UNITS AND DIMENSIONS

PHYSICAL QUANTITIES
All the quantities which are used to describe the laws of physics are known as physical quantities.
Classification : Physical quantities can be classified on the following bases :
I. Based on t heir direct ional proper t ie s
1. Scalars : The physical quantities which have only magnitude but no direction are called scalar
quantities .
e.g. mass, density, volume, time, etc.
2. Vectors : The physical quantities which have both magnitude and direction and obey laws of
vector alzebra are called vector quantities .
e.g. displacement, force, velocity, etc.
II Based on their dependency
1. Fundamental or base quantities : The quantities which do not depend upon other quantities
for their complete definition are known as fundamental or base quantities .
e.g. length, mass, time, etc.
2. Derived quantities : The quantities which can be expressed in terms of the fundamental quantities
are known as derived quantities .
e.g. Speed (=distance/time), volume, accelaration, force, pressure, etc.

GOLDEN KEY POINTS

 Physical quantities can also be classified as dimensional or dimensionless and constant or variable.
 Some physical quantities can not be completely specified even by specifying their magnitude, unit and
direction. These quantities behave neither as a scalar nor as a vector and are called tensors. e.g. Moment
of Inertia. It is not a scalar as it has different values in different directions (i.e.about different axes). It is not
a vector as changing the sense of rotation (i.e. clockwise or anti clockwise) does not change its value.

Q. Classify the quantities displacement, mass, force, time, speed, velocity, accelaration, moment of intertia, pressure
and work under the following categories :
(a) base and scalar (b) base and vector
(c) derived and scalar (d) derived and vector
A n s . (a) mass, time (b) displacement
(c) speed, pressure, work (d) force, velocity, accelaration
UNITS OF PHYSICAL QUANTITIES
The chosen reference standard of measurement in multiples of which, a physical quantity is expressed is called
the unit of that quantity.
System of Units :
1. FPS or British Engineering system :
In this system length, mass and time are taken as fundamental quantities and their base units are foot (ft),
pound (lb) and second (s) respectively.
2. CGS or Gaussian system :
In this system the fundamental quantities are length, mass and time and their respective units are centi-
metre (cm), gram (g) and second (s).
3. MKS system :
In this system also the fundamental quantities are length, mass and time but their fundamental units are
metre (m), kilogram (kg) and second (s) respectively.
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 4. Internat ional system (SI) of unit s :
This system is modification over the MKS system and so it is also known as Rationalised MKS system.
Besides the three base units of MKS system four fundamental and two supplementary units are also
included in this system.
SI BASE QUANTITIES AND THEIR UNITS
S. No. Physical quantity Unit Symbol
1. Length metre m
2. Mass kilogram kg
3. Time second s
4. Temperature kelvin K
5. Electric current ampere A
6. Luminous intensity candela cd
7. Amount of substance mole mol

While defining a base unit or standard for a physical quantity the following characteristics must be considered :
(i) Well defined (ii) Invariability (constancy)
(iii) Accessibility (easy availability) (iv) Reproducibility (v) Convenience in use
Classification of Units : The units of physical quantities can be classified as follows :
1. Fundamental or base units :
The units of fundamental quantities are called base units. In SI there are seven base units.
2. Derived units :
The units of derived quantities or the units that can be expressed in terms of the base units are called
derived units .

unit of distance metre

e.g. unit of speed =   ms 1
unit of time second

Some derived units are named in honour of great scientists.

e.g. unit of force - newton (N), unit of frequency - hertz (Hz), etc.
3. Supplementary units :
In SI two supplementary units are also defined viz. radian (rad) for plane angle and steradian (sr) for solid
angle.
(i) radian : 1 radian is the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc equal in length to the
radius of the circle.
(ii) steradian : 1 steradian is the solid angle subtended at the centre of a sphere, by that surface of
the sphere which is equal in area to the square of the radius of the sphere.
4. Practical units :
Due to the fixed sizes of SI units, some practical units are also defined for both fundamental and derived
quantities. e.g. light year (ly) is a practical unit of distance (a fundamental quantity) and horse power (hp)
is a practical unit of power (a derived quantity).
Practical units may or may not belong to a particular system of units but can be expressed in any system
of units.
e.g. 1 mile = 1.6 km = 1.6 × 103 m = 1.6 × 105 cm.

