UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

MARCH 2014
𝑚𝑣 2
1. The centripetal force on a body in circular motion is given by 𝐹 = 𝑟
(a) Write the dimension of force [1]
(b) What is the number of significant figures in 0.050 N? [1]
SAY 2014
1. Dimensional method helps in converting the units from one system into another.
(a) Name the principle used for the above purpose. [1]
(b) Using dimensions, prove 1 Newton = 105 dynes [2]
SAY 2015
1. The correctness of equations can be checked using the principle of homogeneity.
(a) State the principle of homogeneity [1]
(b) Using this principle, check whether the following equation is dimensionally correct.
1
mv 2 = mgh
2
Where m is the mass of the body, v is its velocity, g is the acceleration due to gravity and h is
the height. [2]
MARCH 2016
1. (a) Name the principle used to check the correctness of an equation. [1]
(b) What is the number of significant
figures in 0.00820 J? [1]
SAY 2016
1. Using the principle of homogeneity of equations, check whether the equation is correct.
[2]
𝑔
𝑇 = 2𝜋√ 𝑙
(T → Time, g → acceleration, 𝑙→ length)
MARCH 2017
2
1. Check whether the equation 𝑚𝑣 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ is dimensionally consistent. Based on the above
equation, justify the following statement.
“A dimensionally correct equation need not be actually an exact equation”
[2]
SAY 2017
1. The nature of a physical quantity is described by its dimensions.
(a) Check the correctness of the equation 𝑣 = 𝑣0 + 𝑎𝑡, by the method of dimensional
analysis. [2]
(b) Besides the seven base units, there are two more units in SI. The unit of solid angle is
[1]
(i) Radian (ii) Steradian
(iii) Degree (iv)Candela
(c) Which of the following is a dimensional constant? [1]
(i) Relative error of a measurement
(ii) Relative density
(iii) Gravitational constant
(iv) Strain
MODEL 2018
1. The displacement S of a body in a time t is given by 𝑆 = 𝑎𝑡 2 + 𝑏𝑡. Find the dimensions of
a and b. [2]
2. The side of a cube is measured as 3.405 cm. How many significant figures are there in the
measurement?
MARCH 2018
1. Select a TRUE statement from the following [1]
(a) Year and light year have the same dimensions.
(b) Intensity of gravitational field has same dimensions as that of acceleration.
SAY 2018
1. The centripetal force depends on mass of the body, velocity and radius of the circular path.
Find the expression for the centripetal force acting on the body using the principle of
dimensional analysis. (Take constant k = 1). [3]
MODEL 2019
1. What are dimensions of a physical quantity? Write any two uses of dimensional analysis.
[2]
MARCH 2019
1. “Velocity cannot be added to temperature”.
(a) This is in accordance with which law of Physics? [1]
(b) Check the dimensional correctness of the equation
PV = Fx
Where P is the pressure, V is volume, F is force and x is displacement.
SAY 2019
1. The correctness of equation can be checked using the principle of homogeneity in
dimensions.
(a) State the principle of homogeneity [1]
(b) Using this principle, check whether the equation
𝑙
𝑓 = 2𝜋√𝑔
is dimensionally correct, where f-frequency, 𝑙-length and g-acceleration due to gravity.
[2]
(c) The velocity v of a particle depends on time t as
𝑣 = 𝐴𝑡 2 + 𝐵𝑡. Find the dimensions and units of A and B.
[2]
MODEL 2020
1. Find the number of significant figures in the following: [1]
(i) 0.042 (ii) 42.000
2. “There are certain physical quantities having no dimensions but still having units”
(a) State whether the statement is true or false. Justify your answer with an example.
[1]
(b) Check the correctness of the equation 𝑣² = 𝑣02 + 2𝑎𝑥
using dimensional analysis. [2]
MARCH 2020
1. The centripetal force on a body of mass ‘m’ and velocity ‘v’ moving in circular orbit of
radius ‘r’ is given by
mv2
F= r [1]
Write the dimensional formula of force.
2. The volume of water flowing out through a pipe in a given time is V = KA²ut, where A is
the area of cross-section of the pipe, u is the speed of flow, t is the time and K is a
dimensionless constant.
(a) Name the principle that can be used to check the dimensional correctness of this
equation. [1]
(b) Check the correctness of the equation. [2]
SAY 2020
1. The correctness of an equation can be checked using the principle of homogeneity in
dimensions.
(a) State the principle of homogeneity [1]
1 2
(b) Using this principle, check whether the equation 𝑥 = 𝑢𝑡 + 2 𝑎𝑡 is dimensionally
correct. [2]
MODEL 2021
1. Write the SI units of the following fundamental quantities: [2]
(a) Electric current
(b) Plane angle
2. The distance travelled by a freely falling body is given by the equation,
1
𝑦 = 𝑣0 𝑡 − 2 𝑔𝑡 2 . Using principles of dimensions, check the correctness of the equation.
[3]
3. (a) State principle of homogeneity of dimensions.
(b) The kinetic energy (K) of a body depends on its mass (m) and its velocity (v). Using the
above principle derive an equation for kinetic energy.
MARCH 2021
1. Define plane angle. [2]
2. Write the SI unit and dimensional formula of energy. [2]
3. Fill in the blanks. [3]
Name of base
Name of SI unit
quantity
Length Metre
Mass ……………..
…………….. Second
Electric current ……………..
Thermodynamic
……………..
temperature
…………….. Mole
…………….. Candela

