UNITS AND DIMENSIONS

1. Physics involves the study of several physical quantities. The same physical quantity can be
measured in different units. For example the scale you use in the box of geometrical
instruments has a length of 15 units if you take the unit of lengths as cm. It has a length of
6 units if you take the unit of length as inch. These sets of units of measurements are called the
systems of units. A student of physics must get acquainted with different system of units
and shall be able to shift from one system to the other with ease.
2. Measurement of physical quantities and expressing them in meaningful units forms the core of
Physics. A small historical fact will surely interest you. It is often narrated while introducing this
chapter.
In the first half of the 19th century there was a brilliant scientist by name William Thomson in
England. He was known for his razor sharp intelligence and tremendous tenacity (you must
know the meaning of tenacity because you too need it). He wanted to make accurate electrical
measurements. As he was not satisfied with the available instruments he worked hard and
invented several instruments to make those measurements accurately. That is just one example
of his tenacity.
At that time plans were being made to lay communications cable along the bed of the Altantic
Ocean to connect Europe with America. Thomson was taken as the adviser of the contractor
firm. He was very insistent in calculating to the finest detail every thing that goes into the project.
He prepared several principles for measurement and calculation. But his advise was ignored by
those in authority. The reason is not lack of respect towards Thomson but the authorities could
not understand clearly the principles proposed by Thomson. The attempts to lay the cable
failed. Several subsequent attempts also did not meet with success.
Then the authorities started considering the views of Thomson more carefully than they did
earlier. They realized their mistakes and changed the plans accordingly. Everything went on
smoothly and systematically. Laying the cable was successfully completed in 1858.
This experience made Thomson comment later :
I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in
numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot express it in numbers,
your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind; it may be beginning of
knowledge, but you have scarcely, in your thoughts, advanced to the stage of science,
whatever the matter may be.
By 1892 Thomson was one of the top British Scientists and he was given the title Lord Kelvin.
He is one of the founders of the great science Thermodynamics.
This is only a glimpse of the importance of measurements in Physics.
3. For the purpose of understanding and measuring, physical quantities are broadly divided into
two categories. They are i) Fundamental Physical quantities and ii) Derived Physical quantities.

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 Units and Dimensions
4. Fundamental physical quantities :
Some physical quantities can be defined without the help of other physical quantities. Those are
called Fundamental physical quantities.
Eg: mass, length and time
The units of measurement of fundamental quantities are called the fundamental units.
Mass is measured in kilogram (kg). The kilogram is a fundamental unit.
Length is measured in metres (m). The metre is a fundamental unit.
Time is measured in seconds (s). The second is a fundamental unit.
5. Derived physical quantities :
Some physical quantities cannot be defined without the help of some other physical quantities.
Those are called the derived physical quantities.
dis tance
Eg : speed =
time
Speed is neither distance nor time. But unless you use distance and time you cannot define
speed. Speed is a derived physical quantity.
The units in which derived physical quantities are measured are called derived units.
Eg: Velocity is a derived quantity. Its unit is ms 1 (read as m s to the power of minus 1). You
must have come across this unit being write as m/s. But in todays physics you should not write
like that 1/s is written only as s 1. Similarly 1/s2 is written as s2 and is read as second to the
1 -n
power minus 2. Obviously n = x . Acceleration is a derived quantity. Its unit is ms2.
x
6. Systems of units :
We usually use cgs and SI units. In cgs units there are only three fundamental physical
quantities namely mass, length and time.
CGS units
SNO Physical quantity Full unit Abbreviation
1 Mass gram G
2 Length centimeter cm
3 Time second s
In SI system we have seven fundamental quantities.
S.I units
SNO Physical quantity Full unit Abbreviation
1 Mass kilogram kg
2 Length metre m
3 Time second s
4 Electric current ampere a
5 Luminous intensity candela cd
6 Thermodynamic temperature kelvin k
7 Amount of matter mole mol

