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UNITS AND DIMENSIONS
Introduction In physical sciences we deal with large number
of quantities which have to be measured. The measurement is
basically a comparison with a standard unit.
The chosen standard of measurement of quantity which has
essentially the same nature as that of the quantity is called unit of
the quantity.
Although the number of physical quantities is very large, all of
them can be expressed in terms of seven basic or fundamental
quantities. These seven fundamental quantities, along with their SI
units and unit-symbols, are given in Table1. All other quantities
are called derived quantities.
In mechanics all the quantities can be expressed in terms of
mass (M), length (L) and time (T), in heat we require, in addition,
temperature (
u
or K) and in electricity and magnetism, current (I
or A).
It should be noted that these quantities are selected for
convenience and not through any necessity. Thus in mechanics, we
can equally well choose length, force and time as basic quantities,
in which case mass would become a derived quantity. Similarly, in
electricity and magnetism we can choose charge (Q) instead of
current.
Table 1 : Basic Quantities
Quantity SI Unit Unit-Symbol
Mass kilogram kg
Length metre M
Time second s
Temperature kelvin K
Electric Current ampere A
Luminous Intensity candela cd
Amount of Substance mole mol
In addition, there are two supplementary units-radian (rad) for
plane angle and steradian (sr) for solid angle.
The international system of units, abbreviated SI, is an extended
version of the MKS (metre, kilogram, second) system. According
to this system, the fundamental units of mass, length and time namely
kilogram, metre and second have been defined as below :
(i) Metre (m) : One metre is defined as the distance containing
1,650,763.73 wavelengths of the orange light emitted by pure
krypton-86.
(ii) Kilogram (kg) : 1 kilogram is defined as the mass of a
particular platinum-iridium cylinder kept at International
Bureau of Weights and Measure in Paris. In practice, the
mass of 1 litre of water at 4
o
C is 1 kilogram. On atomic
scale, 1 kilogram is also the mass of 5.0188 10
25
atoms of
6
C
12
(isotope of carbon).
(iii) Second (s) : Cesium-133 atom emits electromagnetic
radiations of several wavelengths. A particular radiation is
selected which corresponds to the transition between the two
hyperfine levels of the ground state of Cs-133. Each radiation
has a time period of repetition of certain characteristics. The
time duration of 91926331770.0 periods of oscillation of
the selected transition is defined as 1 s.
Table 2 : Abbreviation for Multiples and Sub-multiples
Symbol Prefix Multiplier
T tera 10
12
G giga 10
9
M mega 10
6
k kilo 10
3
h hecto 10
2
da deca 10
1
d deci 10
1
c centi 10
2
m milli 10
3
micro 10
6
n nano 10
9
p pico 10
12
Dimensions of a physical quantity The dimensions of a
physical quantity are defined as the power to which the fundamental
units of mass, length and time have to be raised to represent a derived
unit of the quantity. We use square brackets [ ] to denote "the
dimension of" the quantity written parenthesis
Ex. Volume = length breadth height
[V] = [L] [L] [L]
= [L
3
]
Thus, to represent volume, we have to raise [L] to the
power 3. Therefore, volume is said to have three dimensions in
length.
Similarly,
velocity =
displacement
time
=
] T [
] L [
i.e., velocity = [L
1
T
1
]
= [M
0
L
1
T
1
].
Hence the dimensions of velocity are : zero in mass, +1 in
length and 1 in time.
Dimensional formula of a physical quantity is an expression
which tells us :
(i) the fundamental units on which the quantity depends, and.
(ii) the nature of the dependence.
EDUACHI EVERS ACADEM Y
Unit s And Dimensions
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Unit s And Dimensions
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Table 3 : Physical Quantities, Relation with Quantities, Dimensional Formula and S.I. Units
S.N. Physical Quantity Relation with other Quantities Dimensional Formula S.I. Units
1. Area length breadth [L] [L] = [L
2
] = [M
0
L
2
T
0
] m
2
2. Volume length breadth height [L] [L] [L] = [L
3]
= [M
0
L
3
T
0
] m
3
3. Density
volume
mass
M
L
3 = [M
1
L
3
T
0
] kg m
3
4. Specific gravity
density of body
density of water at 4 C
o = 1 = [M
0
L
0
T
0
] No units
5. Speed or Velocity
time
ce tan dis
[T]
[L]
= [LTT
1
] = [M
0
L
1
T
1
] ms
1
6. Linear Momentum mass velocity [M] [LT
1
] = [M
1
L
1
T
1
] kg ms
1
7. Acceleration
taken time
velocity in change
L
T
T
= [LTT
2
] = [M
0
L
1
T
2
] ms
2
8. Acceleration due to gravity (g)
taken time
velocity in change
[T]
] [
T
L
= [LTT
2
] = [M
0
L
1
T
2
] ms
2
9. Force mass acceleration [M] [LT
2
] = [M
1
L
1
T
2
] N (newton)
10. Impulse force time [MLT
2
] [T]= [M
1
L
1
T
1
] Ns
11. Pressure force/area
] [L
] [MLT
2
2
= [M
1
L
1
T
2
] Nm
2
12. Universal constant From Newtons law of gravitation
[MM]
] L [ ] MLT [
2 2
= G
Nm
2
kg
2
of gravitation (G)
F =
2
2 1
r
m Gm
or G =
2 1
2
m m
Fr
= [M
1
L
3
T
2
]
where F is force between masses
m
1
, m
2
at a distance r.
13. Work force displacement [MLT
2
]

