CHAPTER-1

GENERAL PHYSICS
FILL IN THE BLANKS
1.
2.
3.
4.

Planck's constant has dimensions ......

(1985; 2M)
In the formula X = 3Y Z2, X and Z have dimensions of capacitance and magnetic induction respectively. The
dimensions of Y in MKSQ system are .......
(1988; 2M)
The dimensions of electrical conductiviy is ....
(1997; 1M)

a
The equation of state of a real gas is given by P + 2 (V b) = RT where P, V and T are pressure, volume

V
and temperature respectively and R is the universal gas constant. The dimensions of the constant a in the above
equation is .....
(1997; 2M)

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

error in the measurement of its density is : (2004; 2M)

(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 4

Only one option is correct :

1. In the formula X = 3Y Z2, X and Z have dimensions of
capacitance and magnetic induction respectively.What
are the dimensions of Y in MKSQ system ?(1995; 2M)
(a) [M 3L1T3Q4]
(b) [M 3L2T4Q4]
(c) [M 2L2T4Q4]
(d) [M 3L2T4Q]
2. The dimensions of

7.

Which of the following sets have different dimensions?

(2005; 2M)
(a) Pressure, Young's modulus, Stress
(b) Emf, Potential difference, Electric Potential
(c) Heat, Work done, Energy
(d) Diple moment, Electric flux, Electric field

8.

A student performs an experiment for determination of

1
0 E 2 ( o : permittivity of free space,
2

E : electric field ) is :
(a) [MLT 1]
(b) [ML2T2]
2
(c) [MLT )
(d) [ML2T1]
3. A quantity X is given by 0L

(2000; 2M)

42l
g = 2
T

V
, where 0 is the
t

T he takes the time of n oscillations with the stop

watch of least count T and he commits a human error
of 0.1s. For which of the following data, the
measurement of g will be most accurate? (2006; 3M)
(a) L = 0.5, T = 0.1, n = 20
(b) L = 0.5, T = 0.1, n = 50
(c) L = 0.5, T = 0.01, n = 20
(d) L = 0.1, T = 0.05, n = 50

permittivity of free space, L is a length, V is a

potential difference and t is a time interval. The
dimensional formula for X is the same as that of :
(2001: 2M)
(a) resistance
(b) charge
(c) voltage
(d) current
4. A cube has a side of length 1.2 102m. Calculate its
volume :
(2003; 2M)
(a) 1.7 106 m3
(b) 1.73 106 m3
(c) 1.70 106 m3
(d) 1.732 106 m3
5. In the relation, P =

, l 1 m, and he commits an error of l. For

AB

9.

Z
k
e

P is pressure, Z is distance, k is Boltzmann constant

and is the temperature. The dimensional formula of
will be :
(2004; 2M)
(a) [M 0L2T0]
(b) [ML2T]
(c) [ML0T1]
(d) [M 0L2T1]

The circular scale of

a screw gauge has
50 divisions and
pitch of 0.5 mm. Find
the diameter of
sphere. Main scale
reading is 2
(2006, 3M)

6. A wire has a mass (0.3 + 0.003)g, radius (0.5 + 0.005)

mm and length (6 + 0.06) cm. The maximum percentage
1

E
5

K
R

M
AB

N H
''2

E
25

K
R

(a) 1.2
(c) 2.20

N H

(b) 1.25
(d) 2.25

combination which have the dimensions of frequency

are :
(1984, 2M)
(a) 1/RC
(b) R/L

10. A student performs an experiment to determine the

Young's modulus of a wire, exactly 2m long, by Searle's
method. In a particular reading, the student measures
the extension in the length of the wire to be 0.8 mm
with an uncertainty of + 0.05 mm at a load of exactly
1.0 kg. The student also measures the diameter of the
wire to be 0.4 mm with an uncertainty of + 0.01 mm.
Take g = 9.8m/s 2 (exact). The Young's modulus obtained
from the reading is :
(2007; 3M)
(a) (2.0 + 0.3) 10 11 N/m2
(b) (2.0 + 0.2) 1011 N/m2
(c) (2.0 + 0.1) 1011 N/m2
(d) (2.0 + 0.05) 1011 N/m2

2.