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 Units and Dimensions
Note : In writing abbreviation of kilogram as kg we did not use a capital letter for k. In small type
k means 103. You should write kg (not Kg) and km (and not Km). We often find it amusing
when they are wrongly written in advertisements of even multinational companies. K means
temperature reading on Kelvin scale.
There are other powers of 10 with which we deal a little later. They also have approved
abbreviations.
7. Conventions in using SI units :
The following conventions (traditions) are followed while using SI units
1) SI units are always written in singular number. They are never written in plural number.
Eg: Correct usage : 3 kg, 4 km
Wrong usage : 3kgs, 4kms
(As a matter of fact the s after km is usually read as second. Thus 4 kms is 4 kilo metre
second and not merely 4 kilo metre).
2) Some units bear the names of scientists in recognition of the great work done by them.
Such units are proper nouns. While writing those units the first letter should not be a
capital, even though we are using the proper noun as the name of a unit.
Eg: Correct : 2 Newton force, 4 Ampere current
Wrong : 2 Newton force, 4 Ampere current
When we write Newton we are referring to the person. When we write Newton we are
referring to the physical quantity named after Newton.
3) When writing the unit bearing the name of a scientist the approved abbreviation must be
used with a CAPITAL LETTER. If the abbreviation contains more than one letter, the first
letter must be capital and the second letter must be of small type.
Eg : Pressure is given the unit pascal in honor of the scientist Blaise Pascal. Its abbreviation
is Pa. As it has two letters the first letter is written in capitals and the second letter in small
type.
There are other units like joule which has abbreviation J. Electric current has unit ampere
which is abbreviated as A. Electric charge has unit coulomb which is abbreviated as C.
4) When the unit does not bear the name of a scientist it should be written without a capital
letter either in the full form or in abbreviation.
Eg: cgs unit of heat: Full form is calorie. Abbreviation is cal.
SI unit of length is metre. Abbreviation is m.
5) Units must be written either in the full form or in approved abbreviations only.
6) No punctuations marks shall be used either in the full form of the unit or in the abbreviation.
7) In the definitions of physical quantities mass, length, time, electric current and temperature
are represented by M, L, T, I and respectively. In some books you find the letter K used to
denote temperature.
Writing the definitions in terms of these abbreviated capital letters is called the
representation of a derived quantity dimensionally in terms of fundamental quantities. The
expressions obtained are called dimensional formulae. The power of a fundamental physical
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 Units and Dimensions
quantity in these dimensional formulae is called the dimension of that quantity in that
formula.
Example :
displacement length L
i) Velocity = = = = LT -1 . Dimension of length is 1 and the
time time T
dimension of time is 1.
velocity LT -1
ii) Acceleration= = = LT -2 . Dimension of length is 1 and dimension of time is
time T
2.
iii) Force = mass acceleration = M(LT2) = MLT2. Dimension of mass is 1, dimension of
length is 1 and the dimension on time is 2.
iv) Work = force distance = (MLT2) (L) = ML2T2. Dimension of mass is 1, dimension of
length is 2 and the dimension of time is 2.
SOME SIMPLE DERIVED QUANTITIES
Physical Dimensional
Definition SI Unit Abbreviation
quantity formula
displacement L
Velocity = LT -1 ms1
time T
velocity LT -1
Acceleration = LT -2 ms2
time T
(mass) kgms2 or
Force (M) (LT2) N
(acceleration) Newton
Work (force) (length) (MLT2)(L)=ML2T2 kgm2 s2 or Joule J
8. Several powers of 10 are given names. The list of the powers, their names and abbreviations is
as follows.
Power of 10
Power Prefix Abbreviation
3
10 kilo k
6
10 mega M
109 giga G
12
10 tera T
103 milli m
10 6
micro
9
10 nano n
1012 pico p
You need not commit these to memory. As you work your mind records them automatically.
9. We will discuss only the conversion of physical quantities from one system to other. We need it
in several subsequent chapters.