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 5. Improper unit s :
These are the units which are not of the same nature as that of the physical quantities for which they are
used.
e.g. kg - wt is an improper unit of weight. Here kg is a unit of mass but it is used to measure the weight
(force).

UNITS OF SOME PHYSICAL QUANTITIES IN DIFFERENT SYSTEMS

Type of Physical CGS MKS FPS

Physical Quantity (Originated in France) (Originated in France) (Originated in Britain)
Quantity
Fundamental Length cm m ft
Mass g kg lb
Time s s s
Derived Force dyne newton (N) poundal
Work or erg joule  (J) ft - poundal
Energy
Power erg/s watt  (W) ft - poundal/s

Conversion factors :
To convert a physical quantity from one set of units to the other, the required multiplication factor is called
conversion factor .
Magnitude of a physical quantity = numeric value (n) × unit (u)
While conversion from one set of units to the other the magnitude of the quantity must remain same. Therefore

1
n1 u 1 = n 2 u 2 or nu = constant or n
u
That is the numeric value of a physical quantity is inversely proportional to the base unit.
e.g. 1 m = 100 cm = 3.28 ft = 39.4 inch
(SI) (CGS) (FPS)
Some important conversion factors :
Length :
(i) 1 m = 100 cm = 1000 mm = 3.28 ft. = 39.37 in = 1.0936 yd (yard)
(ii) 1 km = 0.6215 mi (mile)
(iii) 1 mi = 1609 m
(iv) 1 n mi (nautical mile ) = 1852 m
(v) 1 in = 2.54 cm
(vi) 1 ft = 12 in = 30.48 cm.
(vii) 1 yd = 3 ft = 91.44 cm.
(viii) 1 m (micron) = 10–6m
(ix) 1 Å = 10–10 m = 0.1 nm
(x) 1 fermi = 10–15 m
(xi) 1 bohr radius = 0.529 Å
(xii) 1 AU (Astronomical unit) = 1.49 × 1011 m (Average distance between sun and earth)
(xiii) 1 ly (light year) = 9.461 × 1015 m (Distance travelled by light in vacuum in one year)
(xiv) 1 parsec or parallactic second = 3.08 × 10 16m = 3.26 ly (Distance at which an arc of length 1AU
subtends an angle of one second at a point)

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 Mass :
(i) 1 kg. = 1000 g = 2.2 lb (pound)
(ii) 1 quintal = 100 kg
(iii) 1 ton = 907.2 kg
(iv) 1 metric tonne = 1000 kg = 106 g
(v) 1 lb = 454 g
(vi) 1 slug = 14.59 kg
(vii) 1 ounce = 28.35 g
(viii) 1 amu = 1.6606 × 10–27 kg = 931.5 MeV./c2`
(ix) 1 Chandra Shekhar Limit = 1.4 M sun
Time :
(i) 1 h = 60 min = 3600 s
(ii) 1 d = 24 h = 1440 min = 86.4 × 103 s
(iii) 1 y = 365.24 d = 31.56 × 106 s
(iv) 1 shake = 10–8 s
Area :
(i) 1 m2 = 10 4 cm 2
(ii) 1 km 2 = 0.386 mi 2 = 247 acres
(iii) 1 acres = 43,560 ft 2 = 4047m 2 = 0.4047 hectare
(iv) 1 hectare = 104 m2 = 2.47 acres
(v) 1 barn = 10–28 m2 (for measuring cross-sectional areas in sub-atomic particle collisions)
Volume :

(i) 1 m3 = 10 6 cm 3 = 106 cc = 103 L = 35.31 ft3

(ii) 1 gal (gallon) = 3.786 L (in U.S.A.) or 4.54 L (in U.K.)

