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UNITS AND MEASUREMENT

Physical Quantities:
All the quantities in terms of which laws of physics are described, and whose measurement is
necessary are called physical quantities.

Units:
• Measurement of any physical quantity involves comparison with a certain basic, arbitrarily
chosen, internationally accepted reference standard called Unit.
• The standard unit should be easily reproducible, internationally accepted.
For Example: Unit of length is meter, Centimeter, Milimeter, etc.

Measurement:
The comparison of any physical quantity with its
standard unit is called Measurement.
For Example: 5 kg of oranges means mass of oranges is 5 times of 1 kg.

Fundamental/Base Quantities:
Those physical quantities which are independent to each other and all other quantities may be
expressed in terms of these quantities, are called Fundamental Quantities.

Derived Quantities:
Their are infinite number of physical quantities out of which only seven are fundamental
quantities and rest of the quantities may be derived from these fundamental quantities by
multiplication and division these quantities are called as Derived Quantities.
For Example: To derive speed one may take length and time as a fundamental quantities hence
speed is a derived quantities.

Fundamental & Derived Units:

The unit defined for fundamental quantities are called fundamental units & the units defined for
derived quantities are called derived units.
For Example: Fundamental unit for length is meter and derived unit of speed is m/s.

Seven Fundamental Quantities:

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Please note that besides the seven fundamental units two supplementary units are defined. They
are defined as (i) plane angle and (ii) solid angle.

Plane Angle (𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅): (Practice Question in the End, Q.14, Q.16)

It is the ratio of length of arc ds to the radius 𝑟𝑟

Solid Angle (𝒅𝒅𝛀𝛀):

It is the ratio of the intercepted area 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 of the spherical surface described about the apex 𝑂𝑂 as
the centre, to the squar of its radius 𝑟𝑟

𝑑𝑑Ω = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑/𝑟𝑟 2 Steradian

The unit for plane angle is radian with the symbol rad and the unit for the solid angle is steradian
with the symbol sr. Both these are dimensionless quantities.

Definations of Fundamental Units:

• Meter: It is the unit of length. The distance travelled by light in vacuum is
1
second is called 1𝑚𝑚.
299,792,458

• Kilogram: The mass of a cylinder made of platinum-iridium alloy kept at International

Bureau of Weights and Measures is defined as 1𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘.

• Second: Second is the time in which cesium atom vibrates 9192631770 times in an atomic
clock.

• Kelvin: Kelvin is the (1/273.16) part of the thermodynamics temperature of the triple point
of water.

• Candela: The SI unit of luminous intensity is 1 cd which is the luminous

1
intensity of a blackbody of surface area 𝑚𝑚2 placed at the
600,000
temperature of freezing platinum and at a pressure of 101,325 N/m2, in the
direction perpendicular to its surface.

• Ampere: Ampere is the electric current which it maintained in two straight parallel
conductor of infinite length and of negligible cross-section area placed on metre apart in
vacuum will produce between them a force 2 × 10−7 𝑁𝑁 per metre length.

• Mole: Mole is the amount of substance of a system which contains a many

elementary entities (may be atoms, molecules, ions, electrons or group of
particles, as this and atoms in 0.012 kg of carbon isotope 6𝐶𝐶 12 .

Some Important Conversion of Plane Angle:

𝜋𝜋
• 1° = 180 radian

• 1° = 60′ (1′ = 1 minute of arc)

• 1′ = 60′′(1′ = 60 second of arc)

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SI Prefixes:
Power of 10 Prefix Symbol
18 Exa E
15 peta P
12 tera T
9 giga G
6 mega M
3 kilo k
2 hecto h
1 deka da
-1 deci d
-2 centi c
-3 milli m
-6 micro 𝜇𝜇
-9 nano n
-12 pico p
-15 femto f
-18 atto a

For Example: 1 decimeter = 10-1 meter

1 kilogram = 103 gram
1 micrometer = 10-6 meter

Dimension: (Practice Question in the End, Q.1, Q.2)

When a quantity is expressed in terms of the base quantities, it is written as a product of different
powers of the base quantities. The exponent of a base quantity that enters into the expression.

For Example: Work = Force × Displacement

Force = Mass × Acceleration

Velocity
Acceleration = Time

Length/Time
= Time
Length/Time
Work = Mass × Time
× Length

Hence, the dimension of work are 1 in mass, 2 in length & -2 in time.

