2.

10 Mechanics I

Q.20 Value of gravitational constant in SI system is Q.24 The time period of revolution of a planet around the
G = 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 kg–2. Sun depends on mass of the Sun (m), distance of the planet
Find its numerical value in CGS system. from the sun (r) and the universal gravitational constant (G).
Find the formula for time period (T).
Q.21 In a new system of units, unit of mass is three times
of a kilogram and unit of length is half that of a metre. Q.25 After falling through a certain distance in the atmo-
Everything else is the same as in SI system. Find the numeri- sphere, rain drops attain a constant speed known as the
cal value of G in this system. terminal speed (v0). This terminal speed depends on radius
(r) of the drop, viscosity (h) of air and weight (W) of the
Q.22 Under certain conditions, the time period of drop.
oscillation of a small drop of liquid depends on density (d),
Find the effect on terminal speed if the viscosity gets
radius (r) and surface tension (S). Find the expression for
doubled.
time period (t).
Q.23 The frequency of oscillations of a guitar string
depends on tension force (F) in it, mass (m) and length (L)
of the string. Find the formula for frequency ( f ).

6.6 Limitations of Dimensional Analysis cannot derive a relation of form A = xa + yb + zc.

1
Dimensional analysis provides valuable insight into a physical We cannot derive the relation S = ut + __ ​   ​ at2 using
2
relation and even helps in guessing new relations. However, this method.
dimensional analysis has many limitations as well.
(iv) Derivation of a new relation is not possible using this
(i) By looking at dimensions of a quantity, we cannot relation if trigonometric, logarithmic or exponential
decipher which quantity it refers to. More than one functions are involved.
quantities can have the same dimensions.
(v) If we are deriving a relation in mechanics (which
(ii) When we derive a new relation using the method depends only on mass, time and length), then the
of dimensions, we cannot find the proportionality derivation will not be possible if a quantity depends
constant. on four or more quantities.
(iii) A new relation can be derived using this method If A = xa yb zc ud, then we cannot find a, b, c and d
only when a quantity depends on other quantities by as we can only create three equations.
multiplication and power relations. For example, we
(vi) A dimensionally correct relation may or may not be
can derive a relation of type A = k xa yb zc, but we
physically correct.

Miscellaneous Examples
  Example  14   For n mole of a gas, van der waals and [b] = [V] = [​ L3 ]​.
equation is
  Example 15 A new unit system chooses a unit of length
( a
​ P – ___
)
​  2 ​  ​ (V – b) = nRT.
V
such that the speed of light in vacuum is unity. Light takes
500 s to travel from the sun to the Earth. Calculate the
Find dimensions of a and b. P, V, R and T are pressure, distance between the sun and the Earth in the new unit
volume, gas constant and temperature, respectively. system.
Solution Solution
Concepts Concepts
(new unit of length)
All terms separated by +, – and = sign must have same Speed of light = 1​ __________________
s      ​
dimensions.
Required distance = Speed of light × time
[a]
​ ____  ​ = [P] fi [a] = [P] ​[ V 2 ]​ 1 (new unit of length)
= ​ ___________________
2
[V ]       ​ × 500 s
s
fi  [a] = [​ M1 L–1 T  –2 ]​ ​[ L6 ]​ = ​[ M–1 L5 T  –2 ] = 500 new unit of length.
​
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 Units and Dimensions 2.11

  Example 16 When a narrow glass tube of radius (r) is Solution

dipped in a liquid of density (d), the liquid in the tube rises Concepts
to a height h. It is known that h depends on surface tension
(S) of the liquid and acceleration due to gravity (g) apart [ ] [ ] [
dx
(i) ​ ___
Dx
​  ​  ​ = ​ ___
dt
Distance
​  ​  ​ = ​ ________
Dt
​ 
time ]
 ​  ​ = ​[ L1 T –1 ]​
from r and d.
​  ​ ​( ___
​  ​ )​
2
dx d dx
(i) Is it possible to have a formula for h with the (ii) ​ ___ ​ = __
information given? dt 2 dt dt

\ ​[ ___
​   ​ ]​ = ___
​   ​ ​[ ___
​  ​ ]​ = ______
2 –1
(ii) Obtain a formula for h if it is also known that dx 1 dx [LT ] 1 –2
​   ​ = [L T ]
1 2 [T] dt [T]
h µ __
​ r ​. dt

Solution From the principle of dimensional homogeneity,

Concepts
(i) h depends on four quantities. By method of dimen-
d2
[ ] [ ]
dx
​ a ​ ___2 ​  ​ = ​ b ___
dt
​  ​  ​ = [mg]
dt
sions, we will get only three equations. We cannot
establish a formula for h. \ [a] [​ L1 T –2 ]​ = [​ m1 L1 T –2 ]​
1
(ii) h µ __
​ r ​ is an additional information which tells us fi [a] = [​ m1 L0 T 0 ]​
that h depends on r as r–1; with this help, we can
easily find the formula. and [ ]
dx
​  ​  ​ = ​[ m1 L1 T –2 ]​
[b] ​ ___
dt
(i) No, a formula cannot be obtained as there are too fi [b] [L T –1] = [​ m1 L1 T –2 ]​
many physical quantities involved.
(ii) Let h = k r–1 S a d b g c fi [b] = [​ m1 L0 T –1 ]​
where k is a dimensionless constant
dx
  Example 18 A Ú​ ​​ ​ _______
______  ​ = v 2
[h] = [​ r S d g ]​
–1 a b c
÷​ a – x2 ​
2