Density :

(i) 1 kg m-3 = 10–3 g cm–3 = 10–3 kg L–1

Speed :

(i) 1 km h–1 = 5/18 or 0.2778 m s –1 = 0.6215 mi h –1

(ii) 1 mi h–1 = 0.4470 m s–1 = 1.609 km h–1 = 1.467 ft s–1

(iii) 1 m s–1 = 18/5 or 3.6 km h–1 = 2.24 mi h–1

Angle and angular speed :

(i)  rad = 180 0

(ii) 1 rad = 180°/ or 57.30 0

(iii) 10 = 1.745 × 10–2 rad = 60' = 1/360 revolution

(iv) 1 rev = 360° = 2 rad

(v) 1' (min) = 60" (second)

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(vi) 1 rev min–1 = 0.1047 rad s–1  0.1 rad s–1
(vii) 1 rad s–1 = 9.549 rev min–1

Accelaration :

(i) g = 9.8 m s–2 (MKS unit) = 980 cm s–2 (CGS unit) = 32 ft s–2 (FPS unit)

Force :

(i) 1 N = 10 5 dyne = 7.23 poundal

(ii) 1 kg – wt = 1 kg – f = 9.8 N

(iii) 1 g – wt =1g–f = 980 dyne

(iv) 1 lb – wt = 1 lb – f = 32 poundal

Pre ssure :

(i) 1 Pa = 1 N m–2 = 10 dyne cm–2

(ii) 1 bar = 105 Pa = 106 dyne cm–2

(iii) 1 atm = 1.01325 bar = 1.01 × 105 Pa = 1.01 × 106 dyne cm–2

= 760 mm of Mercury

(iv) 1 torr = 1 mm of Hg column = 153.32 Pa

Work energy :
(i) 1 J = 107 erg = 0.239 cal
(ii) 1 cal = 4.186 J
(iii) 1 eV = 1.6 × 10–19 J
(iv) 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ = 860 kcal
(v) 1 amu = 931 MeV = 1.492 × 10–10 J
(vi) 1 Btu (British thermal unit) = 1055 J
Power :
(i) 1 hp (horse power) = 745.7 W  746 W
(ii) 1 W (watt) = 1 J/s
(iii) 1 kW = 1000 W = 1.34 hp
(iv) 1 cal s–1 = 4.186 W
Temperature :
(i) K (kelvin) = [°C + 273°] = [°F + 459.67 ]/1.8 = °R/1.8

9
(ii) °F = °C × + 32
5

(iii) °R (rankine) = °F + 459.67

Electric charge :
(i) 1 C (coulomb) = 3 × 109 stat coulomb = 0.1 ab coulomb

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 (ii) 1 esu = 1 stat coulomb = 3.33 × 10–10 coulomb
(iii) 1 emu = 1 ab coulomb = 10 coulomb
(iv) 1 A-h = 3600 C (coulomb)
Electric Cur rent :
(i) 1 A (ampere) = 3 × 109 stat ampere ( esu of current)
= 0.1 ab ampere ( emu of current)
Radioactivity :
(i) 1 Bq (bacquerel) = 1 dps (disintegration per second)
(ii) 1 Ci (curie) = 3.7 × 1010 dps = 3.7 × 1010 Bq = 3.7 × 104 Rd
(iii) 1 Rd (rutherford) = 106 dps = 106 Bq
Others :
(i) 1 weber = 108 maxwell (for Magnetic flux )
(ii) 1 T (tesla) = 1 weber/m2 = 104 G (gauss) (for Magnetic flux density )
(iii) 1 orested = 79.554 A/m (for Intensity of Magnetic field )
(iv) 1 poiseuille (N-s/m2 or Pa-s) = 10 poise (Dyne-s/cm2) ( for Viscosity)
Ex. The accelaration due to gravity is 9.8 m s –2 . Give its value in ft s –2
S o l . As 1m = 3.2 ft
 9.8 m/s2 = 9.8 × 3.28 ft/s2 = 32.14 ft/s2  32 ft/s2
Q. The value of Gravitational constant G in MKS system is 6.67 × 10–11 N-m2/kg2 . What will be its value in CGS
system ? (6.67 × 10–8 cm3/g s 2)
Q. Name the smallest and largest units of length. (fermi a nd par sec)
Q. Match the type of unit (column A) with its corresponding example (column B)

(A) (B)
(a) Base unit (i) N
(b) Derived unit (ii) hp
(c) Improper unit (iii) kg - wt
(d) Practical unit (iv) rad
(e) Supplementary unit (v) kg
A n s . (a) kg (b) N (c) kg – wt (d) hp (e) rad.