11. In the experiment to determine the speed of sound

using a resonance coloumn :
(2007, 3M)
(a) prongs of the tuning fork are kept in a vertical
plane
(b) prongs of the tuning fork are kept in a horizontal
plane
(c) in one of the two resonances observed, the length
of the resonating air column is close to the
wavelength of sound in air
(d) in one of the two resonances observed, the length
of the resonating air column is close to half of the
wavelength of sound in air
12. Students I, II and III perform an experiment for measuring
the acceleration due to gravity (g) using a simple
pendulum. They use different lengths of the pendulum
and/or record time for different number of oscillations.
The observations are shown in the table.
Least count for length = 0.1 cm
Least count for time = 0.1s

3.

The pairs of physical quantities that have the same

dimensions is (are) :
(1995, 2M)
(a) Reynolds number and coefficient of friction
(b) Curie and frequency of a light wave
(c) Latent heat and gravitational potential
(d) Planck's consant and torque

4.

Let [0] denote the dimensional formula of the

permittivity of the vaccum and [0] that of the
permeability of the vaccum. If M = mass, L = length,
T = time and I = electric current :
[1998 , 2M]
(a) [0] = [M 1L3T2I]
(b) [0] = [M 1L3T4I2]
(c) [0] = [MLT 2I2]
(d) [0] = [ML2T1I]

5.

The SI Unit of the inductance, the henry can be written

as :
(1998, 2M)
(a) weber/ampere
(b) volt-second/ampere
(c) joule/(ampere)2
(d) ohm-second

6.

A student performed the experiment of determination

of focal length of a concave mirror by u-v method
using an optical bench of length 1.5 meter. The focal
lenth of the mirror used is 24 cm. The maximum error
in the location of the image can be 0.2 cm. The 5 sets
of (u, v) values recorded by the student (in cm) are:
(42, 56), (48, 48), (60, 40), (66, 33), (78, 39). The data
set(s) that cannot come from experiment and is (are)
incorrectly recorded, is (are)
(2009; M)
(a) (42, 56)
(b) (48, 48)
(c) (66, 33)
(d) (78, 39)

7.

A student performed the experiment to measure the

speed of sound in air using resonance air-column
method. Two resonances in the air-column were
obtained by lowering the water level. The resonance
and that with the longer air-column is the second
resonance. Then,
(2009; M)
(a) the intensity of the sound heard at the first
resonance was more than that at the second
resonance
(b) the prongs of the tuning fork were kept in a
horizontal plane above the resonance tube

Student Lenth of Number of Total time Time

the
oscillations for (n) period (s)
pendulum
(n)
oscillations
(cm)
(s)
I
II
III

64.0
64.0
20.0

8
4
4

128.0
64.0
36.0

16.0
16.0
9.0

If EI, EII and EI I I are the percentage errors in g,

100 for students I, II and III, respectively,

i.e.,
g

(2008, 3M)
(a) EI = 0
(b) EI is minimum
(c) EI = EII
(d) EII is maximum

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
More than one options are correct :
1. L,C and R represent the physical quantities inductance,
capacitance and resistance respectively. The
2

(c) 1/ LC
(d) C/L
The dimensions of the quantities in one (or more) of
the following pairs are the same. Identify the pair (s) :
(1986, 2M)
(a) torque and work
(b) angular momentum and work
(c) energy and Young's modulus
(d) light year and wavelength

(c) the amplitude of vibration of the ends of the

prongs is typically around 1 cm
(d) the length of the air-column at the first resonance
was somewhat shorter than 1/4th of the wavelength
of the sound in air.

Capacitance
Inductance
Resistivity
6.

N division on the main scale of a vernier callipers

coincide with N + 1 division on the vernier scale. If
each division on the main scale of a units, determine
the least count of instrument.
(2003, 2M)

7.

In a Searle's experiment, the diameter of the wire as

measured by a screw gauge of least count 0.001 cm is
0.050 cm. The length, measured by a scale of least
count 0.01 cm, is 110.0 cm. When a weight of 50N is
suspended from the wire, the extension is measured to
be 0.125 cm by a micrometer of least count 0.001 cm.
Find the maximum error in the measurement of Young's
modulus of the material of the wire from these data.
(2004, 2M)

8.

The pitch of a screw gauge is 1 mm and there are 100

divisions on the circular scale. While measuring the
diameter of a wire, the linear scale reads 1 mm and 47th
division on the circular scale coincides with the
reference line. The length of the wire is 5.6 cm. Find the
curved surface area (in cm2) of the wire in appropriate
number of significant figures.
(2004, 2M)

9.

