S I units

Fundamental & Derived units

Significant figures
Dimensional Analysis
Physical quantity: Any quantity which can be measured and given in
terms of numerical values.
Eg: Length, mass, Force etc.

Measurement: Comparing a physical quantity with the standard

quantity.

The measurement of a physical quantity is stated as a number

(magnitude) and a unit.
Eg : 5 m

Unit: The standard quantity in terms of which a physical quantity is

measured is called a unit.

A unit must be well defined, easily comparable with similar units and not
subject to change with physical conditions.
The units of fundamental quantities which are defined
independently are called fundamental units or base units.
Eg: metre, kilogram
There are seven fundamental units.

The quantities which can be expressed in terms of fundamental

quantities are called derived quantities and their units are called
derived units.
Eg : metre per second (m/s), newton

Both fundamental units & derived units are together known as

system of units.
There are three systems of units:

FPS- Foot, pound, second are units of length, mass, time

respectively

CGS- centimetre, gram, second

MKS- metre, kilogram and second

International system of units (S I units):

The system of units which is internationally accepted.

1 radian is the angle subtended at the centre of a
circle by an arc whose length is equal to the
radius

steradian is the solid angle subtended at the

centre of a sphere by an area equal to the
square of radius of the sphere
Q1. Calculate the angle of
(a) 10 (b) 1’ (c) 1’’ in radians

(a) 3600 = 2 ∏ rad

2∏ ∏
0
1 = = = 1.745 x 10 -2 rad
360 180
(b) 10 = 1.745 x 10 -2 rad But 10 = 60 ’
60 ’ = 1.745 x 10 -2 rad
1.745 x 10 -2
1 ’ = =
60
Ans(b) 1’ = 2.91 x 10 - 4 rad

But 1’ = 60 ’’

( c) 60 ’’ = 2.91 x 10 - 4 rad

’’ = 2.91 x 10 - 4
1
60

1 ’’ = 4.85 x 10 – 6 rad
 Rules for writing S I units :

1.When a unit is named after a person, it is written in small letter,

but symbol is in capital letter.
Eg newton (N)

2.If a unit is not named after a person, both unit & symbol is in
small letter.
Eg. kilogram (kg)

3.No plural form for symbols

Eg. 10 kg not kgs

4.No punctuation marks after symbols

Eg 20 m not 20 m.

5.In celsius scale ,degree sign is included but not in kelvin scale
Eg 500 C and 273 K
6. Not more than one solidus used
Eg JK-1mol-1 not J/K/mol

7. Some space to be left between number & symbol and between

symbols of compound units
Eg 2 s not 2s
N m not Nm
Special length units:

Short length units:

1. 1 fermi = 1 f m =10 – 15 m
2. 1 angstrom = 1 A 0 = 10 – 10 m

Large length units:

1. 1 astronomical unit= 1 AU= 1.496 x 10 11 m
1 AU is the average distance of sun from earth

2. 1 light year = 1 ly = 9.46 x 10 15 m

1 ly is the distance that light travels in 1 year

3. 1 parsec = 3.08 x 10 16 m
1 parsec is the distance at which an arc of length 1 AU subtends
an angle of 1 s
Significant Figures :
Significant figures are the number of reliable digits plus the first
uncertain digit.

If the length of an object measured is 21.3 cm

2 & 1 are certain while 3 is uncertain.
Thus it has three sig figures.

Rules for significant figures:

1.All non zero digits are significant

Eg: 543 - three

2.All zeros between two non zero digits are significant

Eg: 50.09 – four

3.If the number is < 1, zeros between decimal point and first non zero
digit are not significant
Eg : 0.0034 - two
4.Zeros at the end of a number without decimal point are not significant
Eg: 12300 - three

5. Zeros at the end of a number with decimal point are significant.

Eg: 2.500 - four

6. Power of 10 is irrelevant when finding sig figures

Eg: 2.10 x 10 2 - three

7. Changing units does not change the number of sig numbers.

Eg: 2.10 m = 2.10 x 10 2 cm = 2.10 x 10 -3 km all have three sig figures

8. Zero put on the left of a number < 1 is not significant

Eg: 0.5 - one

9.Multiplying or dividing factors which are exact values have infinite

number of sig figures
Eg: r = d or c= 2π r
2
2 is an exact number, can be written as 2.0 , 2.00, 2.000 etc.
HW:
Q : State the no of significant figures :