DIMENSIONS
Dimensions of a physical quantity are the powers (or exponents) to which the base quantities are raised to
represent that quantity.
1. Dimensional formula : The dimensional formula of any physical quantity is that expression which represents how
and which of the base quantities are included in that quantity.
It is written by enclosing the symbols for base quantities with appropriate powers in square brackets i.e. [ ]
e. g. Dim. formula of mass is [M1L0 T0 ] and that of speed (= distance/time) is [M0L1T–1]
2. Dimensional equation : The equation obtained by equating a physical quantity with its dimensional formula
is called a dimensional equation . e.g. [v] = [M0L1T –1]
For example [F] = [MLT–2] is a dimensional equation, [MLT –2] is the dimensional formula of the force and the
dimensions of force are 1 in mass, 1 in length and –2 in time

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3. Applications of dimensional analysis :
1. To convert a physical quantity from one system of units to the other :

This is based on a fact that magnitude of a physical quantity remains same whatever system is used
for measurement i.e.
n2 = numerical value in II system
magnitude = numeric value (n) × unit (u) = constant n1 = numerical value in I system
M1 = unit of mass in I system
or n1u1 = n2u2 M2 = unit of mass in II system
L1 = unit of length in I system
So if a quantity is represented by [MaLbTc] then L2 = unit of length in II system
T1 = unit of time in I system
a b c
u1 M  L  T  T2 = unit of time in II system
n 2  n1  n1  1   1   1 
u2  M 2   L 2   T2 

2. To check the dimensional correctness of a given physical relation :

If in a given relation, the terms on both the sides have the same dimensions, then the relation is
dimensionally correct. This is known as the principle of homogeneity of dimensions .

3. To derive relationship between different physical quantities :

Using the same principle of homogeneity of dimensions new relations among physical quantities can be
derived if the dependent quantities are known.
Limitations of this method :
(i) This method can be used only if the dependency is of multiplication type. The formulae containing
exponential, trignometrical and logarithmic functions can't be derived using this method. Formulae
containing more than one term which are added or subtracted like s = ut +at2 /2 also can't be
derived.
(ii) The relation derived from this method gives no information about the dimensionless constants.

SETS OF QUANTITIES HAVING SA ME DIMENSIONS

S.No. Quantities Dimensions

1. Strain, refractive index, relative density, angle, solid angle, phase, [ M0 L0 T0]
distance gradient, relative permeability, relative permittivity, angle of contact,
Reynolds number, coefficient of friction, mechanical equivalent of heat,
electric susceptibility, etc.
2. Mass and inertia [ M1 L0 T0]
3. Momentum and impulse. [ M1 L1 T–1]
4. Thrust, force, weight, tension, energy gradient. [ M1 L1 T–2]
5. Pressure, stress, Young's modulus, bulk modulus, shear modulus, [ M1 L–1 T–2]
modulus of rigidity, energy density.
6. Angular momentum and Planck's constant (h). [ M1 L2 T–1]
7. Accelaration, g and gravitational field intensity. [ M0 L1 T–2]
8. Surface tension, free surface energy (energy per unit area), force gradient, [ M1 L0 T–2]
spring constant.

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 9. Latent heat and gravitational potential. [ M0 L2 T–2]

10. Thermal capacity, Boltzman constant, entropy. [ ML 2 T –2K –1]

11. Work, torque, internal energy, potential energy, kinetic energy, moment of [M1 L2 T–2]

V2
force, (q /C), (LI ), (qV), (V C), (I Rt), (
2 2 2 2 t ) , (VIt), (PV), (RT), (mL), (mc T)
R
12. Frequency, angular frequency, angular velocity, velocity gradient, radioactivity, [M0 L0 T–1]

R 1 1
( ), ( ), ( ).
L RC LC

12 12
 l  m
12
R L
13.   ,   ,   ,   , (RC), ( LC ) , time [ M0 L0 T1]
 g k  g  R

14. (VI), (I2R), (V2/R), Power [ M L2 T–3]

