UNITS & MEASUREMENTS

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

***1. Distinguish between accuracy and precision. (Mar 2013,AP-Mar-16)
Ans: The accuracy of a measurement is a measure of how close the measured value is to the true
value of the quantity.
Precision tells us to what resolution or limit the quantity is measured by an instrument.
Accuracy depends on errors and also on the precision of the measuring instrument.
Precision depends on the least count of the measuring instrument.
(OR)
S.NO Accuracy Precision
1 It is defined as the closeness of the It is defined as to what resoluton
measured value to the true value the quantity is measured
2 It depends on the minimization of It depends on the least count of the
errors measuring instrument
2. What are the different types of errors that can occur in a measurement?
Ans: The errors in a measurement can be broadly classified as systematic errors, random errors and
gross errors
**3. How systematic errors be minimised or eliminated? (Mar - 14)
Ans: Systematic errors can be minimised by improving experimental techniques, selecting better
instruments and removing personal bias as far as possible.
4. Illustrate how the result of a measurement is to be reported indicating the error involved.
Ans: We report result of the measurement in the form of number which indicate the precision of
measurement along with the unit of the same physical quantity.
5. What are significant figures and what do they represent when reporting the result of a
measurement?
Ans: In a measurement the reliable digits plus the first uncertain digits are known as significant
figures. They represent precision of measurement when reporting result.
(OR)
The number of reliable digits in a number with first uncertain digit are called significant figure.
Eg: g=9.82 m/s2
Here ‘2’ is first uncertainty significant digits =3
***6. Distinguish between fundamental units and derived units.
(TS-Mar-16)
Ans: The units of fundamental physical quantities are called fundamental units
Ex: Kg, m, sec, etc..
The units of derived physical quantities are called derived units
Ex: m/sec, J, m/sec2 etc.
7. Why do we have different units for the same physical quantity?
Ans: We have different system of measurements like CGS and MKS systems hence we have different
units for the same physical quantity.
**8. What is dimensional analysis?
Ans: Representing the unit of derived quantity in terms of units of fundamental physical quantities
by raising the powers of fundamental quantities is known as dimensional analysis.
(OR)
 The dimensions of a physical quantity are the powers to which the units of base quantities
are raised to represent a derived unit of that quantity.
Example : Force  [ M 1 L1T 2 ]
9. How many orders of magnitude greater is the radius of the atom as compared to that of
the nucleus?
Ans: The radius of a nucleus is of the order of 1015 m , and that of the atom is nearly 1010 m . Thus
5 orders of magnitude greater is the radius of the atom as compared to that of the nucleus.
3
Vatom 4 / 3 10 
10
 Ratm  1010 m 
Note: V   1015  
15 3
4 / 310  15
nuc  Rnuc  10 m 
**10. Express unified atomic mass unit in kg.
Ans: Unified atomic mass unit ( a.m.u) = 1.66  10 27 kg

 1
th
1 1  12 10 3 
  of mass of carbon atom = 12   12  6.02 1023   1.66  10 kg
12 27
 c 
 12   
**11. The velocity of a body is given by V  At 2  Bt  C . If V and t are expressed in SI, what aree
the units of A, B and C ? [May. 2007]
Ans. The velocity of a body is given by V  At  Bt  C (in SI)
2

Dimensional Formula of V is [ LT 1 ]
Dimensional Formula of t is [T].
Where SI units of L is m and T is sec.
According to the principle of homogeneity
Dimensional Formula of V = Dimensional Formula of At2

LT 1  AT 2  A  [ LT 3 ]
Dimensional Formula of V = Dimensional Formula of Bt
2
LT 1  B.T  B  [ LT ]
Dimensional Formula of V = Dimensional Formula of C
C  [ LT 1 ]
T-3, LT-2and LT-1
 Dimensional Formula of the constants A, B and C are LT
 The SI unit of A, B and C are ms-3, ms-2 and ms-1.

MOTION IN A PLANE
VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. The vertical component of a vector is equal to its horizontal component. What is
the angle made by the vector with
X-axis?

Ans. Consider a vector A  A x iˆ  A y ˆj

Let  be the angle made by A with X-axis
 
X-component of A  A x =Acos  ; Y-component of A  A y =Asin 
 Given that A x  A y  Acos  =A sin   tan   1    45


2. A vector v makes an angle  with the horizontal.The vector is rotated through

an angle  .Does this rotation change the vector v ?
 
