
-19
(xii) Elementary charge 1-6x 10 coul e
(xii) Atmospheric pressure 1-01x 10 Nm atm
(xiv) rest mass ofproton 1-672x 10 kg
(xv) restmass ofneutron 1-674x 10kg
(xvi) Stefan's constant 5-7797x 10 Wmk
 |GENERAL PHYSICS

1
(Units and Dimensions)
1. Unit: In order to measure a physical quantity a *standard" is required:
this "standard" is called unit of that physical quantity.
The magnitude M ofa physical quantity
= NU, where
N= Numerical value of the measure of the quantity and
U=unit of the quantity.
2. Fundamental and Derived Units The unit of length, mass
: and time
are derived
are taken as fundamental units, the units of other quantities which
from it are called derived units.
a physical
3. System of Units: There are four systems of units to measure
quantity.
are respectively cm,
(a) C.G.S. System: The units of length, mass and time
gram and second.
respectively foot,
(b) F.P.S. System: Units of length, mass and time are
pound and second.
(c) M.K.S. System :Units of length, mass and time are respectively
metre.

kilogram and second.

(d) S.I. Units (International System of Units)
: There are seven basic
units namely,
1. Metre for length

2. Kilogram for mass

3. Second for time
4. Kelvin (K) for temperature
5.Ampere (A) for current.
6. Candela for luminous intensity
7. Mole for amount of substance
S.I. Units.
In addition to this there are two supplementary
1. Radian for plane angle.
2. Steradian for solid angle.
4. Unit of angle: Radian and degree are
the units ofangle.
=
27Tradian 360°
 Numericals in Physics

5. Dimension In order to obtain the unit ofa physical quantity, the

fundamental units are raised by powers, which represents its dimension.

For example if we write [Y] = [MLT] then a, b and c are respectively

dimension ofY in M, L and in T.

6. Dimensionless quantity : In the equation [Y]=[M'LT],

if a=b=c= 0, then the quantity is called dimensionless. As for example,

(a) Strain. specific gravity, angle. They are ratio of two similar quantities.

(b) Number, such as 9,Sin 6, Tetc.

Adimensionless quantity has same numerical value in all system ofunits.

7.Dimensional equation: It is an equation which represents the
involvement ofthe fundamental units in a physical quantity, as forexample
Force [MLT )

8. Use of dimensional equation:

(a) To change the value of a physical quantity from one system to another.
N,U, N,U
(b)To check the accuracy of an equation.
This is based on the principle ofhomogeneity. In a physical equation every
term should have the same dimensions.
(c) To establish an equation.
9. Significant figure : It may be defined as that figure in a given number
which can be relied.
10. Percentage error: Ifdy is the error in the measurement of a quantityy,
then percentage error is
a100%
EXAMPLES
1. Write down the dimension
ofPlanck's Constant.
Ans.[MLT'
ML2T-2
Planck's Constanth=E_Energy
frequency
-[ML'T')
T-
 Units and Dimensions 3
2. Write down the dimensional formula of impulse

Ans. [MLT)
Impulse forceX time=[MLT ] [T]= [MLT "|

3. What is the dimension of Boltzmann's Constant?

Ans. [ML'TK')
4. What is the dimension ofuniversal gas constant?

Ans. [ML T K'

viscosity (n)?
5. Write down the dimension ofcoefficient of

Ans. [MLT')
6. Write down the dimension of Gravitational Constant.

Ans. [M'LT)
respectively, then what is the
7. IfL and R represents inductance and resistance
dimension of
Ans. [M'LT].
8. If R and C represents resistance and capacity respectively,
then give the
dimension of RC.
Ans. [M'LT]
9. If L and C represents the inductance and capacity, then write down the
dimension of LC.
Ans. [M'L"T).
10. If a current I
is flowing through an inductance L, then find the dimension of
Lr?
Ans.[ML T)
11. IfC represents the capacity of a condenser and ifV represents the P.d. across its
end then find the dimension of CV ?
Ans.[ML'T1
12. Can unit of energy be written as Watt x day ?
Ans. Yes.
13. What is the dimension of surface tension?
Ans.[MT
14. Write down the dimension of E,
Ans.[M'LT'A).
15. Write down the dimension of Resistance, R.

