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DIMENSIONS

The document discusses dimensions of physical quantities. It defines dimensions as the powers to which base quantities like length, mass, and time are raised to represent a physical quantity. It also defines dimensional formulae as expressions showing the base quantities that represent dimensions of a physical quantity. Dimensional equations equate a physical quantity with its dimensional formula. Dimensional analysis can be used to check the consistency of equations and deduce relations among physical quantities.

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Akhil Yadav
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69 views19 pages

DIMENSIONS

The document discusses dimensions of physical quantities. It defines dimensions as the powers to which base quantities like length, mass, and time are raised to represent a physical quantity. It also defines dimensional formulae as expressions showing the base quantities that represent dimensions of a physical quantity. Dimensional equations equate a physical quantity with its dimensional formula. Dimensional analysis can be used to check the consistency of equations and deduce relations among physical quantities.

Uploaded by

Akhil Yadav
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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UNITS AND MEASUREMENT

DIMENSIONS OF PHYSICAL
QUANTITIES
DIMENSIONS OF PHYSICAL QUANTITIES

The dimensions of a physical quantity are the


powers (or exponents) to which the base
quantities are raised to represent that
quantity.
Length has the dimension [L], mass [M], time
[T], electric current [A], thermodynamic
temperature [K], luminous intensity [cd], and
amount of substance [mol].
In mechanics, all the physical quantities can be
written in terms of dimensions [L], [M] and [T].
Example: the volume occupied by an object is
expressed as the product of length, breadth
and height, or three lengths. Hence the
dimensions of volume are [L] × [L] × [L] = [L]3 =
[L3 ]. As the volume is independent of mass and
time, mass [M°], and time [T°] and three
dimensions in length.
Similarly, force, as the product of mass and
acceleration, can be expressed as
Force = mass × acceleration
= mass × (length)/(time)2
The dimensions of force are
[M] [L]/[T]2 = [M L T –2 ]
Note that in this type of representation, the
magnitudes are not considered.
DIMENSIONAL FORMULAE AND DIMENSIONAL EQUATIONS

DIMENSIONAL FORMULAE
The expression which shows how and which of the base
quantities represent the dimensions of a physical
quantity is called the dimensional formula of the given
physical quantity.
Example: the dimensional formula of the
volume is [M° L3 T°]
speed or velocity is [M° L T-1]
acceleration is [M° L T–2]
mass density is [M L–3 T°]
DIMENSIONAL EQUATIONS

An equation obtained by equating a physical


quantity with its dimensional formula is called
the dimensional equation of the physical
quantity.
Thus, the dimensional equations are the
equations, which represent the dimensions of
a physical quantity in terms of the base
quantities.
Example: the dimensional equations of volume
[V], speed [v], force [F] and mass density [ρ]
may be expressed as
[V] = [M0 L3 T0 ]
[v] = [M0 L T–1]
[F] = [M L T–2]
[ρ] = [M L–3 T0 ]
DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND ITS APPLICATIONS

The recognition of concepts of dimensions,


which guide the description of physical
behaviour is of basic importance as only those
physical quantities can be added or subtracted
which have the same dimensions.
A thorough understanding of dimensional
analysis helps us in deducing certain relations
among different physical quantities and
checking the derivation,
When magnitudes of two or more physical
quantities are multiplied, their units should be
treated in the same manner as ordinary
algebraic symbols. We can cancel identical units
in the numerator and denominator. The same is
true for dimensions of a physical quantity.
Similarly, physical quantities represented by
symbols on both sides of a mathematical
equation must have the same dimensions.
Checking the Dimensional Consistency of Equations

The magnitudes of physical quantities may be


added together or subtracted from one
another only if they have the same
dimensions.
In other words, we can add or subtract similar
physical quantities. Thus, velocity cannot be
added to force.
The principle of homogeneity of dimensions in
an equation is extremely useful in checking the
correctness of an equation.
If the dimensions of all the terms are not same,
the equation is wrong.
If we derive an expression for the length of an
object, when all the individual dimensions are
simplified, the remaining dimension must be
that of length.
Similarly, if we derive an equation of speed, the
dimensions on both the sides of equation,
when simplified, must be of length/ time, or
[L T–1].
Dimensions are used as a preliminary test of
the consistency of an equation, when there is
some doubt about the correctness of the
equation.
Now we can test the dimensional consistency or
homogeneity of the equation.
x = x0 + v0t + (1/2) at2
[ x] = [L]
[ X0] = [L]
[v0t] = [LT-1][T] = [L]
[(1/2)at2] = [LT-2][T2] = [L]
LHS = RHS
Numerical
Question:
Let us consider an equation
½ mv2 = mgh
where m is the mass of the body, v its velocity,
g is the acceleration due to gravity and h is the
height. Check whether this equation is
dimensionally correct.
Soln:
Deducing Relation among the Physical Quantities

The method of dimensions can sometimes be


used to deduce relation among the physical
quantities. For this we should know the
dependence of the physical quantity on other
quantities (upto three physical quantities or
linearly independent variables) and consider it
as a product type of the dependence.
Numerical
Question: Consider a simple pendulum, having a
bob attached to a string, that oscillates under
the action of the force of gravity. Suppose that
the period of oscillation of the simple
pendulum depends on its length (l), mass of
the bob (m) and acceleration due to gravity
(g). Derive the expression for its time period
using method of dimensions.
Soln:

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