Ans. Let the vector be v  v x ˆi  v yˆj and  be the angle made by v with X-axis
Then v x  v cos  and

v y  v sin  or v  v cos ˆi  v sin ˆj ...... (1)

when the vector v is rotated through an angle  in anticlockwise direction, then
v x 'and v y ' are the new X, Y - components respectively..

Then v x '  v cos(  ) and v ' y  v sin(    )


and v'  v cos      ˆi  v sin      ˆj .............. (2)
 '
From equations 1 & 2 v v

Hence due to rotation, the direction of vector changes but its magnitude does not
change.
3. Two forces of magnitudes 3 units and 5 units act at 60 0 with each other. What is
the magnitude of their resultant?
Ans. Magnitude of the resultant, FR  F12  F22  2 F1 F2Cos

1
= (3)2  (5)2  2  3  5cos 600  9  25  2  3  5   49  7 units
2

4. A  i  j . What is the angle between the vector and X-axis? (Mar-13,14)
 
Ans. Given A  i  j . Compare it with A  A x i  A y j

Let ‘  ’ be the angle made by the vector A with X-axis.
Ax 1 1
 0
Then Cos  A  12  12  2    45

5. When two right angled vectors of magnitude 7 units and 24 units combine, what
is the magnitude of their resultant? ( AP- M ar
16)
Ans. Given that the angle between the two vectors is 90 0
Magnitude of their resultant, F R  F1 2  F 22  2 F1 F 2 c o s 

= (7)2  (24)2  2  7  24cos 90 = 49  576  625 = 2 5

units
   
6. If P  2iˆ  4ˆj  14kˆ and Q  4iˆ  4ˆj  10kˆ then find the magnitude of P  Q .(TS-Mar
 16)
 
Ans. P  Q  (2iˆ  4ˆj  14k)
ˆ  (4iˆ  4ˆj  10k)
ˆ = 6iˆ  8ˆj  24kˆ
 
Magnitude of P  Q is given by
 
PQ   6 2  8 2   24 2  36  64  576  676  26 Units
7. Can a vector of magnitude zero have nonzero components?
Ans. No. A vector of zero magnitude cannot have non zero components.

Ex: If A=A xiˆ  A y ˆj  A z kˆ then A= A x 2  A y 2  A z 2

Here A=0 only when A x  A y  A z  0

8. Can two vectors of unequal magnitude add up to give zero vector? Can three
unequal vectors add up to give zero vector ?
Ans. No. Two vectors of unequal magnitudes cannot add up to give zero vector.
Yes. Three vectors of unequal magnitudes can add up to give zero vector.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1.*** State parallelogram law of vectors. Derive an expression for the magnitude and
direction of the resultant vector. (Mar-05,09,10,12,13,14/May-05,06,09/June-
2010,TS-Mar-16)
Ans. Statement : If two vectors are represented in magnitude and direction by the two
adjacent sides of a parallelogram drawn from a point, then their resultant is represented
in magnitude and direction by the diagonal passing through the same point.

Explanation :
 
Let A and B are t wo vectors represent ed by the two sides OP and OQ of a

parallelogram OPSQ. The diagonal OS represents the resultant R .
  
i.e, R  (A  B) in magnitude and direction.
Expression for magnitude of the resultant(R) :
Let us extend the line OP upto point N and draw a perpendicular from S to N. From
the parallelogram OPSQ,
QOP  SPN   ;

OP = QS = A ( the magnitude of A ) .......(1)

OQ = PS = B (the magnitude of B ) ...........(2)

and OS = R ( the magnitude of resultant R ) ....(3)
From right angled triangle PNS:
 PN NS
cos   sin  
PS PS
PN  PS cos  NS  PS sin 
 PN  B cos  ...........(4)  NS  B sin  .........  5 

From the right angled triangle ONS:

2 2 2
 OS    ON    NS 
2
R 2 = (OP + PN) 2 +  NS  ON  OP  PN 
2 2 2
R 2 =  OP    PN   2  OP  PN    NS 

R2  A2  B2 cos2   2 AB cos  B2 sin 2  [ from (1),(4),(5)]

R2  A2  B2  sin2   cos2    2AB cos

R2  A2  B2  2AB cos  sin 2

  cos 2   1

 R  A2  B 2  2 AB cos 
Direction of the resultant :
 
If the line of action of the vector A is taken as reference line, the resultant R makes

an angle  with it. This angle indicates the direction of R
In the right angled triangle ONS,
NS NS
tan   
ON OP  PN
 ON  OP  PN 
From equations 1,4 and 5
Bsinθ
tanα =
A+ Bcosθ

The direction of the resultant vector R is given by
Bsinθ 
α= tan-1  
 A+ Bcosθ 
4.*** Define unit vector,null vector and position vector. (MAR-08/MAY-97,SEP-2000)
Ans. Unit vector:- A vector
 whose magnitude is unity (1) is called unit vector.
For a given vector A it is represented by  .