Ans.[MLT'A
16. Write down the dimension ot Jugto
Ans. [M'LT 'A'1
 4 Numericals in Physics
17. If force, time and length are taken as fundamental units then calculate thee
dimension of surface tension, power and mass.
Ans. FL", FLT', FL'T.
18. If force and mass and length are taken as fundamental units, then calculate the
dimension of velocity.

Ans.. F21? M2
19. If velocity of light C, the gravitational constant G and plank's constant h be
chosen as the fundamental units, then find the dimensions of
mass, Iength and
time in the new system.

Ans.. 3 1
5
2:C 2h2G2;C 2h2G2
20. Convert one newton into dyne.
Ans. 10 dyne.
The dimension offorce, F= [MLT]
Since, N,U, =N,U,

N N UJ
1000gm 100cm sec
10 dyne.
gm cm JLsec I

the gravitational constant in C.G.S. system is 6.70

x 10,
21. If the value of G,
then what is its value in S.I. unit?
Ans.6.70x 10
The dimension ofG is [M'L'T)
we have, N,U =N,U,

N, = N

N10kg10metre
kg I
metre
s
L sec
2

= 6.70 x 10 x 10=6.70 x 10
22. If the value of pressure is 10 dyne/cm' in C.G.S. system, then calculate its
value in S.I. unit.
Ans. 10 N/m.
23. Convert 1 H.P. into watt.
Ans. 746 watt.
 Units and Dimensions 5
24. The surface tension of liquid in C. G. S. system is 70 dyne/cm then
what will be its value in S. I. unit.
Ans. 7 x 10-2 N/m.
25. If the density of wood in C. G. S. system is 0-5 gm/c.c., then what
will be its value in S. I. unit.
Ans. 500 kg/m3.
26. If the value of coefficient of viscosity in S. I. unit is 1-2 N sec m2,
then calculate its value in C. G.S. system.
Ans. 12 dyne sec cm4
27. Express 90 in radian
Ans. radian.
28. If the unit of mass, length and time be each doubled, then how
of power will change.
Ans. remain the same.
The dimension of power is [ML2T-]

=
=2x22 x2'=l : U U,
29. In the above question, how the numerical value is affected
Ans. remain the same.

NU
since, U = U therefore, N2 = Ni
30. If the unit of length, mass and time be each doubled, then how the unit
of work will change.
Ans. doubled
work = [ML?T-2

U M2
UM LL
=2x 22 x 2-2 =2 hence, U =

31. In the above problem, how its numercial value will cinange.
Ans. becomes half.
Since, N,U = N,U2

N. -N
 Numericals it. Physics
32. If the unit of mass and length be doubied and that of time is halved.
then how the unit of force. work and powr is affected.
Ans. Force, Work and Power will increase 16 times, 32 times and 64
times respectively.
33. It is observed that the value of acceleration due to gravity '8' at a place
is 980 cm/sec2; obtain its value in a system in which metre i: the unit
of length and minute is the unit of time.
Ans. 35280.
Since the dimension of g = [LT-2]
minute

980 x 1x 602 35280.

Convert the value of 10 joule on a system which has 1000 grams,
10
34.
cms and 30 seconds as fundamental units.
Ans. 9 x 105 new units.
BT2 where
If the displacement of a particle is represented by y AT +
=
35. and
y is in metre andt is in second, then calculate the dimension of A
3.
Ans. [LT-'}; LT-2]
=
L.H. S.: y [L]
= =
R. H. S.; AT = L) A [LT-]
=
and. BT2 B
= [L]J LT-2]
?
36. In the above problem what are the units of A andB
Ans. m/sec, m/sec2.
37. In the above problem, what physical quantities do they
represent ?
Ans. Velocity; Acceleration.
= Ar + B: + CP,
38. The displacement of a particle is represented by y
then what are the dimensions of A, B and C.
Ans. [LT-'] [LT-2]. ILT-3).
L. H. S.: y= [LJ, and
=
R. H. S.; AI = [ILJ: A =L/T [LT-']
=
B2= [L]: B L/T? = [LT-2]
and C= [L]: C= L/T' = |LT-3
39. Calculate the dimension of a, B and y in the equation,
E= aM + BM-'LT-2 +yMLT- where E represents energy.
Ans. L2T-2]: [M2L), [LT-'|.
 Units and Dimensions