• For convenience the base quantities are represented by one symbol

Quantity Symbol
Mass M
Time T
Length L
Electric Current I
Amount of Substance mol
Temperature K
Luminous intensity cd

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 For Example: Dimensional formula of density is [𝑀𝑀𝐿𝐿−3 ], Dimensional formula of force is
[𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑇𝑇 −2 ]

• Homogeneity Principle: If a equation contains several terms separated by the symbol of

equality, plus or minus then dimension of each term should be same
1
For Example: 𝑠𝑠 = 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 + 2 𝑎𝑎𝑡𝑡 2 each term in the above equation is having same dimension
that is equal to L

Since, pure numbers are dimensionless, a dimensionally correct equation is not necessarily
100% correct.
Thus, a dimensionally correct equation need not be actually an exact (correct) equation,
but a dimensionally wrong (incorrect) or inconsistent equation must be wrong.

• Deducing Relation Among the Physical Quantities: (Practice Question in the End,
Q.12, Q.22, Q.25)
If we know the dependency of a physical quantitites on other quantitites then by using
dimensional formula we can reduce a relation between the quantities.

For Example: If a simple pendulum having a bon 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 (𝑙𝑙), mass of the bob (𝑚𝑚) and acceleration due to gravity (𝑔𝑔).
Derive the expression for its time period using method of dimensions.
𝑇𝑇 ∝ 𝑙𝑙 𝑥𝑥 𝑚𝑚𝑦𝑦 𝑔𝑔 𝑧𝑧
𝑇𝑇 = 𝑘𝑘𝑙𝑙 𝑥𝑥 𝑚𝑚𝑦𝑦 𝑔𝑔 𝑧𝑧 ∵ where 𝑘𝑘 is dimensionless constant
[𝑇𝑇] = 𝑘𝑘[𝐿𝐿]𝑥𝑥 [𝑀𝑀]𝑦𝑦 [𝐿𝐿𝑇𝑇 −2 ] 𝑧𝑧
𝑥𝑥 + 𝑧𝑧 = 0
𝑦𝑦 = 0
1
−2𝑧𝑧 = 1 ⇒ 𝑧𝑧 = − 2
1
𝑥𝑥 = 2

𝑇𝑇 = 𝑘𝑘𝑙𝑙1/2 𝑚𝑚0 𝑔𝑔−1/2

𝑙𝑙
𝑇𝑇 = 𝑘𝑘�𝑔𝑔

• Unit Conversion: (Practice Question in the End, Q.1, Q.2, Q11, Q.21, Q24)
When you change the unit of a physical quantity its magnitude may change but its
dimensional formula will remain same.

𝑛𝑛1 𝑢𝑢1 = 𝑛𝑛2 𝑢𝑢2

Where 𝑛𝑛1 & 𝑛𝑛2 are the magnitudes and 𝑢𝑢1 & 𝑢𝑢2 are the units

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 For Example:

𝐹𝐹
𝑃𝑃 = 1𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 pressure = (1 𝑔𝑔)(1 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐)−1 (1 𝑠𝑠)−2
𝐴𝐴
[𝐹𝐹] 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑇𝑇 −2 1 pascal 1 𝑚𝑚 −1 1 𝑠𝑠 −2
[𝑃𝑃] = = = 𝑀𝑀𝐿𝐿−1 𝑇𝑇 −2 =� � � �
[𝐴𝐴] 𝐿𝐿2 1 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 1 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 1 𝑠𝑠

1 pascal = (1𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘)(1 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐)−1 (1𝑠𝑠)−2 1 pascal = 10 CGS pressure

Q. Write down the dimensional formulas of the following?

a) Force b) Work c) kinetic energy
d) momentum e) Angular momentum f) Velocity
g) Acceleration h) Torque i) Angular frequency