The edge of a cube is measured using a vernier

calliper. [9 divisions of the main scale is equal to 10
divisions of vernier scale and 1 main scale division is
1 mm. The main scale division reading is 10 and 1
division of vernier scale was found to be coinciding
with the main scale. The mass of the cube is 2.736 g.
Calculate the density in g/cm3 upto correct signficiant
figures.
(2005, 2M)

SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
1. Give the MKS units for each of the following
quantities :
(1980, 3M)
(i) Young's modulus,
(ii) Magnetic induction,
(iii) Power of a lens.
2. A gas bubble, from an explosion under water, oscillates
wih a period T proportional to Pa d b Ec , where P is the
static pressure, d is the density of water and E is the
total energy of the explosion. Find the value of a, b
and c.
(1981, 3M)
3. Write the dimensions of the following in terms of
mass, time, length and charge :
(1982, 2M)
(i) Magnetic flux
(ii) Modulus of rigidity
4. Column-I gives three physical quantities. Select the
appropriate units for the choices given in column-II.
Some of the physical quanitities may have more than
one choice.
(1990, 3M)
Column-I
Column-II
Capacitance
ohm-second
Inductance
coulomb 2-joule 1
Magnetic induction coulomb(volt)1,
newton (ampere metre)1,
volt - second (ampere)1
5. Match the physical quantities given in column I with
dimensions expressed in terms of mass (M) length (L)
time (T), and change (Q) given in column II and write
the correct answer against the matched quantity in a
tabular form in your answer book.
(1993, 6M)
I
II
Angular momentum [ML2T2]
Latent heat
[ML2Q2]
Torque
[ML2T1]

[ML3T1Q2]
[M 1L2T2Q2]
[L2T2]

10. In Searle's experiment, which is used to find Young's

modulus of elasticity, the diameter of experimental wire
is D = 0.05 cm (measured by a scale of least count
0.001 cm) and length is L = 110 cm (measured by a
scale of least count 0.1 cm). A weight of 50 N causes
an extension of X = 0.125 cm (measured by a micrometer
of least count 0.001 cm). Find maximum possible error
in the values of Young's modulus. Screw gauge and
meter scale are free from error.
(2004; 2M)

MATCH THE COLUMN

1. Some physical quantities are given in Column I and some possible SI units in which these quantities may be
expressed are given in Column II. Match the physical quantities in Column I with the units in Column. II.
(2007, 6M)
Column I
Column II
(A) GM e M s
G universal gravitational constant,
(p)
(volt) (coulomb) (metre)
Me mass of the earth,
Ms mass of the sun.
(B)

3RT
M

(q)
3

(kilogram) (metre)3 (second)2

R universal gas constant,

T absolute temperature,
M molar mass.

F2
(C)
q2 B2

(r)

(metre)2 - (scond)2

(s)

(farad) (volt)2 (kg)1

F force,
q charge,
B magnetic field.
(D)

GM e
Re

G universal gravitational constant,

Me mass of the earth,
Re radius of the earth

ANSWERS
FILL IN THE BLANKS
1. [ML2T1]

2. [M 3L2T4Q4]

3. [M 1L3T3A 2]

4. [ML5T-2]

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS (ONLY ONE OPTION)

1. (b)
8. (d)

2. None of the four choices

9. (a)

3. (d)
10. (b)

4. (a)
11. (a)

5. (a)
12. (b)

6. (d)

7. (d)

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS (MORE THAN ONE OPTION)

1. (a, b, c) 2. (a, d)

3. (a, b, c)

4. (b, c)

5. (a, b, c, d)

6. (c, d)

7. (a, d)

SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
5
1
1
,b= , c=
6
2
3

1. (i) N/m2 (ii) Tesla (iii) m1

2. a =

4. See the solution

5. See the solution

8. 2.6 cm2

9. 2.66 g/cm3

3. (i) [ML2T1Q1] (ii) [ML1T2]

6.

a
N +1

7. 1.09 1010 N/m2

10. 1.09 1010 N/m2

MATCH THE COLUMN

1. A-p, q

B - r, s

C-r, s

D-r, s

SOLUTIONS
3. Electrical conductivity =

FILL IN THE BLANKS

1.

E = hv
2

2.

