AL MUSTAQBAL UNIVERSITY

ENGINEERING TECHNICAL COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING

TECHNOLOGIES

ENGINEERING PHYSICS
FIRST CLASS

LECTURE NO. 2

ASST. LECTURER

AHMED HABEEB

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 UNITS AND DIMENSIONS

1.4 DEFINITION OF DIMENSIONS

Dimensions: The powers, to which the fundamental units of mass, length and time
written as M, L and T are raised, which include their nature and not their magnitude.
For example,
Area = Length x Breadth
= [ L¹] × [L¹] = [L²] = [M⁰L²T⁰]
Power (0,2,0) of fundamental units are called dimensions of area in mass, length and
time respectively.
e.g. Density = mass/volume
= [M¹]/[L³]
= [ M¹L̄ ³T⁰]

1.5 DIMENSIONAL FORMULAE AND SI UNITS OF PHYSICAL QUANTITIES

Dimensional Formula: An expression along with power of mass, length & time which
indicates how physical quantity depends upon fundamental physical quantity.
e.g. Speed = Distance/Time
= [L¹]/[T¹] = [M⁰L¹T ̄ ³]
It tells us that speed depends upon L & T. It does not depend upon M.

Dimensional Equation: An equation obtained by equating the physical quantity with its
dimensional formula is called dimensional equation.
The dimensional equation of area, density & velocity are given as under-
Area = [M⁰L²T⁰]
Density = [M¹L̄ ³T⁰]
Velocity = [M⁰L¹T ̄ ¹]

2 | AL MUSTAQBAL UNIVERSITY / ENGINEERING TECHNICAL COLLEGE / DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES
Dimensional formula SI& CGS unit of Physical Quantities
Sr. No. Physical Quantity Formula Dimensions Name of S.I unit

1 Force Mass × acceleration [M¹L¹T ̄ ²] Newton (N)

2 Work Force × distance [M¹L² T ̄ ²] Joule (J)
3 Power Work / time [M¹L² T ̄ ³] Watt (W)
4 Energy ( all form ) Stored work [M¹L²T ⁻²] Joule (J)
5 Pressure, Stress Force/area [M¹L⁻¹T ⁻²] Nm⁻²
6 Momentum Mass × velocity [M¹L¹T ⁻¹] Kgms⁻¹
7 Moment of force Force × distance [M¹L²T ⁻²] Nm
8 Impulse Force × time [M¹L¹T ⁻¹] Ns
9 Strain Change in dimension / [M⁰L⁰T⁰] No unit
Original dimension
10 Modulus of elasticity Stress / Strain [M¹L⁻¹T ⁻²] Nm⁻²
11 Surface energy Energy / Area [M¹L⁰T ⁻²] Joule/m²
12 Surface Tension Force / Length [M¹L⁰T ⁻²] N/m
13 Co-efficient of viscosity Force × Distance/ [M¹L⁻¹T ⁻¹] N/m²
Area × Velocity
14 Moment of inertia Mass × (radius of gyration)² [M¹L²T⁰] Kg-m²
15 Angular Velocity Angle / time [M⁰L⁰T ⁻¹] Rad. per sec
16 Frequency 1/Time period [M⁰L⁰T ⁻¹] Hertz
17 Area Length × Breadth [M⁰L²T⁰] Metre²
18 Volume Length × breadth × height [M⁰L³T⁰] Metre³

Classification of Physical Quantity: Physical quantity has been classified into following
four categories on the basis of dimensional analysis.
1. Dimensional Constant: These are the physical quantities which possess dimensions
and have constant (fixed) value.
e.g. Planck’s constant, gas constant, universal gravitational constant etc.
2. Dimensional Variable: These are the physical quantities which possess dimensions
and do not have fixed value. e.g. velocity, acceleration, force etc.
3. Dimensionless Constant: These are the physical quantities which do not possess
dimensions but have constant (fixed) value.
e.g. e, 𝜋, 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 1,2,3,4,5 etc.
3 | AL MUSTAQBAL UNIVERSITY / ENGINEERING TECHNICAL COLLEGE / DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES
4. Dimensionless Variable: These are the physical quantities which do not possess
dimensions and have variable value.
e.g. angle, strain, specific gravity etc.