Sol. a) Force = ma ⇒ [𝑀𝑀][𝐿𝐿][𝑇𝑇 −2 ] = [𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑇𝑇 −2 ]

b) Work = Force × displacement ⇒ [𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑇𝑇 −2 ][𝐿𝐿] = [𝑀𝑀𝐿𝐿2 𝑇𝑇 −2 ]
c) Unit of energy and work is same so their dimensions must be same ⇒ [𝑀𝑀𝐿𝐿2 𝑇𝑇 −2 ]
d) Momentum = 𝑚𝑚 × 𝑣𝑣 ⇒ [𝑀𝑀][𝐿𝐿𝑇𝑇 −1 ] = [𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑇𝑇 −1 ]
e) Angular momentum = mvr ⇒ [𝑀𝑀][𝐿𝐿𝑇𝑇 −1 ][𝐿𝐿] = [𝑀𝑀𝐿𝐿2 𝑇𝑇 −1 ]
�𝐿𝐿�
f) Unit of velocity = m/s ⇒ [velocity] = �𝑇𝑇� = [𝐿𝐿𝑇𝑇 −1 ]

g) unit of acceleration = 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠 2

[𝐿𝐿]
[Acceleration] = [𝑇𝑇 2] = [𝐿𝐿𝑇𝑇 −2 ]

h) Torque = 𝑟𝑟 × 𝑓𝑓 ⇒ [𝐿𝐿][𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑇𝑇 −2 ] = 𝑀𝑀𝐿𝐿2 𝑇𝑇 −2

2𝜋𝜋 1
i) Angular frequency (𝜔𝜔) ⇒ 𝜔𝜔 = 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 ⇒ [𝜔𝜔] = �𝑇𝑇� = [𝑇𝑇 −1 ]

Q. Find out the dimensional formula of universal gravitational constant 𝐺𝐺.

Sol. We know that

𝐺𝐺𝑀𝑀1 𝑀𝑀2 [𝐺𝐺][𝑀𝑀1 ][𝑀𝑀2 ]
𝐹𝐹 = ⇒ [𝐹𝐹] =
𝑟𝑟 2 [𝑟𝑟 2 ]
[𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑇𝑇 −2 ][𝐿𝐿2 ]
= [𝐺𝐺] ⇒ [𝐺𝐺] = [𝑀𝑀−1 𝐿𝐿3 𝑇𝑇 −2 ]
[𝑀𝑀2 ]

Q. The distance covered by a particle in time (𝑡𝑡) is given by 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 + 𝑐𝑐𝑡𝑡 2 + 𝑑𝑑𝑡𝑡 3 find
the dimensions of 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏, 𝑐𝑐 and 𝑑𝑑

Sol. Since all the terms in equations have same dimensions

[𝑥𝑥} = [𝑎𝑎] = [𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏] = [𝑐𝑐𝑡𝑡 2 ] = [𝑑𝑑𝑡𝑡 3 ]
[𝐿𝐿] = [𝑎𝑎] = [𝑏𝑏][𝑇𝑇] = [𝑐𝑐][𝑇𝑇 2 ] = [𝑑𝑑][𝑇𝑇 3 ]
[𝑎𝑎] = [𝐿𝐿]
[𝑏𝑏] = [𝐿𝐿𝑇𝑇 −1 ]
[𝑐𝑐] = [𝐿𝐿𝑇𝑇 −2 ]
[𝑑𝑑] = [𝐿𝐿𝑇𝑇 −3 ]

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Order of Magnitude: (Practice Question in the End, Q.13)
If a number is expressed as 𝑎𝑎 × 10𝑏𝑏 where 1 ≤ 𝑎𝑎 < 10 and 𝑏𝑏 is a positive or negative integer, then
10𝑏𝑏 is the order of magnitude of that number.
For Example: Diameter of sun is 13.9 × 108 𝑚𝑚, then order of magnitude is 109
(∵ Diameter of sun is 1.39 × 109 𝑚𝑚)

Significant Figure:
In the measured value of physical quantity, the number of digits about the correctness of which
we are sure plus the next doubtful digit, are called the significant figures.

Rules for Finding Significant Figure: (Practice Question in the End, Q.3
• All non-zeros digits are significant figures, e.g., 4362 𝑚𝑚 has 4 significant figures.
• All zeros occuring between two significant digit are significant figures, e.g., 1005 has 4
significant figures.
• All zeros to the right of the last non-zero digit are not significant, e.g., 6250 has only 3
significant figures.
• In a digit less than one, all zeros to the right of the decimal point and to the left of a non-zero
digit are not significant, e.g., 0.00325 has only 3 significant figures.
• All zeros to the right of a non-zero digit in the decimal part are significant, e.g., 1.4750 has 5
significant figures.
• Order of magnitude is never significant, e.g. 1.63 × 109 has 3 significant figure.
• While changing units number of significant figure remains same, e.g. 2.0 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 can’t be written
as 2000 g because 2.0 has 2 significant figure but 2000 has 1 significant figure. 2.0 kg can
be written as 2.0 × 103 𝑔𝑔 because both 2.0 and 2.0 × 103 has 2 significant figure.