J i/ A
=
E F /q

[ E ] [ ML T ]
E
=
= [ ML2T 1 ]
h=
or [ h] =
v
[ ]
[T 1 ]

[X] = [C] = [M 1L2T2Q2]

[Z] = [B] = [MT1Q1]

[Y ] =

[s ] =

[ M 1L2T 2Q2 ]
= [ M 3 L 2T 4Q 4 ]
1 1 2
[ MT Q ]

4.

qi (it )(i ) i 2t
=
=
FA
FA
FA

A2 [ T ]

= M 1L 3T 3A 2

MLT 2 L2

a
2 = [P ]
V

[a] = [PV2] = [ML1T2][L6] = [ML5T2]

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS (ONLY ONE OPTION)

1.

Capaci tan ce
X
[ Y] = 2 =
2
Z ( Magnetic induction)

M 1L2Q2 T 2
=
= M 3L 2Q 4T 4
2 2 2
M Q T

2.

After the substituting the values, we get the maximum

percentage error in density = 4%
Hence, the correct option is (d).
7.

]
8.

Correct answer is (b).

9.

ML2T 2
1
2
1 2
= [ML T ]
2 0E =
3

4.

or

0 =

(d)

0. 5
50
= 0.01mm
Now, diameter of ball
= (2 0.5 mm) + (25 5) (0.01)
= 1.2 mm

( q) L
A.( V)

q =

0 A
V
L
10.

Y =

V = l3 = (1.2 102m)3
= 1.728 106 m3
Q Length (l) has two significant figures, the volume
(V) will also have two significant figures. Therefore,
the correct answer is
V = 1.7 106 m3
Z
k =

5.

Pitch
Numberofdivisiononcircularscale

A q
=
L V

or

Least count (L.C)

=

q
V

C=

g l
T
=
+2
g
l
n

In option (d) error in g is minimum and number of

observations made are maximum. Hence, in this case
error in g will be minimum.

1
0 E 2 is the expression
2
of energy density (Energy per unit volume)
(None of the four choices)

3.

Dipole moment = (charge) (distance)

Electric flux = (electric field) (area)
Hence, the correct option is (d).

k
Z

Further

[P] =

[ ] =

= k
P ZP

(0.4 103 )2 (0.8 103 )

Further

Y
d
= 2 +
Y
d

Density =

2 0.01 + 0.05 2.0 1011

0.4
0.8

= 0.2 1011N/m2
or,
(Y + Y) = (2 + 0.2) 1011N/m2
The correct option is (b).
11. Length of air column in resonance is odd integer
multiple of

ML2T 2

= M 0L 2T 0
1 2
LML T

.
4

Correct option is (a).

Therefore, the correct option is (a).

6.

l
l

Y = 2 d + l Y

Dimensions of k are that of energy. Hence,

[ ] =

(4)(1.0 9.8)(2)

= 2.0 1011 N/m2

M0L 0T 0

[ ] =

FL 4 FL
=
Al d 2l

12. T = 2

m
r 2L

m
r L
100 =
+2 +
100

r
L
m

or
5

l
g
t
l
= 2
n
g

g=

(b) e = L

di

dt

( 4 2 )( n 2 )l
t2

L=

0. 1 2 0.1
EI =
+
100 = 0.3125 %
128
64

(c)

U=

0.1 2 0.1
E II =
+
100 = 0. 46875 %
64
64

L=

(d)

U=

L = Rt or henry = ohm- second

6.

(a) Torque and work both have the dimensions

[ML2T2]
(d) Light year and wavelength both have the dimension
of length i.e., [L]
Answer is (a) and (d).
Reynold's number and coefficient of friction are
dimensionless quantities.
Curie is the number of atoms decaying per unit time
and frequency is the number of oscillation per unit
time.
Latent heat and gravitational potential both have the
same dimension corresponding to energy per unit
mass.

7.

[0] =

1 2
Li
2

2U
i2

1 2 2
Li = i Rt
2

2.

4.

(a) L =

56 cm
48 cm
40 cm
37.7

v = 34.67

?
4

[T] = [Pa d bEc ] = [ML1T2]a [ML3]b [ML2T2]c

Equating the powers both sides, we have
a + b + c = 0
...(1)
a 3b + 2c = 0
...(2)
2a 2c = 1
...(3)
Solving these three equations, we have

t= L

[L] = [tR] = ohm - second

q2
2C

[C ] =

[q 2 ]
= coulomb 2/joule
[U ]

q = CV

[C ] =

[q ]
= coulomb/volt
[V ]

U =

[ 0 ][c ]2
1
M L T I LT

5.

