BASIC PHYSICS

Example 1
-

Write down the dimensions of

a)

Acceleration? [LT-2]

b)

Energy? [ML2T-2]

c)

Power? [ML2T-3]

d)

Momentum? [MLT-1]

e)

Electric Charge? [AT]

Example 2
-

The Youngs modulus E of a solid is given by

where
E is the Young's modulus (modulus of elasticity)
F is the force exerted on an object under tension;
A0 is the original cross-sectional area through which the force is applied;
L is the amount by which the length of the object changes;
L0 is the original length of the object.
Find the dimensions of Youngs modulus.
Answer:
[ML-1T-2]

Example 3
-

For an object moving with uniform acceleration, the velocity v is

given by the equation v2 = p + qx, where q is constant and x is a
variable.
What are the dimensions of term qx?

Answer:
[L2T-2]

Example 4
- The equation for real gases may be expressed as follows:
(P + a/V2)(V b) = nRT where P = pressure, V = volume, T = absolute
temperature, n= number of moles and R = molar gas constant.
What are the dimensions of a and b?
Answer:
Dimension of a is [ML5T-2] and b is [L3]

Example 5
-

The dimensions of the base quantities of length, mass, time, amount

of substance and temperature are denoted by the symbols L, M, T,
N and respectively. What are the dimensions of R in the equation
PV = nRT?
[Dimensions of p: ML-1T-2, V: L3, n:N, T: ]

Answer:
[ML2T-2N-1-1]

Example 6
-

Fermi energy Ef is a concept in quantum mechanics. It is the energy

of the highest occupied quantum state in a system of fermions at
zero temperature. Fermi energy of a metal can be related to other
variables by Ef = khambnc, where k is a constant of proportionality, h
is a Planck constant, m is the mass of an electron, n is the number
of free electrons per unit volume. Determine by dimensional analysis
the values of a, b and c.
[Unit for Planck constant h: Js]

Answer:
a = 2, b = -1 and c = 2/3

Example 7
-

Change the following unit.

a) 7200 km h-2 = . m s-2

b) 125 cm3 = . m3
c) 20 kg m s-2 = .g cm min-2
d) 0.8 g cm-3 = .kg m-3
e) 20 cm min-1 = .m s-1
Answer:
a) 0.556
b) 1.25 x 10-4
c) 7.2 x 109
d) 8000
e) 3.33 x 10-4

Example 8
-

The diameter of a sphere is measured as 6.28 cm. What is its

volume in cm3, m3, mm3?

Answer
1037 cm3, 1.037 x 10-3 m3, 1.037 x 106 mm3