(a) 0.007 m2

(b) 2.64 x 1024 kg

(c) 0 . 2370 g cm -3

(d) 6.320 J

(e) 6.032 Nm -2

(f) 0.0006032 m 2
(a) 1

(b) 3

(c) 4

(d) 4

(e) 4

(f) 4
Rules for arithmetic operations:

1.In multiplication or division, the final result should retain as many

significant figs as are there in the original number with the least
significant figs.
Eg: mass is 4.237 g & volume is 2.51 cm3
density = m = 1.68804780876 = 1.69 g cm-3 (3 sig fig)
V

2. In addition or subtraction, the final result should retain as many

decimal places as are there in the number with the least decimal
places.

Eg: 436.32 g + 0.301 g + 227.2 g = 663.821 = 663.8 g (1 decimal

place)

Q: The length ,breadth and thickness of a rectangular sheet of metal are

4.234 m , 1.005 m and 2.01 cm respectively. Give its area and
volume to correct significant figs
 4.234 – four sig fig
A= 2 ( l b + bt + l t) = t = 2.01 cm=0.0201m 1.005 – four

V = l bt = 0.0201 - three

A = 8.7204 = 8.72 m2 ( 3 sig fig)

V = 0.085528917= 0.0855 m3 ( 3 sig fig)

A = 8.7204 = 8.72 m2 ( 3 sig fig)

V = 0.085528917= 0.0855 m3 ( 3 sig fig)

Q: Each side of a cube is measured to be 7.203 m

What are the surface area and volume of the cube?
a = 7.203 m (4 sig fig)

A=6 =a2 A = 311.299254 = 311.3 m2

V = a3 = V = 373.714754 = 373.7 m3

Rounding off the uncertain digits :

The result of an arithmetic operation , with more than one uncertain
digit, should be rounded off.

Rule: If the digit to be dropped is >5 the preceding digit is raised by 1

and is left unchanged if it is < 5.
If it is 5 and the preceding digit is even, it is simply dropped
.................... is odd, the preceding digit is raised by 1

Eg 4.28 - 4.3
4.24 - 4.2
4.25 - 4.2
4.15 - 4.2
Dimensions
of a physical quantity are the powers to which the fundamental
quantities are raised to represent that quantity
An expression in which dimensions of a physical quantity is represented
in terms of fundamental quantities is called dimensional formula of that
quantity.

Eg: DF of Volume is [ L3 ]
Dimension of volume in length is 3

An equation obtained by equating a physical quantity with its

dimensional formula is called dimensional equation

[ V ] = [ L3 ]

[ ρ ] = [ M L-3 ] or [ M L-3 T0 ] ρ = m = M = M L-3

V L3
Dimensional Analysis

Principle of homogeneity of dimensions – The dimensions of all terms

on the two sides of an equation must be same.

Physical quantities can be added or subtracted only if they have same

dimensions.

Applications:
1. Convert a unit from one system to another
2. Check the correctness of an equation
3. Deduce relations among different physical quantities

Convert a unit from one system to another :

Eg 1: Convert 1 dyne (CGS unit of force) into newton

DF of force [ ML T-2 ]
Let the units of length, mass and time be L1 ,M1 and T1 in CGS system and
L2 , M2 and T2 in MKS system.
1 newton M2 L2 T2-2 M2 L2 T2-2
= = = 1 kg 1m 1 s-2
1 dyne M1 L1 T1 -2 M1 L1 T1 -2
1g 1cm 1 s-2

= 1000 g 100 cm 5
= 10
1 g 1 cm

1 newton 10 5
=
1 dyne

1 newton = 10 5 5
1 newton = 10 dyne
or 1 dyne = 10 - 5 N
Eg 2 : Convert 1 erg (CGS unit of energy) into joule

DF of Energy [ M L2 T-2 ]

Let the units of length, mass and time be L1 ,M1 and T1 in CGS
system and L2 , M2 and T2 in MKS system
1 joule M2 L2 T2-2 M2 L2 2 T2-2
= = = 1 kg 1m2 1 s-2
1 erg M1 L1 T1 -2 M1 L1 2 T1 -2
1g 1cm2 1 s-2

= 1000 g 100x 100 cm 2 10 7

=
1 g 1 cm 2

1 joule 10 7
=
1 erg

1 newton = 10
7 5
1 joule = 10 erg
or 1 erg = 10 - 7 J
HW : Q: Convert SI unit of density into CGS system

kg m -3 to g cm-3

Check the correctness of an equation:

Q: Check whether the equation is dimensionally correct.