^ A
The unit vector along the direction of A is given by A  A

It has no units and dimensions.

Ex : In a coordinate system, i, ˆj, kˆ are the unit vectors along X,Y & Z axis respectively..
(or) iˆ  ˆj  kˆ  1
Null vector :-
A vector whose magnitude is zero (0) is called a null vector.

It is represented by O as shown in the figure.
Ex : The position of a particle at the origin.
 Position vector:- A vector which specifies the position of an
object with respective to the origin of a coordinate system is
called as position vector of the object in the system.

The position vector of an object at P is represented by OP as
shown in the figure.
Ex :- If P(x,y,z) are the coordinates of the object P and ‘O’
is the origin of the system then position vector is given by

OP  xiˆ  yjˆ  zkˆ

2 2 2
It’s magnitude OP  x  y  z
    
5.*** If a+b = a - b prove that the angle between a and b is 90 0 .
 
Ans. Let ‘  ’ be the angle between a and b
   
Given that a  b  a  b  a 2 +b 2 + 2abcosθ = a 2 + b2 - 2abcosθ
squaring on both sides
0
a 2 +b 2 + 2abcosθ = a 2 +b 2 - 2abcosθ  4abcosθ = 0  cos   0    90
Hence angle between the two vectors is 90 0.

MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. The states of motion and rest are relative. Explain.
Ans: A body is said to be at rest if its position does not change with time with respect to its
surroundings.
A body is said to be in motion if its position changes with time with respect to its
surroundings. Therefore the states of motion and rest are relative.
Example : The driver in a moving bus is at rest with respect to a person sitting inside
the bus and he is in motion with respect to a person outside the bus. Therefore, rest and
motion are relative.
2. How is average velocity different from instantaneous velocity?
Ans: Average velocity is the ratio of the total displacement to the total time interval in which
the displacement occurs.

Total displacement  Δ x
vavg  ; v avg 
Total time Δt
The velocity of the particle at any instant of time is called instantaneous velocity.
 
 x d x
Instantaneous velocity v  Lt 
t  0  t dt
Average velocity belongs to entire motion of the body.
Instantaneous velocity belongs to particular instant of time.
In uniform motion the instantaneous velocity is equal to the average velocity.
3. Give an example where the velocity of an object is zero but its acceleration is not
zero.
Ans: Ex.1. A body projected vertically upward has zero velocity at the highest point where
the body comes to rest for very short interval of time. But its acceleration is not zero
and is equal to acceleration due to gravity.
 Ex.2. At the extreme point of an object executing simple harmonic motion , velocity is
zero but acceleration is not zero.
4. A vehicle travels half the distance L with speed v 1 and the other half with speed v 2 .
What is the average speed?
L L
Ans: 2 2
V1 V2

L L L L L
Vavg   
Total distance 2  2 t1  t2 L / 2  L / 2  L   1 1 
Average speed =     
Total time t1  t 2 V1 V2  2   V1 V2 

