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In order to make the measurement of a physical quantity we have, first of all, to evolve a
standard for that measurement so that different measurements of same physical quantity can
be expressed relative to each other. That standard is called a unit of that physical quantity.

 System of Units:-

(a) C.G.S (Centimeter-Grand-Second) system.

(b) F.P.S. (Foot-Pound-Second) system.

(c) M.K.S. (Meter-Kilogram--Second) system.

(d) M.K.S.A. (Meter-Kilogram-Second-Ampere) unit.

 Dimensional Formula:-

Dimensional formula of a physical quantity is the formula which tells us how and which of the
fundamental units have been used for the measurement of that quantity.

 How to write dimensions of physical quantities:-

(a) Write the formula for that quantity, with the quantity on L.H.S. of the equation.

(b) Convert all the quantities on R.H.S. into the fundamental quantities mass, length and
time.

(c) Substitute M, L and T for mass, length and time respectively.

(d) Collect terms of M,L and T and find their resultant powers (a,b,c) which give the
dimensions of the quantity in mass, length and time respectively.

 Characteristics of Dimensions:-

(a) Dimensions of a physical quantity are independent of the system of units.

(b) Quantities having similar dimensions can be added to or subtracted from each other.

(c) Dimensions of a physical quantity can be obtained from its units and vice-versa.

(d) Two different physical quantities may have same dimensions.

(e) Multiplication/division of dimensions of two physical quantities (may be same or

different) results in production of dimensions of a third quantity.
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PHYSICAL QUANTITY SYMBOL DIMENSION MEASUREMENT UNIT UNIT

Length s L Meter m
Mass M M Kilogram Kg
Time t T Second Sec
Electric charge q Q Coulomb C
luminous intensity I C Candela Cd
Temperature T K Kelvin oK

Angle
q none Radian None

Mechanical Physical Quantities (derived)

PHYSICAL QUANTITY SYMBOL DIMENSION MEASUREMENT UNIT UNIT

Area A L2 square meter m2

Volume
V L3 cubic meter m3

velocity
v L/T meter per second m/sec

angular velocity
w T-1 radians per second 1/sec

acceleration
a LT-2 meter per square second m/sec2

radians per square

angular acceleration a T-2 1/sec2
second
Force
F MLT-2 Newton Kg m/sec2

Energy
E ML2T-2 Joule Kg m2/sec2

Work
W Joule Kg m2/sec2
ML2T-2
Heat
Q Joule Kg m2/sec2
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ML2T-2
Torque
t ML2T-2 Newton meter Kg m2/sec2

Power
P ML2T-3 watt or joule/sec Kg m2/sec3

Density kilogram per

D or ρ ML-3 Kg/m3
cubic meter
pressure
Newton per square
P ML-1T-2 Kg m-1/sec2
meter
impulse
J MLT-1 Newton second Kg m/sec

Inertia Kilogram square meter Kg m2

I ML2

luminous f
lumen (4Pi candle for
C cd sr
point source)
flux
illumination lumen per
E CL-2 cd sr/m2
square meter
entropy
S ML2T-2K-1 joule per degree Kg m2/sec2K

Volume cubic meter

Q L3T-1 m3/sec
rate of flow per second
kinematic square meter m2/sec
n L2T-1
per second
viscosity
dynamic m ML-1T-1 Newton second Kg/m sec

viscosity per square meter

specific Newton
g ML-2T-2 Kg m-2/sec2
weight per cubic meter
Electrical Physical Quantities (derived)
Electric
I QT-1 Ampere C/sec
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current

emf, voltage,
E ML2T-2Q-1 Volt Kg m2/sec2C
potential
resistance or R ML2T-1Q-2 ohm Kgm2 /secC2

impedance
Electric mho secC2/Kg m3
s M-2L-2TQ2
conductivity
capacitance
C M-1L-2T2 Q2 Farad sec2C2/Kgm2

inductance
L ML2Q-2 Henry Kg m2 /C2

Current density J QT-1L-2 ampere per C/sec m2

square meter
coulomb per cubic
Charge density r QL-3 C/m3
meter
magnetic flux, weber per
B MT-1Q-1 Kg/sec C
Magnetic induction square meter
magnetic
H QL-1T-1 ampere per meter C/m sec
intensity
magnetic vector
A MLT-1Q-1 weber/meter Kg m/sec C
potential
Electric volt/meter or
E MLT-2Q-1 Kg m/sec2 C
field intensity newton/coulomb
Electric displacement D QL-2 coulomb per square meter C/m2
permeability
m MLQ-2 henry per meter Kg m/C2

sec2C2/Kgm3
permittivity, e T2Q2M-1L-3 farad per meter

dielectric constant
K M0L0T0 None None
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frequency
f or n T-1 Hertz sec-1

sec-1
angular frequency W T-1 radians per second

Wave length M
l L Meters

 Principle of homogeneity:-

It states that “ the dimensional formulae of every term on the two sides of a correct relation
must be same.”

 Types of error:-

(a) Constant errors:- An error is said to be constant error if it affects, every time, a
measurement in a similar manner.

(b) Systematic errors:- Errors which come into existence by virtue of a definite rule, are
called systematic errors.

(c) Random error or accidental error:- Error which takes place in a random manner and
cannot be associated with a systematic cause are called random or accidental errors.

(d) Absolute error:-

 Relative Error:-

 Percentage Error:-