Significant Figures in Algebric Operations: (Practice Question in the End,

Q.4, Q.6, Q.7, Q.8, Q20
1. In Addition or Subtraction in addition or subtraction of the numerical values the final result
should retain the least decimal place as in the various numerical values e.g.,
If 𝑙𝑙1 = 4.326 𝑚𝑚 and 𝑙𝑙2 = 1.50 𝑚𝑚
Then, 𝑙𝑙1 + 𝑙𝑙2 = (4.326 + 1.50) 𝑚𝑚 = 5.826 𝑚𝑚
As 𝑙𝑙2 has measured upto two decimal places, therefore
𝑙𝑙1 + 𝑙𝑙2 = 5.83 𝑚𝑚

2. In Multiplication or Division of the numerical values, the final result should retain the least
significant figures as the various numerical values e.g., If length 𝑙𝑙 = 12.5 𝑚𝑚 and breadth
𝑏𝑏 = 4.125 𝑚𝑚.
Then, area 𝐴𝐴 = 𝑙𝑙 × 𝑏𝑏 = 12.5 × 4.125 = 51.5625 𝑚𝑚2
As 1 has only 3 significant figures, therefore
𝐴𝐴 = 51.6 𝑚𝑚2

Rules of Rounding Off Significant Figures:

• If the digit to be dropped is less than 5, then the preceding digit is left unchanged. e.g., 1.54
is rounded off to 1.5.

• If the digit to be dropped is greater than 5, then the preceding digit is raised by one. e.g., 2.49
is rounded off to 2.5.

• If the digit to be dropped is 5 followed by digit other than zero, then the preceding digit is
raised by one. e.g., 3.55 is rounded off to 3.6.

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• If the digit to be dropped is 5 or 5 followed by zeros, then the preceding digit is raised by one,
if it is odd and left unchanged if it is even. e.g., 3.750 is rounded off to 3.8 and 4.650 is
rounded off to 4.6.

Error: (Practice Question in the End, Q.17, Q.18)

The lack in accuracy in the measurement due to the limit of accuracy of the instrument or due to
any other cause is called an error.

Accuracy & Precision: (Practice Question in the End, Q.10, Q.15)

The accuracy of a measurement is a measure of how close the measured value is to the true value
of the quantity but precision tells us to what resolution or limit the quantity is measured.

For Example: If true value of a certain length is 3.678 cm and it is measured by two instrument
one having the resolution 0.1 cm and the measured value 3.5 cm and when it is measured by
another insturment having resolution 0.01 cm the length is found to be 3.38 cm. By the above
given data we can say that instrument one is more accurate because its measured value is close
to true value. But the second instrument is more precise because its resolution is high (0.01 cm).

Least Count:
The smallest value that can be measured by the measuring instrument is called its least count.
For Example: Vernier Calliper has the least count of 0.01 cm and screw gauge has a least
count of 0.001 cm.

Types of Error:
1. Absolute Error:
The difference between the true value and the measured value of a quantity is called absolute
error.
If 𝑎𝑎1 , 𝑎𝑎2 , 𝑎𝑎3 , … , 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 are the measured values of any quantity a in an experiment performed 𝑛𝑛
times, then the arithmetic mean of these values is called the true (𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚 ) of the quantity.
𝑎𝑎1 + 𝑎𝑎2 + 𝑎𝑎3 +. . . +𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛
𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚 =
𝑛𝑛
The absolute error in measured values is given by
∆𝑎𝑎1 = 𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚 − 𝑎𝑎1
∆𝑎𝑎2 = 𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚 − 𝑎𝑎1
∆𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚 = ∆𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚 − ∆𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛

2. Mean Absolute Error:

The arithmetic mean of the magnitude of absolute errors in all the measurement is called
mean absolute error.
�∆𝑎𝑎1 �+�∆𝑎𝑎2 �+...+�∆𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 �
∆𝑎𝑎 = 𝑛𝑛

3. Relative Error:
The ratio of mean absolute error to the true value is called relative
Mean absolute error ∆𝑎𝑎
Relative error = True value
= 𝑎𝑎
𝑚𝑚

4. Percentage Error:
The relative error expressed in percentage is called percentage error.

∆𝑎𝑎
Percentage error = × 100%
𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚
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Combination of Error: (Practice Question in the End, Q.5, Q.9)
1. Error of a sum or a difference:
When two quantities are added or subtracted, the absolute error in the final result is the sum
of the absolute errors in the individual quantities.