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 Units and Dimensions
CONVERSION OF UNITS
WORKED EXAMPLES
1. The unit of area is cm2 in cgs units. Convert it into SI units.
Sol: The unit of area is 1 (cm) 2. Convert cm into m and write in the brackets. Then open the brackets
properly. You know that 100 cm = 1 m 102 cm = 1m
1
1 cm = 2 m = 102 m. Substitute this value of 1 cm in the expression for area.
10
1 cm2 = 1 (102 m)2 = 104 m2
2. The volume of a water tank is given as 2 m 3m 1 m. Write its volume in cc.
Sol: cc means cm3. (cc is abbreviation for cubic centimeter)
You know that volume is length x breadth x width.
Volume of the water tank is 6 m3.
We know that 1 m = 100 cm = 102 cm
Write 102 cm in place of 1 m
The volume of the water tank = 6 m3 = 6(102 cm)3 = 6 1023 cm3 = 6 106 cm3 = 6 106 cc
3. The mass of a stone is 3kg. Write in grams.
Sol: 1kg = 1000 gram kg = 103 g
3kg = 3 103 gram
4. The distance between two places is 3.6 km. Express it in metres and centimeters.
Sol: (i) The expression 1km has m as the SI unit of length. k is the abbreviation for 10 3.
1 km = 103 m 3.6 km = 3.6 103 m = 3600 m
ii) l m = 102 cm.
3.6 km = 3600 m = 3600 102 cm = 36 104 cm
5. How many seconds are contained in 23.5 minutes ?
Sol: 1 minute = 60 seconds.
23.5 minutes = 23.5 60 s = 1410 s
6. The density of mercury is 13.6 g cc1. Write it in SI units.
Sol: gram is the cgs unit of mass. kg is the SI unit of mass 1000 g = 1kg 1 g = 103 kg.
cm is the cgs unit of length. m is the SI unit of length. 100 cm = 1m 1 cm = 102 m
1 cc =1 cm3 = (102 m)3 = 106 m3
Now replace g and cc by SI units
13.6 g cc1 = 13.6 (103 kg) (106 m3)1 = 13.6 10-3 106 kg m3 = 13.6 103+6 kgm3
= 13.6 103 kgm3
7. How many dynes are 1 newton ?
Sol: Newton is the SI unit of force. Force = mass acceleration.
1 N = (1 kg) (ms2) = 1 (kg) (m) (s)2
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 Units and Dimensions
dyne is the cgs unit of force, 1 dyne = 1(g) (cm) (s)2 = gcms2
Take newton and convert all the fundamental quantities contained in it into cgs units.
1 N = (103 gm) (102 cm) (s)2 = 105 g cms2 = 105 dynes
8. How many ergs are in 1 joule ?
Sol: Joule is the SI unit of work.
Work = force distance. 1 joule = 1 newton 1 m = (1kg m s2) (m) = 1 kg m2 s2
erg is the cgs unit of work.
1 erg = 1 gcm2 s2
Take joule and convert all the fundamental SI quantities in it into cgs units.
1 erg = 1(kg) (m)2 (s)2 = 1 (103 g) (102 cm)2 (s)2 = 103+4 g cm2 s2 = 107 ergs.
9. The SI unit of surface tension in Nm1. Convert it into cgs units.
Sol: Note : You need not know anything about surface tension to perform this conversion. It is
enough if you can convert the fundamental units from the given system to the required system.
1 Nm1 = (1 N) (m)1 = (105 dyne) (102 cm)1 = 1052 dyne cm1 = 103 dyne cm1
10. The SI unit of pressure is 1 Nm 2 ( = pascal and its abbreviation is Pa). Convert it into cgs
units.
Sol: Note : You need not know anything about pressure to perform this conversion. It is enough if
you can convert the fundamental units from the given system to the required system.
1 Nm2 = (1 N) (m2)
= (105 dyne) (102 cm)2 = 105 dyne 104 cm2 = 10 dyne cm2
11. Acceleration due to gravity at a place is 9.8 ms 2. Express it in km min2.
Sol: Note : You need not know anything about acceleration due to gravity to answer this question. It
is enough if you can convert the fundamental units from the given system to the required
system.
1 km = 1 103 m = 103 m 1 m = 103 km
1
1 min = 60 s. 1 s = min
60
-2
1 1
1 s2 = min = min-2 = 60 2 min -2 = 3600 min -2
60 60-2
= 9.8 ms2 = (9.8) (103 km) (3600 min2) = 9.8 3.6 km min2 = 35.28 km min2
12. If the unit of force were to be 4 dyne, that of length is to be 2 cm and that of time to be 2
seconds, what will be the unit of mass ?
Sol: Force = mass acceleration = mass length time2
You are given the unit of force as 4 dyne. You know that dyne = g cm s 2
You are also given that unit of length is 2 cm, unit of time is 2 seconds. Let the unit of mass be
x.
Substitute these values in force = mass length time2
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 Units and Dimensions
4 dyne = (x) (2cm) (2s)2
Expand dyne in LHS
4 g cm s2 = (x) 4 cm s2. Cancel identical terms on both sides.
4 g cm s2 = (x) 4 cm s2 g = x unit of mass is 1 gram
13. What is a radian ? What is a revolution? How do you convert radians to revolutions and
the other way round ?
Sol: A radian is a measure of an angle. It is called the circular measure. It A
is defined as : the angle subtended by an arc (of a circle) whose
r L
length is equal to the radius of the circle.
O is the centre of a circle of radius r. AB is an arc of the circle. The 1c
O r B
length of the arc AB is equal to r the radius of the circle. The angle
subtended by the arc at the centers AOB. AOB = one radian.
The unit radian is written by writing the letter c above the angle. For example an
angle of radian is written as c. AOB = 1c
When a body moves in a circular path it is said to complete one revolution if it
completes one trip round the circle and comes to the starting point.
In the adjoining figure a particle is completing one revolution. By the time the body completes
one revolution it describes 2 radians.
Conversions of angle in degrees to radians. 360 = 2 radians.