[L] = [M
1
L
2
T
2
] J (joule)
14. Energy (including [M
1
L
2
T
2
] J
Potential Energy, E = W
Kinetic Energy, Heat
Energy, Light Energy etc.,)
15. Moment of force force displacement [MLT
2
] [L] = [M
1
L
2
T
2
] Nm
16. Power
time
work
[T]
] T [ML
2 2
= [M
1
L
2
T
3
] W (watt)
17. Surface tension
length
force
[T]
] T [ML
2 2
= [M
1
L
0
T
2
] Nm
1
18. Surface energy
area
energy
] [L
] T [ML
2
2 2
= [M
1
L
0
T
2
] Jm
2
19. Force constant
nt displaceme
force
MLT
L
2
= [M
1
L
0
T
2
] Nm
1
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Unit s And Dimensions
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S.N. Physical Quantity Relation with other Quantities Dimensional Formula S.I. Units
20. Thrust force [M
1
L
1
T
2
] N
21. Tension force [M
1
L
1
T
2
] N
22. Stress
area
Force
] [L
] [MLT
2
2
= [M
1
L
1
T
2
] Nm
2
23. Strain
ion configurat original
ion configurat in change
[L]
[L]
= 1 = [M
0
L
0
T
0
] No unit
24. Coefficient of elasticity
strain
stress
[
2 1 1
T L M

] = [M
1
L
1
T
2
] Nm
2
25. Radius of gyration (K) distance [L] = [M
0
L
1
T
0
] m
26. Moment of inertia (I) Mass (distance)
2
[ML
2
] = [M
1
L
2
T
0
] kg m
2
27. Angle (u) length (l) / radius (r)
[L]
[L]
= 1 = [M
0
L
0
T
0
] rad
28. Angular velocity (e)
) ( time
) ( angle
t
u
[T]
1
= [T
1
] = [M
0
L
0
T
1
] rad s
1
29. Angular acceleration (o)
change in angular velocity
time taken [T]
] [
T
1
= [T
2
] = [M
0
L
0
T
2
] rad s
2
30. Angular Momentum Ie [ML
2
] [T
1
] = [M
1
L
2
T
1
] kg m
2
s
1
31. Torque Ie/T [ML
2
] [T
1
] = [M
1
L
2
T
2
] Nm
32. Wavelength () length of one wave, i.e., distance, [L] = [M
0
L
1
T
0
] m
33. Frequency ( v ) number of vibrations/sec
[T]
1
= [T
1
] = [M
0
L
0
T
1
] s
1
or Hz (Hertz)
34. Velocity of light in a medium
distance travelled
time taken [T]
[L]
= [M
0
L
1
T
1
] ms
1
35. Velocity gradient
velocity
distance [L]
] [LT
1
= [T
1
] = [M
0
L
0
T
1
] s
1
36. Rate of flow
time
volume
[T]
] [L
3
= [L
3
T
1
] = [M
0
L
3
T
1
] m
3
s
1
37. Coefficient of viscosity
gradient velocity Area
Force

[ML
1
T
1
] kg m
1
s
1
38. Temperature u K = [M
0
L
0
T
0
K
1
] K
39. Heat (Q) Energy [M
1
L
2
T
2
] J
40. Specific heat (s)
u
=
m
Q
s
[MK]
] T [ML
2 2
= [M
0
L
2
T
2
K
1
] J kg
1
k
1
41. Latent heat (L)
M
Q
[M]
] T [ML
2 2
= [M
0
L
2
T
2
] J kg
1
42. Gas constant (R)
e temperatur
volume pressure
[K]
] L [ ] T [ML
3 2 1
= [M
2
L
2
T
2
K
1
] J K
1
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S.N. Physical Quantity Relation with other Quantities Dimensional Formula S.I. Units
43. Boltzmann constant (A)
. No . Avo . temp
volume pressure
[M
1
L
2
T
2
K
1
] J k
1
44. Plancks constant (h)
frequency
energy
] [T
] T [ML
1
2 2