2. Error of a product or a quotient:

When two quantities are multiplied or divided, the relative error in the result is the sum of
the relative error in the multipliers.

Q. Two resistors of resistances 𝑅𝑅1 = 100 ± 3 𝑜𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑚 and 𝑅𝑅2 = 200 ± 4 𝑜𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑚 are connected in
1
parallel. Find the equivalent resistance of the parallel combination. Use the relation =
𝑅𝑅 ′
1 1 ∆𝑅𝑅 ′ ∆𝑅𝑅1 ∆𝑅𝑅2
+ and = + [NCERT]
𝑅𝑅1 𝑅𝑅2 𝑅𝑅 ′2 𝑅𝑅12 𝑅𝑅22

Sol. Percentage
1 1 1 1 1 1
= + ⇒ = 100 + 200 ⇒ 𝑅𝑅 ′ = 66.7𝑜𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑚
𝑅𝑅 ′ 𝑅𝑅1 𝑅𝑅2 𝑅𝑅′
Partial Differentiation both side
∆𝑅𝑅 ′ ∆𝑅𝑅1 ∆𝑅𝑅2
= +
𝑅𝑅 ′2 𝑅𝑅12 𝑅𝑅22
∆𝑅𝑅1 ∆𝑅𝑅2 3 4
∆𝑅𝑅 ′ = 𝑅𝑅 ′2 � + � = (66.7)2 × �(100)2 + (200)2� = 1.8
𝑅𝑅21 𝑅𝑅22
𝑅𝑅 ′ = 66.7 ± 1.8 𝑜𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑚

Q. The resistance 𝑅𝑅 = 𝑉𝑉/𝐼𝐼 where 𝑉𝑉 = (100 ± 5)𝑉𝑉 and 𝐼𝐼 = (10 ± 0.2)𝐴𝐴. Find the percentage error in
R. [NCERT]
5
Sol. Percentage error in 𝑉𝑉 = × 100 = 5%
100
0.2
Percentage error in 𝐼𝐼 = × 100 = 2%
10
Total Percentage error in 𝑅𝑅 = 5% + 2% = 7%
𝑅𝑅 = (10 ± 0.7)Ω

3. Error in case of a measured quantity raised to a power:

The relative error in a physical quantity raised to the power k is the k times the relative error
in the individual quantity.
If general (if 𝑍𝑍 = 𝐴𝐴𝑝𝑝 𝐵𝐵 𝑞𝑞 /𝐶𝐶 𝑟𝑟 )
Then,
∆𝑍𝑍/𝑍𝑍 = 𝑝𝑝(∆𝐴𝐴/𝐴𝐴) + 𝑞𝑞(∆𝐵𝐵/𝐵𝐵) + 𝑟𝑟(∆𝐶𝐶/𝐶𝐶).

Q. The period of oscillation of a simple pendulum is 𝑇𝑇 = 2𝜋𝜋�𝐿𝐿/𝑔𝑔. Measured value of 𝐿𝐿 is 20.0

cm known to 1 mm accuracy and time for 100 oscillations of the pendulum is found to be
90 s using a wrist watch of 1 s resolution. What is the accuracy in the determination of 𝑔𝑔?
[NCERT]
4𝜋𝜋2 𝐿𝐿
Sol. 𝑇𝑇 2 = 𝑔𝑔

4𝜋𝜋2 𝐿𝐿
𝑔𝑔 =
𝑇𝑇2
∆𝑔𝑔 ∆𝐿𝐿 2∆𝑇𝑇
= +
𝑔𝑔 𝐿𝐿 𝑇𝑇
∆𝑔𝑔 1𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 0.01𝑠𝑠
= +2×
𝑔𝑔 200 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 0.9𝑠𝑠
∆𝑔𝑔 100 100
× 100 = +2× = 2.7%
𝑔𝑔 200 90
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Practice Questions
Q1. Fill in the blanks by suitable conversion of units [NCERT Exercise]
a) 1 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚2 𝑠𝑠 −2 =. . . . . . . 𝑔𝑔 𝑐𝑐𝑚𝑚2 𝑠𝑠 −2
b) 1 𝑚𝑚 =. . . . 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
c) 3.0 𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠 −2 = . . . . . 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 ℎ−2
d) 𝐺𝐺 = 6.67 × 10−11 𝑁𝑁 𝑚𝑚2 (𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘)−2 = . . . . . (𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐)3 𝑠𝑠 −2 𝑔𝑔−1 .