DIMENSIONS OF IMPORTANT PH YSICAL QUANTITIES

Physical quantity Dimensions Physical quantity Dimensions

Momentum M1 L1 T–1 Capacitance M–1 L–2 T4 A2

Calorie M1 L2 T–2 Modulus of rigidity M1 L–1 T–2

Latent heat M0 L2 T–2 Magnetic permeabillity M1 L1 T –2A–2

Self inductance M1 L2 T –2A–2 Pressure M1 L–1 T–2

Coefficient of thermal conductivity M1 L1 T –3K–1 Planck's constant M1 L2 T–1

Power M1 L2 T–3 Solar constant M1 L0 T–3

Impulse M1 L1 T–1 Magnetic flux M L2 T–2 A–1

Hole mobility in a semi conductor M–1 L0 T2 A1 Current density M0 L–2 T–1 Q

Bulk modulus of elasticity M L–1 T–2 Young modulus M1 L–1 T–2

Potential energy M L2 T–2 Magnetic field intensity M0 L–1 T0 A1

Gravitational constant M–1 L3 T–2 Light year M0 L1 T0

Thermal resistance M–1 L–2 T–3  Permittivity M–1 L–3 T4 A2

1
Coefficient of viscosity M1 L–1 T–1  0 E 2 (0 = permittivityy M1 L–1 T–2
2

Resistance ML 2 T –3A –2 of free space and E

= electric field)

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 UNITS OF IMPORTANT PH YSICAL QUANTITIES

Physical quantity Unit Physical quantity Unit

Angular acceleration rad s–2 Frequency hertz

Moment of inertia kg – m2 Resistance kg m2 A–2 s–3

Self inductance henry Surface tension newton/m

Magnetic flux weber Universal gas constant joule K –1 mol–1

Pole strength A-m Dipole moment coulomb-meter

Viscosity poise Stefan constant watt m–2 K–4

Reactance ohm Permitivity of free space coulomb 2 /N-m 2

Specific heat J/kg°C

Strength of magnetic field newton A–1 m –1 Planck's constant joule-sec

Astronomical distance parsec

Ex. Convert 1 newton (SI unit of force) into dyne (CGS unit of force)
S o l . The dimensional equation of force is [F] = [M1 L1 T–2]
Therefore if n1, u1, and n2, u2 corresponds to SI & CGS units respectively, then

1 1 2 2
 M1   L 1   T1   kg   m   s 
n2 = n1       = 1     = 1 × 1000 × 100 × = 105
 M 2   L 2   T2   g   cm   s 
 1 newton = 105 dyne.

L
Ex. Check the accuracy of the relation T = 2  for a simple pendulum using dimensional analysis.
g

S o l . The dimensions of LHS = the dimension of T = [M0 L0 T1]

12
 dimensions of length 
The dimensions of RHS =   ( 2 is a dimensionless const.)
 dimensions of acceleration 

12
 L 
=  2  = (T 2 )1 2 = [T] =[ M0 L0 T1]
 LT 

Since the dimensions are same on both the sides, the relation is correct.
Ex. Find relationship between speed of sound in a medium (v), the elastic constant (E) and the density of the
medium ().
S o l . Let the speed depends upon elastic constant & density according to the relation
v Eab or v = KEab K = a dimensionless constant of proportionality
Considering dimensions of the quantities [v] = M0 L T–1

1 1 2
[force] [M L T ]
2
[stress] [area] [L ]
  1
 [M1 L1 T 2 ]
[E] = [strain] [ ] [L ]  [Ea] = [Ma L–a T –2a]
[] 1
[L ]
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  [] = [mass]/[volume] = [M]/[L3] = [M1 L–3 T 0]
 [b] = [Mb L–3b T0]
Equating the dimensions of the LHS and RHS quantities of equation (1), we get
[M0 L1 T–1] = [Ma L–a T–2a] [Mb L–3b T0] or [M0 L1 T–1] = [Ma+b L–a–3b T–2a]
 a + b = 0 , – a – 3b = 1 and –2a = –1

1 1 E
On solving a= ,b =  so the required relation is v = K
2 2 

Q. Match the following :

(i) Dimensional variable (a) 
(ii) Dimensionless variable (b) Force
(iii) Dimensional constant (c) Angle
(iv) Dimensionless constant (d) Gravitational constant
A n s . (i) (b) (ii) (c) (iii) (d) (iv) (a)
Q. Find the dimensions of the following quantities :
(a) Temperature (b) Kinetic energy (c) Pressure (d) Angular speed
A n s . (a) [M0 L0 T0K1] (b) [M L2 T–2] (c) [M L–1 T–2] (d) [M0 L0 T–1]
Q. Find the dimensions of Planck's constant (h).
A n s . [M L2 T–1]
Q. Centripetal force (F) on a body of mass (m) moving with uniform speed (v) in a circle of radius (r) depends upon
m, v and r. Derive a formula for the centripetal force using theory of dimensions.

2
mv
Ans. F = K
r

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