AGRAWAL PHYSICS FOR COMPE. VOL.

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CHAPTER-1 (UNITS AND DIMENSIONS)
QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS
1. (a) Can there be a physical quantity which has no unit and dimensions ? (b) Can a physical quantity have unit
without having dimensions ? Ans. (a) Yes, strain (b) Yes, angle
with units radian
2. Name the smallest and largest unit of length Ans. fermi, Parsec
3. In which system mass is derived physical quantity and what is its unit ?
Ans. FPS Engg; slug
4. The columns in (A) and (B) are already matched (B) should be jumbled
(A) (B) Ans. (a) Base unit N
(a) kg (b) Derived unit hp (b) N (c) Improper unit
kg wt (c) kg wt (d) Practical unit rad (d) hp (e)
Supplementary unit kg (e) rad
5. Express the power of 100 W bulb in CGS units with proper prefix
Ans. 1 G erg/s
6. What is the weight of a body midway between the weights of 1 kg and 16 kg ?
(a) on the ordinary scale (b) on the logarthmic scale Ans. (a) 8.5 kg , (b) 4 kg
7. The SI unit of energy is joule while CGS unit is erg. How many erg are there in a joule ?
Ans. 1 J = 107 erg
8. (a) Find the dimensions of Planck constant h, (b) If its value in CGS system is 6.62 × 10–27 unit, what will be its
value in MKS system ? Ans. (a) [ML2T–1], (b) 6.62 × 10–34
J-s
9. Calculate the dimensions of universal gravitational constant G. What is the value of G in SI units if its value in
CGS system is 6.67 × 10–8 units ? Ans. [M–1L3T–2]; 6.67 × 10–11 SI
units]
10. The CGS unit of viscosity is poise (P). Find how many poise are there in 1 MKS unit of viscosity called poiseuille
(PI) ? Ans. 10 poise
11. In a new system of units called Star units 1 kg = 10 kg; 1 m = 1 km and 1s = 1 minute. What will be the value of
1 J of energy in this new system ? Ans. 3.6 × 10–4 J
12. What will be the dimensional formula for mass if we choose length L, time T, and force F as fundamental
quantities ? Ans. FL–1T2
13. What are the dimensions and SI units of vander Waal’s constants a and b ?
Ans. [a] = [ML5T–2µ–2] and units J m3/mol2 while [b] = [L3µ–1] and units m3/mol]
14. Assuming that in case of motion of blunt bodies in air aerodynamic drag depends on effective area A of the body,
the speed of body relative to air v and density of air σ, show by method of dimensions
D = KσAv2 Note : Experimentally K = (1/2)C
where C is dimensionless drag coefficient and has value about 0.5 for spherical objects but can be upto 2 for
irregular bodies]
15. The time of oscillation of a small drop if liquid under surface tension depends upon the density ρ, radius r and
surface tension S as T ∝ ρaSbrc
Find out a, b and c Ans. a = (1/2), b = (–1/2)
and c = (3/2)
16. A large fluid star oscillates in shape under the influence of its own gravitational field. Using dimensional analysis
find the expression for period of oscillation in terms of radiusof star R, mean density of fluid ρ and universal
gravitational constant G. Ans. T = K(Gρ)–1/2
17. (a) Construct an expression foro a quantity having the dimensions of length starting from velocity of light c, the
mass of an electron m and Planck’s constant h, (b) Evaluate the value of this length taking constant of
proportionality to be unity. M = 9.1 × 10–31 kg, c = 3 × 108 m/s and h = 6.63 × 10–34 J-s.
[This wavelength is called Compton wavelength and plays an important role in
atomic physics] Ans. (a) λc = (h/mc), (b) λc = 2.43 × 10–12 m
18. If the speed of light c ( = 3 × 10 m/s), Planck’s constant h = (6.6 × 10–34 J-s) and gravittional constant G (= 6.67
8

× 10–11 MKS units) are chosen as the fundamental quantities, find out the dimensions and value of units of
(a) mass, and (b) time in this system Ans. (a)Qm = (ch/G)1/2 ~ 10–7 kg, Qt
= (Gh/c ) ~ 10 s
5 1/2 –4
19. Write the dimensions of each of the following in terms of mass, length, time and charge
(a) Magnetic flux (b) Rigidity modulus Ans. (a) [ML2T–1Q–1], (b) [ML–1T–
2
]
20. Match the physical quantities given in Column I with dimensions expressed in
I II (a) Angular momentum (a) ML2T–2
(b) Latent heat (b) ML Q2 –2
(c) Torque (c)
ML2T–1 (d) Capacitance (d) ML2T–1Q–2 (e) Inductance
(e) M–1L–2T2Q2 (f) Resistivity (f) L2T–2 Ans. (a)
Angular momentum → [ML T ], (b) Latent heat → [L T ], (c) Torque → [ML2T–2], (d) Capacitance → [M–1L–
2 –1 2 –2

T Q ], (e) Inductance → [ML2Q–2], (f) Resistivity →[ML3T–1Q–2]

2 2 2

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21. Check the correctness of the relation c=
µ 0ε 0
(a) dimensionally and (b) numerically Ans. Correct both dimensionally
and numerically
22. The frequency of vibration f of a mass m suspended from a spring of spring constant k is given by a relation of
the type f = cmxky, where c is a dimensionless constant. Find the values of constants x and y.
1 1
Ans. x = − , y =
2 2
23. State whether the following statement is true or false. Give very brief reason in support of your answer
e2
The quantity is dimensionless. Here e, h and c are electronic charge, Planck’s constant and velocity
2ε 0 hc
of light respectively and ε0 is the permittivity constant of free space. Ans. True [This quantity is a
universal constant called fine structure constant (=1/137) and plays an important role in atomic physics]
24. Fill in the blanks: (a) The units of angular momentum in CGS
system are ….. (b) The siemen is the SI
unit for ……. (c) SI unit of magnetic-flux is ….. (d)
Symbols for the units poise, poiseuille and pascal are respectively ….
(e) The dimensional formula for potential energy is … (f) Energy density and pressure have
dimensions …. (g) Dimensions of time in power is ….. (h) Planck’s
constant has dimensions …. (i) The dimensional formula of the universal constant of
gravitation is …. (j) Three physical quantities which have
same dimensions are …. (k) Mention a scalar and a vector
physical quantity having same dimensions ….. (l) ohm × farad is
dimensionally equal to …. (m) Dimensional analysis of the equation :
(velocity)x = (pressure difference)3/2 × (density)–3/2 gives the value of x as ….
(n) The unit of an electrical parameter whose dimensional formula is ML2T–3 A–2 is …..
(o) The dimension of (L/RCV) is …. (p) One hp = …. Watt = …. Ft-lb/s.
(q) There are …. Erg in a kilowatt-hour. ( r) One electron volt is equal to ….
Joule. Ans. (a) erg × s (b) electrical conductance (c) weber (d) P, PI and Pa (e) [ML2T–
2
] (f) [ML–1T–2] (g) –3 (h) [ML2T–1 ] (i) [M–1L3T–2] (i) work, energy and torque (k) work and torque (l) second
ML2T −2 W V
(m) 3 (n) ML2T–3A–2 → 2
→ → → ohm (o)
A T aA A
L L 1 1  T 
→ × → [T] × → → [A −1 ] (p) 746 and 550 (q) 3.6 × 1013 ( r) 1.6 × 10–19
RCV R CV [q]  AT 