Q2. A calorie is a unit of heat or energy and it equals about 4.2 J where 1𝐽𝐽 = 1 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚2 𝑠𝑠 −2 .
Suppose we employ a system of units in which the unit of mass equals 𝛼𝛼 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘, the unit of
length equals 𝛽𝛽 𝑚𝑚, the unit of time is 𝛾𝛾 𝑠𝑠. Show that a calorie has a magnitude
4.2 𝛼𝛼 −1 𝛽𝛽 −2 𝛾𝛾 2 in terms of the new units. [NCERT Exercise]

Q3. State the number of significant figures in the following : [NCERT Exercise]
a) 0.007 𝑚𝑚2 b) 2.64 × 1024 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 c) 0.2370 𝑔𝑔 𝑐𝑐𝑚𝑚−3
d) 6.320 𝐽𝐽 e) 6.032 𝑁𝑁 𝑚𝑚−2 f) 0.0006032 𝑚𝑚2

Q4. The length, breadth and thickness of a rectangular sheet of metal are 4.234 𝑚𝑚, 1.005 𝑚𝑚,
and 2.01 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 respectively. Give the area and volume of the sheet to correct significant
figures. [NCERT Exercise]

Q5. A physical quantity 𝑃𝑃 is related to four observables 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏, 𝑐𝑐 and 𝑑𝑑 as follows:
𝑃𝑃 = 𝑎𝑎3 𝑏𝑏 2 /�√𝑐𝑐 𝑑𝑑� [NCERT Exercise]
The percentage errors of measurement in 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏, 𝑐𝑐 and 𝑑𝑑 are 1%, 3%, 4% and 2%,
respectively. What is the percentage error in the quantity 𝑃𝑃? If the value of 𝑃𝑃 calculated
using the above relation turns out to be 3.763 to what value should you round off the
result?

Q6. The sum of the numbers 436.32, 227.2 and 0.301 in appropriate significant figures of
[NCERT Exemplar]
a) 663.821 b) 664 c) 663.8 d) 663.82

Q7. The mass and volume of a body are 4.237 𝑔𝑔 and 2.5 𝑐𝑐𝑚𝑚3, respectively. The density of the
material of the body in correct significant figures is [NCERT Exemplar]
a) 1.6048 𝑔𝑔 𝑐𝑐𝑚𝑚−3 b) 1.69 𝑔𝑔 𝑐𝑐𝑚𝑚−3
c) 1.7 𝑔𝑔 𝑐𝑐𝑚𝑚−3 d) 1.695 𝑔𝑔 𝑐𝑐𝑚𝑚−3

Q8. The length and breadth of a rectangular sheet are 16.2 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 and 10.1 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐, respectively, The
area of the sheet in appropriate significant figures and errors is [NCERT Exemplar]
a) 164 ± 3 𝑐𝑐𝑚𝑚2 b) 163.62 ± 2.6 𝑐𝑐𝑚𝑚2
c) 163.6 ± 2.6 𝑐𝑐𝑚𝑚2 d) 163.62 ± 3 𝑐𝑐𝑚𝑚2

Q9. Yor measure two quantities as 𝐴𝐴 = 1.0 𝑚𝑚 ± 0.2 𝑚𝑚, 𝐵𝐵 = 2.0 𝑚𝑚 ± 0.2 𝑚𝑚. We should report
correct value for √𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 as: [NCERT Exemplar]
a) 1.4 ± 0.4 𝑚𝑚 b) 1.41 𝑚𝑚 ± 0.15 𝑚𝑚
c) 1.4 𝑚𝑚 ± 0.3 𝑚𝑚 d) 1.4 𝑚𝑚 ± 0.2 𝑚𝑚