2VV
1 2
Vave 
V1  V2
5. An object falling through a fluid is observed to have an acceleration given by a= g-
bv where g is the gravitational acceleration and b is a constant. After a long time it
is observed to fall with a constant velocity. What would be the value of this constant
velocity?
g
Ans: As velocity is constant, acceleration must be zero. a = g – bv = 0.  v
b
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Can the equations of kinematics be used when the acceleration varies with time? If
not, what form would these equations take?
Ans. No.
(i) Acceleration as a function of time, a = f(t)
dv
To calculate velocity after time t , instantaneous acceleration is a 
dt
 dv  a dt
v t
 dv  a dt , where v 0 is velocity at time t  0
v0 0
t t t
v  v0   a dt ; v  v0   a dt  v  v0   f  t  dt
0 0 0
(ii) acceleration as a function of displacement a = f(x)
To calculate the velocity at a position ' x ' ,
dv dv  dx  dv
instantaneous acceleration is a     v
dt dx  dt  dx
 vdv  a dx
v x
 v dv   a dx , where v 0 is velocity at the position x 0
v0 x0
 xf xf xf
v 2 v02 2
   a dx ; v  v02  2  a dx v 2
 v02  2  f ( x) dx
2 2
xi xi xi
(iii) acceleration as a function of velocity a = f(v)
If we take the time derivative of x , then
dx dx  dv  dx
v    a  vdv  adx
dt dv  dt  dv
v x
Then 
v dv   a dx
v0 x0
xf v v
dx 
v dv
 xf  xi 
 v  dv
  a  f v 
xi v0 v0
**2. A particle moves in a straight line with uniform acceleration. Its velocity at time t
= 0 is V 1 and at time t = t is ‘V 2 ’. The average velocity of the particle in this time
interval is (V 1 +V 2 )/2. Is this correct? Substantiate your answer.
Ans. Yes, it is correct.
Consider a particle moving with uniform acceleration ‘a’ along a straight line (say x-
axis). Its velocity is ‘V 1’ at time t = 0 at origin and it reaches a position ‘ x ’ in a time ‘t’
and its velocity became ‘V 2’. Then, average velocity over time interval ‘t’ is
x x  0 x
V avg    ................(1)
t t  0 t
The displacement of the particle in this time interval ‘t’ is
1
x  V1t  at 2
2
x 1 V  V1
 V1  at ; but a  2
t 2 t
x 1  V  V1 
 V1   2 t
t 2 t 
x 1
 V1   V2  V1 
t 2
x 1
  V2  V1  .................(2)
t 2
V  V2
From equation (1) and (2) average velocity of the particle equal to 1
2
*3. Can the velocity of an object be in a direction other than the direction of
acceleration of the object? If so, give an example.
Ans. Yes , it is possible for the body to have velocity in a direction other than direction of its accelera-
tion.
Example:- For a body projected vertically upwards the velocity is in upward direction till it
reaches the highest point. But acceleration due to gravity is always in vertically downwards.Thus,
velocity and acceleration are in opposite directions till the body reaches the highest point.
4. Explain the terms ‘average velocity’ and ‘instantaneous velocity’. When are they equal?
Ans. Average velocity: Average velocity is the ratio of the total displacement to the total time interval
   
 Δ x x 2  x1
in which the displacement occurs. v avg  
Δt t2  t1
It is independent of path followed by the particle between initial and final positions.
Instantaneous velocity : The velocity of the particle at any instant of time is called instanta-
 
 x d x
neous velocity. Instantaneous velocity v  Lt 
t  0  t dt
In uniform motion the instantaneous velocity of a body is equal to the average velocity.
**5 A ball is dropped from the roof of a tall building and simultaneously another ball is
thrown horizontally with some velocity from the same roof. Which ball lands first?
Explain your answer.
Ans. Both the balls reach the ground simultaneously.
1) Consider a ball dropped from the roof of height ‘h’ , the time taken by the ball to
reach the ground is ‘ t 1 ’, then
Initial velocity v0 = 0, acceleration a = + g , distance travelled x= h and time t = t 1
1 2 1 2
From x = v0 t + at ; h   0  t1  gt1
2 2

Roof 2 Horizontal
thrown
1
Freely
falling body

1 2
h gt
2 1
2h
 t1       1
g
2) Consider a ball thrown horizontally with velocity ‘u’ from the same roof, the time
taken by the ball to reach the ground is ‘ t 2 ’ . Here initial vert ical velocit y, v 0 =