180 = radians and 90 = radians
2
Conversions of revolutions to radians. We just now saw that one revolution = 2c
If a body makes n revolutions it makes 2n radians.
p
If a body travelling in a circular path covers p radians of angle then it made revolutions.
2
14. Convert 210 revolutions per second to radian per seconds.
Sol: n revolutions = 2n radians
22
210 revolutions s1 = 210 (2) radians s1 = 210 2 radians s1 = 1320 rad s1
7
15. A body has an angular acceleration of 440 rad min2. Express it in rev s2
Sol: Note : You need not know anything about angular acceleration. Just convert radians to
revolutions and minutes to seconds.
1
1 rad = revolution, 1 minute = 60 s
2
1
(60 s)-2
440 rad (min)2 = 440 revolution
2
7 70 7
= 400 60-2 revolution s-2 = = rev s -2
2 22 3600 360

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 Units and Dimensions
LEVEL I
Self Test (attempt every question yourself. Go to the teacher only when you are totally
helpless).
1. Express 23.25 km in metres and centimeters. (23250 m, 2325 103 cm)
2. Force = mass acceleration. If the units of length, mass and time are doubled how is the unit of
force changed (no change).
3. The unit of angular momentum is kgm2s1. Convert 1kgm2 s1 to cgs units.
work
4. Power is defined in mechanics, as the rate of doing work = and work = force distance
time
Answer the following question using the above information.
The unit of power is 10 6 erg min1. Unit of force is 10 3 dyne. Unit of time is 10 1s. Find the unit of
length.
5. In the above question using the data given find the unit of mass.
6. The unit of torque is Nm. Convert it into cgs units.

LEVEL II
work
1. Power is defined in mechanics as the rate of doing work. Power= and work=force
time
distance.
If the unit of force were mega dyne, that of time millisecond and that of power kilowatt, find the
unit of length.
2. Use the data of the above question to find the unit of mass.
3. The internationally accepted conversion of length from SI to FPS (foot, pound, second) system
is that 1 meter = 3.281 feet. One yard = 3 feet.
In track meets both 100 yards and 100 metres are used. Which is longer and by how many
feet?
4. The time period between the occurrence of eclipses is calculated from theory. It is measured to
a high degree of accuracy. Using this information it is found that earth is slowing in its rotation
about its polar axis. You know that the time taken by earth to complete one such rotation is one
day.
It is found that earth slows down, on an average over a century, by 0.001 s. Calculate the
cumulative effect of this slowing down over 20 centuries.
5. In our epics we are told that large number of centuries for mankind is a Yuga and several Yugas
form a Kalpa and like that. Obviously they were speaking of units of time. This great system is
present, but in different words, in the modern science.
Mankind has existed for about 106 years. The universe existed for about 1010 years. Taking the
age of universe as one day find the age of mankind in seconds in seconds in that system.
(Assume that in any system 1 hour = 60 minutes and 1 minute = 60 seconds)
6. The unit of area often used in measuring the land areas is a hectare. 1 hectare = 10 4 m2. The
open
pit mines at the Neyveli Lignite Corporation in the State of Tamil Nadu consume 60 hectares of
land to a depth of 2.4 m each year. Find the volume of earth removed each year in kilometer 3.

