## Dimension of Physical Quantity

Subject: Physics

#### Overview

Principle of homogeneity states that “The dimensions of fundamental quantities on a left-hand side of an equation must be equal to the dimensions of the fundamental quantities on the right-hand side of that equation.” This note provides us an information on dimension of a physical quantity.

#### Dimensions

Dimensions of a physical quantity are the powers to which fundamental quantities are to be raised to represent the quantity. The basic quantities with their symbols in square brackets are as follows:

$$[Length]=[L]$$

$$[Mass]=[M]$$

$$[Time]=[T]$$

$$[Temperature]=[K]or[\Theta]$$

$$[Current]=[A]0r[I]$$

$$[No.of Moles]=[N]$$

1. Velocity
$$V = \frac{displacement}{time}$$
$$V = \frac{[L]}{[T]}$$
$$=[M^0L^1T^{-1}]$$
Dimensions of velocity are 0 in mass, 1 in length and -1 in time i.e. (0, 1, -1)

1. Acceleration
$$V = \frac{\text{change in velocity}}{\text{time taken}}$$
$$V = \frac{displacement} {time \times time}$$
$$V = \frac{[L^1]}{[T^2]}$$
$$=[M^0L^1T^{-2}]$$
Dimensions of acceleration are (0, 1, -2).

1. Force
$$F = mass \times acceleration$$
$$=mass \times \frac{\text{change in velocity}}{\text{time taken}}$$
$$= mass\times \frac{displacement} {time \times time}$$
$$=[M^1] \frac{[L^1]}{[T^2]}$$
$$=[M^1L^1T^{-2}]$$
Dimensions of force are (1, 1, -2).

#### Dimensional formula

It is the expression which shows how and which fundamental quantities are used in the representation of a physical quantity.

1) Velocity [M0 L1 T-1]

2) Acceleration [M0 L1 T-2]

3) Force [M1 L1 T-2]

4) Energy [M1 L2 T-2]

5) Power [M1 L2 T-3]

6) Momentum [M1 L1 T-1]

7) Pressure [M1 L-1 T-2]

#### Dimensional equation

It is the equation obtained by equating a physical quantity with its dimensional formula.

1) Velocity [V] = [M0 L1 T-1]

2) Acceleration[a] = [M0 L1 T-2]

3) Force [F] = [M1 L1 T-2]

4) Energy [E] = [M1 L2 T-2]

5) Power [P] = [M1 L2 T-3]

6) Momentum [P] = [M1 L1 T-1]

7) Pressure [P] = [M1 L-1 T-2]

Dimensional Formulas of Some Physical Quantities

 S.N Physical quantity Relation with other physical quantities Dimensional formula SI-unit 1. Volume length× breadth× height [L] ×[L] ×[L]= [M0L3T0] m3 2. Velocity or speed $\frac{distance}{time}$ = [M0L0T-1] ms-1 3. Momentum mass × velocity [M] × [LT-1]= [MLT-1] kgms-1 4. Force mass × acceleration [M] × [LT-2]= [MLT-2] N (newton) 5. Pressure $\frac{force}{area}$ =[ML-1T--2] Nm-2 or Pa (pascal) 6. Work force × distance [MLT-2] ×[L]= [ML2T-2] J (joule) 7. Energy Work [ML2T-2] J (joule) 8. Power $\frac{work}{time}$ =[ML2T-3] W (watt) 9. Gravitational constant $\frac{force \times (distance)^2}{(mass)^2}$ [M-1L3T-2] Nm2kg-2 10. Angle $\frac{arc}{radius}$ Dimensionless rad 11. Moment of inertia mass × (distance)2 [ML2T0] Kgm2 12. Angular momentum moment of inertia × angular velocity [ML2T0] × [T-1]= [ML2T-1] Kgm2s-1 13. Torque or couple force × perpendicular distance [MLT-2] ×[L]= [ML2T-2] Nm 14. Coefficient of viscosity $\frac{force}{\text {area} \times \text {velocity gradient}}$ [ML-1T-1] Dap (Dacapoise) 15. Frequency $\frac{1}{second}$ [T-1] Hz

#### Principle of homogeneity

It states that “The dimensions of fundamental quantities on a left-hand side of an equation must be equal to the dimensions of the fundamental quantities on the right-hand side of that equation.”

#### Four Categories of Physical Quantities

Physical quantities can be categorized into four types. They are:

1. Dimensional variables
Those physical quantities which have dimensions but do not have fixed value are called dimensional variables. Examples: force, work, power, velocity etc.
2. Dimensionless variables
Those physical quantities which have neither dimensions nor fixed value are called dimensionless variables.
3. Dimensional constant
Those physical quantities which possess dimensions and fixed value are called dimensional constant. Their examples are gravitational constant, velocity of light etc.
4. Dimensionless constant
Those physical quantities which do not possess dimensions but possess fixed value are called dimensionless constant. Examples are pi π, counting number etc.

##### Things to remember
• Principle of homogeneity states that “The dimensions of fundamental quantities on a left-hand side of an equation must be equal to the dimensions of the fundamental quantities on the right-hand side of that equation.”
• Dimensions of a physical quantity are the powers to which fundamental quantities are to be raised to represent the quantity.
• Dimensional formula is the expression which shows how and which fundamental quantities are used in the representation of a physical quantity.

• It includes every relationship which established among the people.
• There can be more than one community in a society. Community smaller than society.
• It is a network of social relationships which cannot see or touched.
• common interests and common objectives are not necessary for society.