= [M
1
L
2
T
1
] J-s
45. Charge
t
Q
I =
[IT] or [Q] coulomb
46. Potential
Q
W
V =
[IT]
] T [ML
2 2
= [ML
2
T
3
I
1
] J/C or volt
47. Electric field
q
F
E =
[IT]
] [MLT
2
= [MLTT
3
I
1
] N/C or
V
m
48. Capacitance C
q
V
q
W
= =
2
] T [ML
] T [I
2 2
2 2

= [M
1
L
2
T
4
I
2
] C/V or farad
49. Permittivity
] [ ] [
] [
2
2
0
r F
q
= e
] [L ] [MLT
] T [I
2 2
2 2

= [M
1
L
3
T
4
I
2
] C/Vm
50. Resistance
QI
W
I
V
R = =
[I] [IT]
] T [ML
2 2
= [ML
2
T
3
I
2
] V/amp or ohm
51. Conductance
R
C
1
=
] I T ML [
1
2 3 2
= [M
1
L
2
T
3
I
2
] (ohm)
1
52. Resistivity
l
A
R =
] L [
] L [ ] I T ML [
2 2 3 2
= [ML
3
T
3
I
2
] ohmmetre
53. Conductivity

= o
1
[M
1
L
3
T
3
I
2
] (ohmmetre)
1
54. Inductance
|
.
|

\
|
= |
.
|

\
|
=
l
T
Q
W
dI
dt
e L
] I [ ] IT [
] T [ ] T ML [
2 2
= [ML
2
T
2
I
2
] V/sec/amp. or
Henry
55. Magnetic Flux u = e dt
(
(

T
] IT [
T ML
2 2
= [ML
2
T
2
I
1
] volt sec = weber
56. Magnetic Induction
u
|
=
cos A
B
] L [
] I T ML [
2
1 2 2
= [MT
2
I
1
] Wb/m
2
or tesla
57. Magnetic Field Intensity
H
B Id
r
=
t
u
=
1
4
2
sin
] L [
] L [ ] I [
2
= [IL
1
] ampere turns/m
or oersted
58. Permeability
2 2
2
=
l I
Fr
] L [ ] I [
] L [ ] MLT [
2 2
2 2
= [MLTT
2
I
2
] henry/metre
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Use of Dimensional Analysis In a correct physical
equation, the dimensions of all the terms must be the same.
This is called the principle of homogeneity of dimension. This
principle is based on the fact that only similar quantities can be
added or subtracted and leads to the following simple
applications of dimensional analysis.
(1) Conversion of Units Consider a physical quantity
having dimensional formula M
a
L
b
T
c
. Let there be two systems of
units (M
1
, L
1
, T
1
) and (M
2
, L
2
, T
2
). If n
1
and n
2
be the numerical
values of the quantity in the two systems respectively, then since
they represent the same quantity
( ) ( )
c b a c b a
T L M n T L M n
1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2
=

c b a
T
T
L
L
M
M
n n
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
2
1
2
1
2
1
1 2
The ratios
2
1
2
1
2
1
T
T
L
L
M
M
, , are called the conversion factors
for mass, length and time respectively. For conversion from MKS
to CGS system
M
M
L
L
1
2
3 1
2
2
10 10 = = = =
1kg
1g
1m
1cm
,

T
T
1
2
1
1
1 = =
s
s
Thus n
2
= n
1
10
3a + 2b
(2) Checking the correctness of equations.
(3) Deriving simple relations connecting physical quantities
provided all the quantities on which a certain quantity depends are
known.
Limitations of Dimensional Analysis
(1) This method gives us no information about dimensionless
constants in the formula.
(2) If a quantity depends on more than three factors having
dimensions, the formula cannot be derived.
(3) We cannot derive the formulae containing trigono-metrical
functions, exponential functions, log functions etc., which have
no dimensions.
(4) This method cannot be used to derive an exact form of relation,
when it consists of more than one part on any side.
(5) It gives no information whether a physical quantity is a scalar
or vector.
Errors in Measurement Whenever a quantity is measured
there is always some uncertainty or error. Even with a faultless
instrument there is always some random error due to lack of
perfection of the observer and the sensitivity limit (or least count)
of the instrument.
If a quantity is obtained by measurement of some other
quantities, then the errors in all the measured quantities have to be
combined. This is done as follows:
Suppose a quantity X depends on three quantities A, B and C as
r
n m
C
B kA
X =
where k is a constant.
If AA, AB, AC, AX are in errors is A, B, C and X, respectively,
then it can be shown that
C
C
r
B
B
n
A
A
m
X
X A
+
A
+
A
=
A
This gives fractional error in X.
The maximum possible fractional error is obtained by taking
all signs as positive.
C
C
r
B
B
n
A
A
m
X
X A
+
A
+
A
= |
.
|

\
| A
max
Therefore, maximum percentage error in X is
100 |
.
|

\
| A
+
A
+
A
C
C
r
B
B
n
A
A
m
or P
X
= mp
A
+ np
B
+ rp
C
where 'P' stands for percentage error.