1 m v 2 = mgh ( m= mass, v= velocity, g=acceleration

2 h= height )
DF of m = [ M ]
v = [ L T -1 ]
g = [ L T -2 ]
h=[L]

Dimensions of LHS = [ M ] [ L T -1 ] 2 = [ M L 2 T -2 ]
Dimensions of RHS = [ M ] [ L T -2 ] [ L ] = [ M L 2 T -2 ]

Dimensions of LHS = Dimensions of RHS

Hence the equation is dimensionally correct
Q2:
s =ut + 1 at 2 ( s = displacement, u = initial velocity,
2 a=acceleration , t = time )
[s]=[L]
[ u ] = [ L T -1 ]
[ a ] = [ L T -2 ]
[t]=[T]

LHS = [ L ]
RHS = [ L T -1 ] [ T ] + [ L T -2 ] [ T ] 2

= [L]+[L]
=[L]

Dimensions of LHS = dimensions of RHS

Hence the equation is dimensionally correct

HW : v = u + at
W = Ft
Deduce relations among different physical quantities:

We can deduce a relation, if we know the dependence of the physical

quantity on other quantities (upto three only)
Eg 1: Consider that the period of oscillation of a simple pendulum
depends on its length( l ), accelration due to gravity (g) and mass of the
bob (m) Derive the expression for its time period using dimensions.

T α la [l] = [L]
T α mb [m] = [M]
T α gc [ g ] = [ LT-2 ]
T α l a mb g c [ T ] = [T ]

T = k l a mb g c ................................(1)
Considering dimensions on both sides,
[ L 0 M 0 T 1 ] = [ L 1] a [M 1 ] b [ L 1 T - 2 ] c

[ L0 M0 T1 ] = La+c M b T-2 c
Equating dimensions on both sides,

a + c =0 b= 0 -2c = 1
c= -1
2

a + c =0
a–1=0
2
a = 1 Substituting for a, b, c in (1)
2
T = k l 1/2 m0 g -1/2 ( T does not depend on mass)
T=k l
√ g
Actually, k = 2π

T = 2π l
√ g
HW :Eg 2: Consider that the frequency of oscillation of a simple
pendulum depends on its length( l ), accelration due to gravity (g) and
mass of the bob (m) Derive the expression for its frequency (f ) using
dimensions.

[ f ] = [ T-1 ]
Eg 3: Consider that the kinetic energy of a body depends on its velocity (v) and
mass (m) Derive the expression for its KE using dimensions.
K α ma
K α vb [m] = [M]
[ v ] = [ LT-1 ]
K α ma v b
K =k ma vb ..........................(1) [ K ] = [ M L2 T-2 ]
Considering dimensions on both sides,
[ M L 2 T - 2 ] = [ M] a [ L T - 1 ] b
[ M L2 T- 2 ] = Ma Lb T– b

Equating dimensions on both sides,

a=1
b=2
Substituting for a, b, in (1)
K =k m v2
k=½
K =1 m v2
2
Limitations of dimensional analysis

1. The value of dimensionless constants cannot be determined by this

method
2. It cannot be used for relationships involving exponential &
trigonometric functions
3. If the physical quantity depends on more than three quantitites , this
method cannot be used.
4. It can check only whether a physical relation is dimensionally
correct or not and not the absolute correctness.
Conversion of units:

1. Volume of a cube of side 1 cm = ........... m3

2. Surface area of a solid cylinder of radius 2.0 cm and height 10.0 cm

= ......... mm2
A = 2πr (r+h)

3.A vehicle moving with a speed of 18 km h-1 covers ........m in 1 s

4.Relative density of lead is 11.3 .Its density is .........g cm-3 or kg m-3
1. 1X10-6 m3

2. 1.5 x 104 mm2

3. 5 m

4. 11.3 g cm-3 and 1.13 x 104 kg m-3

Convert units :

1. 1 kg m2 s - 2 = ........... g cm2 s- 2

2. 1 m = .........ly

3. 3.0 m s – 2 = ....... km h- 2
4. G = 6.67 x 10 – 11 N m2 kg - 2 = ............ cm3 s- 2 g- 1