=
=
=
=

(a, d)

1 3 4 2

v
v
v
v

5
1
1
a= , b=
and c =
6
2
3

0 0

For a longer air column, absorption of energy is more.

[0]

joule
(ampere)2

SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

= [M 1L3T4I2]

or henry =

1 1 1
By using mirror formula v + u = f

[q1 ][q 2 ] =
[IT]2
[ F ] r2 MLT 2 L2

Speed of light c =

or henry =

Due to end correction, l + e =

1 q1q2
.
F=
4 0 r2

4.

(di/dt )

For set 1 u = 42 cm, f = 24 cm

For set 2 u = 48 cm, f = 24 cm
For set 3 u = 60 cm, f = 24 cm
For set 4 u = 66 cm, f = 24 cm
0.2 33 cm
For set 5 u = 78 cm, f = 24 cm
0.2 39 cm

(c), (d)

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS (MORE THAN ONE OPTION)

3.

volt-second
ampere

0.1 2 0.1
E III =
+
100 = 1. 055 %
36
20
Hence EI is minimum.

correct option is (b).

2.

g
l 2t
100 = +
100
g
t
l

% error in g =

[MLT 2I2]

weber

or henry =
i
ampere

[ e( dt)]
e
[ L] = [( di)] =volt-second/ampere
di / dt

 [ B] =

F = ilB
I
Capacitance
Inductance
Magnetic induction
5.

6.

Diameter of wire = (1 + 47 0.01) mm = 1.47mm

[F ]
= newton/ampere-metre
[ il]

d
curved surface area (in cm2) = ( 2 ) ( L)
2

II
coulomb-volt , coulomb 2 joule 1
ohm-sec, volt second ampere 1
newton (ampere-metre)1

= d L
= () (1.47 101)(5.6) cm2
= 2.5848 cm2
Rounding off to two significant digits
S = 2.6 cm2
1MSD = 1 mm
9 MSD = 10 VSD

Least count,
or,

The correct Table is as under :

I
II
Angular momentum [ML2T1]
Latent heat
[L2T2]
Torque
[ML2T-2]
Capacitance
[M 1L2T2Q2]
Inductance
[ML2Q2]
Resistivity
[ML3T1Q2]

9.

L.C. = 1 MSD 1 VSD = 1mm

Measured reading of edge = MSR + VSR (LC)

= 10 + 1

(N + 1) V.S.D. = N M.S.D.
1 V.S.D. =

Density of cube =
(Q

a
N
=
= a a
N
+
1
N
+1

10. Young's modulus of elasticity is given by

Young's modulus of elasticity is given by

stress F / A FL
=
=
strain
l /L
lA
=

FL
d 2
l

F =

50 1.1 4

= 2.24 1011 N/m2

Now,

Y L
l
d
=
+
+2
Y
L
l
d

= 0.0489
Y = (0.0489)Y
= (0.0489) (2.24 1011) N/m2
= 1.09 1010 N/m2
Least count of screw gauge =

Y L l
d
=
+ +2
Y
L
l
d

0.1 0.001 0. 001

+
+ 2

=
110 0. 125 0.05
= 0.0489
Y = (0.0489)Y
= (0.0489) (2.24 1011)N/m2
= 1.09 1010 N/m2

0.1 0.001
0.001
=
+
+ 2 0.05
110 0.125

8.

(1.25 10 ) (5.0 104 )2

4 2

= 2.24 1011N/m2
Now,

FL
d 2

l
4

50 1.1 4

(1.25 10 ) (5.0 10 )
3

stress
F / A FL
=
=
strain
l /L
lA

Substituting the values, we get

Substituting the values, we get

Y =

2.736
= 2.66 g/cm3
1.030301

Edge is having dimensions of 3 significant

figures)

Y=

Y=

1
= 10.1 mm
10

Volume of cube = (1.01)3 = 1030.301 mm3

= 1.030301 cm3

N
M.S.D.
N +1

N
=
a units
N +1
So least count = 1 M.S.D. - 1 V.S.D.

7.

9
1
mm = mm
10
10

1mm
= 0.01mm
100