Q10. Which of the following measurement s is most precise? [NCERT Exemplar]

a) 5.00 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 b) 5.00 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 c) 5.00 𝑚𝑚 d) 5.00 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘

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Q11. Young’s modulus of steel is 1.9 × 1011 𝑁𝑁/𝑚𝑚2 . When expressed in CGS units of dynes/cm2,
it will be equal to (1N = 105 dyne, 1 m2 = 104 cm2) [NCERT Exemplar]
a) 1.9 × 1010 b) 1.9 × 1011
c) 1.9 × 1012 d) 1.9 × 1013

Q12. If momentum (𝑃𝑃), area (𝐴𝐴) and time (𝑇𝑇) are taken to be fundamental quantities, then
energy has the dimensional formula [NCERT Exemplar]
a) (𝑃𝑃1 𝐴𝐴−1 𝑇𝑇 1 ) b) (𝑃𝑃2 𝐴𝐴1 𝑇𝑇 1 )
c) �𝑃𝑃1 𝐴𝐴−1/2 𝑇𝑇 1 � d) �𝑃𝑃1 𝐴𝐴1/2 𝑇𝑇 −1 �

Q13. The distance of galaxy is of the order of 1025 𝑚𝑚. Calculate the order of magnitude of time
taken by light to reach us from the galaxy. [NCERT Exemplar]
𝜋𝜋
Q14. Calculate the length of the arc of a circle of radius 31.0 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 which subtends as angle of at
6
the centre. [NCERT Exemplar]

Q15. Time for 20 oscillations of a pendulum is measured as 𝑡𝑡1 = 39.6 𝑠𝑠; 𝑡𝑡2 = 39.9 𝑠𝑠;
𝑡𝑡3 = 39.5 𝑠𝑠. What is the precision in the measurements? What is the accuracy of the
measurement? [NCERT Exemplar]

Q16. The Sun’s angular diameter is measured to be 1920”. The distance 𝐷𝐷 of the Sun from the
Earth is 1.496 × 1011 𝑚𝑚. What is the diameter of the Sun? [NCERT Solved Example]

Q17. We measure the period of oscillation of a simple pendulum. In successive measurements,

the readings turn out to be 2.63 𝑠𝑠, 2.56 𝑠𝑠, 2.42 𝑠𝑠, 2.71 𝑠𝑠 and 2.80 𝑠𝑠. Calculate the absolute
errors, relative error or percentage error. [NCERT Solved Example]

Q18. Find the relative error in 𝑍𝑍, if 𝑍𝑍 = 𝐴𝐴4 𝐵𝐵1/3 /𝐶𝐶𝐷𝐷3/2 . [NCERT Solved Example]

Q19. The period of oscillation of a simple pendulum is 𝑇𝑇 = 2𝜋𝜋�𝐿𝐿/𝑔𝑔. Measured value of 𝐿𝐿 is

20. 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 known to 1 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 accuracy and time for 100 oscillations of the pendulum is found
to be90 𝑠𝑠 using a wrist watch of 1 𝑠𝑠 resolution. What is the accuracy in the determination
of 𝑔𝑔 ? [NCERT Solved Example]

Q20. Each side of a cube is measured to be 7.203 𝑚𝑚. What are the total surface area and the
volume of the cube to appropriate significant figures? [NCERT Solved Example]

Q21. The SI and CGS units of energy are joule and erg respectively. How many ergs are equal
to one joule? [H.C Verma]

Q22. If the centripetal force is of the form 𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑎 𝑣𝑣 𝑏𝑏 𝑟𝑟 𝑐𝑐 , find the values of 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏 and 𝑐𝑐.
[H.C Verma]
Q23. The heat produced in a wire carrying an electric current depends on the current, the
resistance and the time. Assuming that the dependence is of the product of powers type,
guess an equation between these quantities using dimensional anaysis. The dimensional
formula of resistance is 𝑀𝑀𝐿𝐿2 𝐼𝐼 −2 𝑇𝑇 −3 and heat is a form of energy. [H.C Verma]
Q24. The surface tension of water is 72 dyne/cm. Convert it in SI unit. [H.C Verma]

Q25. The fequency of vibration of a string depends on the length 𝐿𝐿 between the nodes, the
tension 𝐹𝐹 in the string and its mass per unit length 𝑚𝑚. Guess the expression for its
frequency from dimensional analysis. [H.C Verma]

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