4. (a) State the principle of Homogeneity of dimensions. [2]

(b) A planet moves around the Sun in nearly circular orbits. Its period depends on radius (r) of
the orbit, mass of the Sun (M) and gravitation constant (G). Derive the expression for its time
period of the planet using method of dimension. [3]
SAY 2021
1. Fill in the blanks in the table below:
Symbol of SI
Quantity SI Unit
unit
Time Second ………
 Electric
……… A
current
……… Steradian Sr
……… Mole mol

2. Centripetal force (F) depends on mass (m) of the object, its velocity (v) and radius (R) of
the circle. Using the method of dimensions derive an equation for centripetal force.
[3]
3. “Physical quantities on both sides of an equation must have the same dimensions”
(a) The above statement is in accordance with the principle of ...
[1]
(b) Write a vector quantity and a scalar quantity having the same dimensions.
1
(c) Check whether the equation 2 mv 2 = mgh is dimensionally correct.
[1]
Here m is the mass, v the velocity, g the acceleration due to gravity and h is the height.
MODEL 2022
1. The correctness of equations can be checked by the principle of homogeneity of
dimensions.
(i) State the principle of homogeneity of dimensions. [1]
(ii) Using this principle, check whether the following equation is dimensionally correct.
[2]
1 2
𝑚𝑣 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ
2
MARCH 2022
1. The restoring force developed in a spring extended by a length 𝑥 is, 𝐹 = −𝑘𝑥. The
dimensional formula of 𝑘 is? [1]
2. Check the dimensional correctness of the relation: [3]
𝐺𝑀
v=√𝑅
Where v is orbital velocity, G is gravitational constant and R is radius of Earth.
MODEL 2023
1
1. Check whether the equation 2 𝑚𝑣 2 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ is dimensionally correct by the method of
dimensions. [2]
2. (a) What are significant figure? [1]
(b) State the number of significant figures of the following:
(i) 0.007 m2
(ii) 2.64 × 1024 kg
(iii) 0.2370 g cm−3
(iv) 6.320 J
MARCH 2023
1. 1 Å (angstrom) = ………. [1]
(i) 1010 𝑚 (ii) 10−15 𝑚
(iii) 1015 𝑚 (iv) 10−10 𝑚
2. (a) What do you mean by principle of homogeneity of dimensions? [1]
(b) Using this principle, check whether the following equation is dimensionally correct:
[2]
1 2
𝑚𝑣 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ
2
(c) State the number of significant figures in the following: [1]
(i) 0.060607 𝑚2
(ii) 6.0320 𝑁 𝑚−2