Science |Class 11th| Notes | Physics |Unit- 1. Physical World And Measurements Chapter-1 Physical WorldPart-4

Dimensions of physical quantities

Dimension of Physical Quantities:-

The dimensions of a physical zodiac are the powers that have to be mounted on the original units to get the derived units of that physical zodiac.

(The dimensions of a physical quantity are the powers raised on fundamental units to obtain the derived unit of that physical quantity).

for example:-

Density = mass / volume

= mass / (length x width x thickness)

Drive unit for density     = unit of mass / (unit of length)3

= (unit of mass)1(unit of length)2

Obviously: to get the unit of density, we have to raise the power of 1 on the unit of mass and (-3) on the unit of length.
Therefore, the dimensions of density are 1 in mass and (-3) in length.
There is a clear difference between the dimension of a physical sign and its unit.

For example:- the unit of density can be written in different ways like this: gram / cm3, kg / m3, pound / ft.3
Clearly, all these units are different, although each dimension is 1 in mass and (-3) in length.
Therefore, the dimensions of a physical zodiac do not depend on the units expressing the zodiac.
To write the dimensions of the physical quantities in mechanics and thermodynamics, we represent the basic units of mass, length, time and heat with M, L, T and θ respectively.
If the dimensions of a physical zodiac are A in mass, B in length, C in time and D in heat, then the dimensions of that physical zodiac will be written in square bracket as follows: [Ma Lb Tc θd].
This is also called the Dimensional Formula of that physical zodiac.

Dimension of some Physical Quantities:-

Base quantity:-

 Base quantity Symbol SI base unit Dimension Length l metre (m) L Mass m kilogram (k) M Time t second (s) T Electric Current I ampere (A) I Temperature T kelvin (K) Θ Amount of substance n mole (mol) N Luminous intensity Iv, cd candela (cd) J

Dimensionless Quantities:-

There are no dimensions of pure numbers and pure proportions, such quantities are called dimensionless quantities, such as - angle, distortion, relative density, π, sinθ, cosθ, tanθ etc.

Uses of Dimensions

The dimensions have the following four uses:

(i) Converting physical quantities from one method of the unit to another

(ii) checking the veracity of an equation

(iii) talking about constants and variables in an equation.

(iv) To establish relations between various physical quantities.