Find [A] and [a], if v is speed and x is distance.

fi  ​[ M0 L1 T 0 ]​ = ​[ L–1 ]​ ​[ M1 T –2 ]​ ​[ M1 L–3 ]​ ​[ L1 T –2 ]​
a b c

Solution
\ ​[ M0 L1 T 0 ]​ = ​[ M a + b L–1 – 3b + c T – 2a – 2c ]​
Concepts
Equating the dimensions of M, L and T on both sides,
a+b=0 ...(i)
[ ]
​ Ú y dx ​ = [y] [dx] = [y] [x]
dx is a small change in x. Hence, [dx] = [x].
–1 – 3b + c = 1 ...(ii)
– 2a – 2c = 0 ...(iii) [a2] = [x2] [otherwise, we cannot write (a2 – x2)]
Multiplying (i) by (2) and adding to (iii) gives
fi [a] = [x] = [​ L1 ]​
2b – 2c = 0 fib=c

Putting this in (ii) gives
b = c = –1
[Ú dx
\ ​ ​ ​ _______
​ ______  ​  ​ =
÷​ a – x2 ​
2 ] [L]
​   ​ = ​[ M 0 L0 T 0 ]​
___
[L]

Putting this in (i) gives a = 1 \  [A] = [v2]

S
\ h = k r–1 S d–1 g–1 = k ​ ___​ = [L1 T –1]2 = ​[ L2 T  –2 ]​
rgd

  Example 17 Find dimensions of a and b in the following   Example 19 A particle of mass m can move along x-axis
expression: and its potential energy changes with its x coordinate as
a b
d2x dx U = ​ __2 ​ – ​ __
x ​, where a and b are constants.
a ​ ___2 ​ = b ___
​  ​ + mg x
dt dt
A student proves that the particle will perform oscillatory
x, t, m and g are distance, time, mass and acceleration
motion and calculates its time period as
due to gravity.

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2.12 Mechanics I

___
ma
÷
T = 4p a ​ ___
​  2 ​ ​ Given k = 1
b
\ [t] = ​[ ep ]​ ​[ Œ0q ]​ ​[ c r ]​ ​[ G s ]​ [​ M –2 ]​ [​ M –1 ]​
Is his expression dimensionally correct?
= [AT]p [​ M –1 L–3 A2 T 4 ]​ [​ L T –1 ]​ [​ M–1 L3 T–2 ]s​ ​[ m –3 ]​
q r

Solution
Concepts fi ​[ m 0 L0 T 1 Å ]​ = [​ M – q – s – 3 L–3q + r + 3s T p + 4q – r – 2s Ap + 2q ]​
Using the principle of homogeneity for the given expres- Equating dimensions of M, L, T and A
sion of potential energy, one can find dimensions of a
and b. –q – 3 – s = 0 ...(i)
This can be used to check the dimensional accuracy of
the expression of time period. – 3q + r + 3s = 0 ...(ii)

p + 4q – r – 2s = 1 ...(iii)
[U] = ​ __
x
a
[ ] [] b
​  2 ​  ​ = ​ __
​ x ​  ​
p + 2q = 0 ...(iv)
fi [a] = [U] [​ x2 ]​ = [​ m1 L2 T –2 ]​ ​[ L2 ]​ = ​[ m1 L4 T –2 ]​ Solving the above four equations will give the values of
p, q, r and s
And [b] = [U] [x] = [​ m L T ]​ [L] = [​ m L T ]​
1 2 –2 1 3 –2

Add (ii) and (iii) to eliminate r.

[ ]
1
___ ​ __ ​

[ ÷ ] ma
Now ​ 4 p a ​ ___
b
​m​2 ​ a3/2
​  2 ​ ​  ​ = ​ ​ ______​  ​
b
q+p+s=1

using (iv), q – 2q + s = 1

[ ]
1
​ __ ​ 3/2 6
​m ​2 ​m L T –3 fi – q + s = 1 ...(v)
= ​ ​       ​  ​ = [​ m L3 T–1 ]​ π [T]
_____________
m L T –2
3
Add (i) and (v)
Hence, student’s answer is definitely wrong. – 2q = 4 fi q = –  2

  Example 20 Construct an expression having dimensions of \ p = 4, q = – 2, s = – 1, r = – 3

time using the following constants.
e4
Charge on an electron (e), mass of an electron (m), mass \ t = e4 Œ0– 2 c–3 G–1 m–2 M –10 = ____________
​  3    ​
of a proton (M0), speed of light (c), gravitational constant Œ0 c G m2 M0
(G) and permittivity (Œ0). Substituting the numerical values
It is known that the desired expression is proportional to M –1
0
and m–2. Take the constant of proportionality to be 1. Dirac, N – m2
e = 1.6 × 10–19 C, Œ0 = 8.85 × 10–12 ​ ______
 ​
a great physicist, estimated this as the age of universe. What C2
is the value that he got?
Nm2
Solution c = 3 × 108 m s–1; G = 6.67 × 10–11 ​ ____  ​
kg2
Concepts
Powers of e, c, G and Œ0 will be four unknowns, and we m = 9.1 × 10–31 kg; M0 = 1.67 × 10–27 kg.
will have four equations by equating the dimensions of M,
L, T and current (A). we get t 3.4 × 1018 s 1011 years.

Let t = k ep Œ0q c r Gs m–2 M –10

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