40. The acceleration of a particle is found to depend upon time as follows

f C+
At +
BrD 1
then calculate the dimension of A, B, C and D.
Ans. LT-3]: (LT-41;: (LT-'}; [T]

41. In the equation ofvelocity of sound V=Vobtain the dimension

of y, where P and p represent pressure and density respectively.
Ans. [M°L° T°).
42. Obtain the dimension of the constant 'a' and 'b' invoived in the Vander
Waal's equation of state.
= nRT
P+ V- b)

Ans. [ML'T- 21: [L')

43. Check dimensionally wether the equation r= ut + f is incorec

Ans. The dimension of each term is same, hence the equation is

dimensionally correct; but the equation itself is not correct. The
coefficient offt should be and not

A dimensionally correct equation may be wrong but a

dimensionally wrong equation can not be correct.
44. In the equation given below what are the S. units of C and C., ifv
L

is in metre and t is in second.

y = C sin Cal

Ans. metre; radian/sec.

45. The speed of a particle as a functien of time is represented by V

cos Azi. What are the dimention and S. units of eonstant A url
L
A

Ans. LT- '| and [T-'}, their S. I

units are m/sec and radian/se
46. The acceleration of a particle as a function of time is representel
equution
=
Cisin Ct. What are the dimension and S. I u
constant C, and C, ?

Ans.[LT1; [T '}; their S. I. units are mi/see and radian/see

47. If n the equation =asin (0- Kx), y and r stands for distance
y
ad

for time respectively, then find the dimension of a, w, and K

Ans. M® L TO, PL T M"L-1TO
 8 Numericals in Physics

48. A gas bubble from an explosion under water oscillates with a tima
period T which is proportional to P" p° E° where P is the pressure
is the density of water and E is the total energy of the
explosion,. Find

the value of a, b and c.

Ans.-:
49. If L, C and R repersents physical quantities inductance, capacitance
and resistance respectively. then what will be dimension of V1/LC.
Ans. [M°L°T-]
50. In the equation X 3YZ, X and Z have dimension of capacitance
=

and magnetic induction. What is the dimension of Y SI system.

in

Ans. M-3 L-2 A4 T8

a sphere
is found that error in the measurement of the radius of
is
51. It
1%; then what is the error in the measurement of its volume?

Ans. 3o.
is divided into 200 equal divisions;
52. The circlular scale of a spherometer
distance between two
if its least count is 0-005 mm; then what the
is

consecutive threads of the spherometer screw.

Ans. Imm.
In a given slide callipers 10 division of its vernier
coincides with its 9
53.
0.5 mm;
main scale division. If one main scale division is equal to
then find its least count.

Ans. 0-05 mm.

be added must have
54. Is it correct to say that two quantities which are to
the same dimension

Ans. Yes.
be multiplied must
55. Is correct to say that two quantities which are to
it
have the same dimension.
v and time t have
Ans. No; as for example y vi, where the speed
=

different dimensions.
56. The position of a particle at any time is given by,

S (1 - e-at), where
a>0 and Vy are constants. What are the dimension of a and V,
Ans.ML"T-'), LM°ILT
 Units and Dimensions

57. What is the dimension of 7. in the given equation.

N No e-n, where
N represents the number of radioactive atom present at any time and
No is the number of atom orignally present.
Ans. [M°L°T-
58. Check wether the following equation are dimensionally correct.

(a) =+ sin-
I , whenr xand a stand for distance
a-x? a

Ymg
(b) f= where I = Moment of Inertia
2T
Ans : (a) No, (b) No.