Example.1 Derive the dimensional formula of following Quantity & write down their
dimensions.
(i) Density (ii) Power (iii) Co-efficient of viscosity (iv) Angle
Sol.
(i) Density = mass/volume
=[M]/[L³] = [M¹L⁻³T⁰]

(ii) Power = Work/Time

=Force x Distance/Time
= [M¹L¹T ⁻²] x [L¹]/[T¹]
= [M¹L²T ⁻³]

(iii) Co-efficient of viscosity = [Force x Distance] / [Area x Velocity]

= [Mass x Acceleration x Distance x time] / [length x length x Displacement]
=[M] x [LT ⁻²] x [L] [T]/[L²] x [L]
=[M¹L⁻¹T ⁻¹]

(iv) Angle = arc (length)/radius (length)

= [L]/[L]
=[M⁰L⁰T⁰] = no dimension

Example.2 Explain which of the following pair of physical quantities have the same
dimension: (i) Work &Power (ii) Stress & Pressure (iii) Momentum &Impulse
Sol.
(i) Dimension of work = force x distance = [M¹L²T ⁻²]
Dimension of power = work / time = [M¹L²T ⁻³]
Work and Power have not the same dimensions.

4 | AL MUSTAQBAL UNIVERSITY / ENGINEERING TECHNICAL COLLEGE / DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES
(ii) Dimension of stress = force / area = [M¹L¹T ⁻²]/[L²] = [M¹L⁻¹T ⁻²]
Dimension of pressure = force / area = [M¹L¹T ⁻²]/[L²] = [M¹L⁻¹T ⁻²]
Stress and pressure have the same dimension.

(iii) Dimension of momentum = mass x velocity= [M¹L¹T ⁻¹]

Dimension of impulse = force x time = [M¹L¹T ⁻¹]
Momentum and impulse have the same dimension.

1.6 PRINCIPLE OF HOMOGENEITY OF DIMENSIONS

It states that the dimensions of all the terms on both sides of an equation must be the
same. According to the principle of homogeneity, the comparison, addition &
subtraction of all physical quantities is possible only if they are of the same nature i.e.,
they have the same dimensions.
If the power of M, L and T on two sides of the given equation are same, then the
physical equation is correct otherwise not. Therefore, this principle is very helpful to
check the correctness of a physical equation.
Example: A physical relation must be dimensionally homogeneous, i.e., all the terms
on both sides of the equation must have the same dimensions.
In the equation, S = ut + ½ at²
The length (S) has been equated to velocity (u) & time (t), which at first seems to be
meaningless, but if this equation is dimensionally homogeneous, i.e., the dimensions
of all the terms on both sides are the same, then it has physical meaning.
Now, dimensions of various quantities in the equation are:
Distance, S = [L¹]
Velocity, u = [L¹T ⁻¹]
Time, t = [T¹]
Acceleration, a = [L¹T ⁻²]
½ is a constant and has no dimensions.
Thus, the dimensions of the term on L.H.S. is S=[L¹] and
Dimensions of terms on R.H.S.
ut + ½ at² = [L¹T ⁻¹] [T¹] + [L¹T ⁻²] [T²] = [L¹] + [L¹]
Here, the dimensions of all the terms on both sides of the equation are the same.
Therefore, the equation is dimensionally homogeneous.