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 Units and Dimensions
7. Enrico Fermi is a famous Physicist. In recognition of the great work done by him, the unit of
length in Nuclear physics is named after him as fermi. One fermi = 10 15 m.
Enrico Fermi one said that the duration of his lecture hour was a micro century. Find how many
minutes is a micro century.
8. A closed cubical box is made of a sheet of thickness 1 cm and has an external measurement 5
cm for each side. Find the volume of the sheet in the box.
9. A hollow metal sphere has an external radius R. If the thickness of the metal sheet is d find the
volume of metal.
10. 1 microgram (mm)3 = kg m3
11. nanometer min2 = .. m s2
12. kgwt cm2 = Nm2 (1 kgwt = 10N)
13. 1 kgm2 s2 = .. g cm2 s2
(Question 10 13 were given in the Scholastic Aptitude Test which is the test for entrance to
Ramaiahs coaching)

KEY TO LEVEL I
1) 23250 m, 2325 103 cm 2) no change 3)107 g cm2 s1

4) 5/3 cm 5) 6 g 6)107 dyne cm

KEY TO LEVEL II
1) 10 cm 2) 0.1 g 3) 28.1ft 4) 2.13 hours
5) 8.64 s 6) 0.00144 km3 7) 52.56 minutes 8) 98 cm3

9)
4
3
(
d 3R2 - 3Rd + d2 ) 10) 1 11)
1
36
10-11 12) 105 1 3) 107

WORK SHEET
work
1. Given that power , if the S.I unit of power is watt then the S.I unit of work is..
time
th
1
2. One second is part of a mean solar day, where k = .
k
3. Given, the density of air is 1.29 kg m3, then the relative density of air is
4. If the volume of 1 kg of oil, at a given temperature is 1000 cm 3, then the volume 1000 kg oil at
the same temperature is
5. The initial and final readings of a burette are 50 ml and 80 ml respectively when 40 drops of the
liquid are drained out of it. The volume of each drop is
6. The relative density of wood is 0.75. Its density in S.I unit is in kg m 3.
7. Two spheres made of different materials but having the same mass, have radii in the ratio 3 : 4.
Find the ratio of their densities.

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 Units and Dimensions
8. The relative density of mercury is 13.6. Find the ratio of the mass of mercury of a certain volume
to that of water having ten times the volume of mercury.
9. The unit of force in S.I system in Newton (N) and in C.G.S system in dyne. One Newton is equal
to 1 kg ms2 and 1 dyne is equal to 1 g ms2. How many dynes make one Newton?
10. According to Newtons law of gravitation, the force F between two bodies of masses m 1 and m2
mm
placed at a distance of from each other is given as F = G 1 2 2 , where G is the universal
r
gravitational constant. Find the units of G in both C.G.S and S.I system.
11. A 200 cm3 specific gravity bottle weighs 420 g when completely filled with a liquid of relative
density 1.5 and 280 g when completely filled with an oil. Calculate the relative density of the oil.
(take density of water 1 g cm3).
12. The modern definition of a metre is in terms of wave length of light and not M terms of the length
of the platinum rod. Explain.
13. If 5 cm is taken as the new unit of length and 20 g as the new unit of mass, what is the density
of a substance in the new system, when its density M the old system is 8 g cm 3 ?
14. The total surface area of a given cuboid structure was found to increase by 100%. If the length
and breath are 20 cm and 10 cm respectively which remain unchanged, then the height of the
structure increases from 5 cm to
15. The unit of power is 106 erg mm1. Unit of force is 103 dyne. Unit of time is 101 sec. Find the unit
of length.
KEY TO WORK SHEET

1) watt second 2) 86400 3) 129 105 4) 106 cm3

dy 64 m 1 34
5) 0.75 cm3 6) 750 7) = 8) =
dz 27 m 2 25

9) 105 dyne 10) i) In C.G.S Nm2 kg2 , in S.I dyne cm2 g2 11) 0.8

5
13) 50 gec 14) 16.67 cm 15) cm
3

10