u cos 90 0  0 .
acceleration a=+g , distance travelled in vertical direction y = h and time t = t 2
1 2 1 2 1 2
From y = v 0 t + at ; h   0  t 2  gt 2  gt 2
2 2 2
2h
 t2       2
g
From (1) , (2) it is proved that t1  t 2
Hence both reach the ground at the same instant of time.
6. A ball is dropped from a building and simultaneously another ball is projected
upward with some velocity. Describe the change in relative velocities of the balls
as a function of time.
Ans. Let first ball is dropped from the top edge of building and second ball is projected
vertically upwards with velocity ‘u’ from the same point.
At t  0 , velocity of first ball w.r.t second ball is u 12  0   u   u
After time ‘t’
Velocity of the first ball V1  gt
Velocity of the second ball V2  u  gt
Relative velocity of the first ball with respect to the second ball is
V12  V1   V2 
V12  V1  V2
V12  gt  u  gt
V12  u
Thus the relative velocity of the balls is always constant during their motion. Hence the
change in their relative velocity is zero.
7. A typical raindrop is about 4mm in diameter. If a raindrop falls from a cloud which
is at 1 km above the ground, estimate its momentum when it hits the ground.
Ans. The momentum of rain drop just before reaching the ground is
P  m ass  velocity = m v
4 3
Mass m = volume × density  πr  and velocity v  2 gh
3
4 3
 P πr  2 gh
3
4mm
Given that r   2mm  2  10 3 m
2
2
  10 3 kg m 3 , g  9.8 ms , h  1 km  10 3 m
4 22 
P  
  2  10 3  10 3  2  9.8  10 3
3 7
4 22
   8  10 6  14  10
3 7
 0.00469 kg ms 1
1
8)***Derive the equation x=V0 t+ at 2 using graphical method where the terms have usual meaning.
2
Ans :- Consider a body moving with uniform acceleration ‘a’. Let initial velocity of the body is ‘ V0 ’
and it gains a velocity ‘V’after ‘t’ seconds. The graph plotted between velocity and time is a
straight line as shown in the figure.The area under V-t. graph gives the displacement of the
body,
 From the diagram, OC = AD = t ; OA = CD = V0 ;
BC = BD + CD  BD = BC - CD  BD = V - V0 ........ (1)
So displacement
x = Area of trapezium OABC
x = Area of rectangle ADCO + area of triangle ABD
1
=  OC   OA  +  AD   BD 
2
1
=  t   V0   t   V  V0  (from (1)) .............. (2)
2
V  V0
But a   V  V0  at
t
Substituting this value in equation – (2)
1 1
x  V0t   t  at   x  V0t  at 2
2 2

SOLVED PROBLEMS

9. A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 20ms –1 from the top of a
multistorey building. The height of the point from where the ball is thrown is
25.0 m from the ground. (a) How high will the ball rise? and (b) how long will it
be before the ball hits the ground? Take g  10 ms 2 . (actual value is 9.8 ms 2 )

Ans: (a) Let us take the y-axis in the vertically upward direction with zero at the ground.
Now, v0   20 ms 1 , a   g  10 ms 2 , v  0 ms 1
If the ball rises to height “y” from the point of launch, then using the equation
2
v 2  v02  2a  y  y0  we get 0   20   2  10  y  y0 

Solving, we get  y  y0   20 m.
v02 20  20
or h    20m
2g 2  10
(b) We can solve this part of the problem as follows
The total time taken can be calculated by using the equation
1
h  v0t  gt 2
2
put h = 25m,v 0 = 20 m/s, g  10m / s 2
1
25  20t  10t 2 or, 5t 2  20 t  25  0
2
Solving this quadratic equation for t, we get t  5s
2. A man walks on a straight road from his home to a market 2.5 km away with a
speed of 5 km h 1 . Finding the market closed, he instantly turns and walks back
home with a speed of 7.5 km h 1 . What is the (a) magnitude of average velocity and
(b) average speed of the man over the time interval 0 to 50 min.
Ans.
home 2.5 Km(v1) market

2.5 Km(v2)
total displacement 0
(a ) magnitude of average velocity   0
total time 50

total dis tan ce 2.5  2.5

(b ) average speed    6 kmph
total time 1 1
  
 2 3
3. A car travels the first third of a distance with a speed of 10 kmph, the second third
at 20 kmph and the last third at 60 kmph. What is its mean speed over the entire
distance?
Ans. given V1  10kmph, V2  20kmph and V3  60kmph

3V1V2V3 3 10  20  60 
Vavg  Vavg 
V1V2  V2V3  V3V1 10  20    20  60    60 10 
36, 000
Vavg  Vavg  18kmph
2000
3. A bullet moving with a speed of 150 ms 1 strikes a tree and penetrates 3.5 cm beforee
stopping. What is the magnitude of its retardation in the tree and the time taken
for it to stop after striking the tree?
Ans. Initial speed u  150m / s
Final speed v  0
distance travelled s  3.5  102 m
Let magnitude of retardation is ‘a’ then acceleration  a
use v2  u 2  2  a  s
2
02  150   2   a   3.5 102
150  150
 a   3, 2 1 4 .2 8  1 0 2
2  3 .5  1 0  2  3.214 105 m / s 2
let the time taken for it to stop is ‘t’
from, v  u   a  t  0  150  3.214  105 t  3.214  105 t  150
150
t  5
 4.667  104 s
3.214 10