5 | AL MUSTAQBAL UNIVERSITY / ENGINEERING TECHNICAL COLLEGE / DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES
1.7 DIMENSIONAL EQUATIONS, APPLICATIONS OF DIMENSIONAL EQUATIONS;
Dimensional Analysis: A careful examination of the dimensions of various quantities
involved in a physical relation is called dimensional analysis. The analysis of the
dimensions of a physical quantity is of great help to us in a number of ways as discussed
under the uses of dimensional equations.
Uses of dimensional equation: The principle of homogeneity & dimensional analysis has
put to the following uses:
(i) Checking the correctness of physical equation.
(ii) To convert a physical quantity from one system of units into another.
(iii) To derive relation among various physical quantities.
1. To check the correctness of Physical relations: According to principle of Homogeneity
of dimensions a physical relation or equation is correct, if the dimensions of all the
terms on both sides of the equation are the same. If the dimensions of even one term
differs from those of others, the equation is not correct.

Example 3. Check the correctness of the following formulae by dimensional analysis.

(i) 𝐹=𝑚v²/r (ii) 𝑡=2𝜋√𝑙/𝑔
Where all the letters have their usual meanings.
Sol. 𝑭=𝒎𝐯²/𝐫
Dimensions of the term on L.H.S
Force, F = [M¹L¹T ⁻²]
Dimensions of the term on R.H.S
𝒎𝐯𝟐/𝐫 = [M¹] [L¹T ⁻¹] ² / [L]
= [M¹L²T ⁻²]/ [L]
= [M¹L¹T ⁻²]
The dimensions of the term on the L.H.S are equal to the dimensions of the term on
R.H.S. Therefore, the relation is correct.

(ii) 𝒕=𝟐𝝅√𝒍/𝒈
Here, Dimensions of L.H.S, t = [T¹] = [M⁰L⁰T¹]
Dimensions of the terms on R.H.S
Dimensions of (length) = [L¹]
Dimensions of g (acc due to gravity) = [L¹T ⁻²]

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2𝜋 being constant have no dimensions.
Hence, the dimensions of terms 2𝜋√𝑙/𝑔 on R.H.S
= (L¹/ L¹T ⁻²]) ½= [T¹] = [M⁰L⁰T¹]
Thus, the dimensions of the terms on both sides of the relation are the same i.e.,
[M⁰L⁰T¹]. Therefore, the relation is correct.

Example 4. Check the correctness of the following equation on the basis of dimensional
analysis, 𝑉=√𝐸𝑑. Here V is the velocity of sound, E is the elasticity and d is the density
of the medium.
Sol. Here, Dimensions of the term on L.H.S
V = [M⁰L¹T ⁻¹]
Dimensions of elasticity, E = [M¹L⁻¹T ⁻²]
& Dimensions of density, d = [M¹L⁻³T⁰]
Therefore, Dimensions of the terms on R.H.S
√𝑬𝒅 = [M¹L⁻¹T ⁻²/ M¹L⁻¹T ⁻²] ½ = [M⁰L¹T ⁻¹]
Thus, dimensions on both sides are the same, therefore the equation is correct.

Example 5. Using Principle of Homogeneity of dimensions, check the correctness of

equation, h = 2Td /rgCos𝜃.
Sol. The given formula is, h = 2Td /rgCos𝜃.
Dimensions of term on L.H.S
Height (h) = [M⁰L¹T⁰]
Dimensions of terms on R.H.S
T= surface tension = [M¹L⁰T ⁻²]
D= density = [M¹L⁻³T⁰]
r =radius = [M⁰L¹T⁰]
g=acc. due to gravity = [M⁰L¹T ⁻²]
Cos𝜃 = [M⁰L⁰T⁰] = no dimensions
So, Dimensions of 2Td/rgCos𝜃 = [M¹L⁰T ⁻²] x [M¹L⁻³T⁰] / [M⁰L¹T⁰] x [M⁰L¹T ⁻²]
= [M²L⁻⁵T⁰]
Dimensions of terms on L.H.S are not equal to dimensions on R.H.S. Hence, formula is
not correct.

7 | AL MUSTAQBAL UNIVERSITY / ENGINEERING TECHNICAL COLLEGE / DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES