UNIT AND DIMENSION Page # 1

UNIT AND DIMENSION

1. PHYSICAL QUANTITY
The quantites which can be measured by an instrument and by means of which we can describe the laws
of physics are called physical quantities.
Types of physical quantities :

Fundamental Derived Supplementry

1.1 Fundamental
Although the number of physical quantities that we measure is very large, we need only a limited number
of units for expressing all the physical quantities since they are interrelated with one another. So, certain
physical quantities have been chosen arbitrarily and their units are used for expressing all the physical
quantities, such quantities are known as Fundamental, Absolute or Base Quantities (such as length,
time and mass in mechanics)
(i) All other quantites may be expressed in terms of fundamental quantities.
(ii) They are independent of each other and cannot be obtained from one another.
An international body named General Conference on Weights and Measures chose seven physical quantities
as fundamental :
(1) length (2) mass (3) time (4) electric current,
(5) thermodynamic temperature (6) amount of substance
(7) luminous intensity.
Note : These are also called as absolute or base quantities.
In mechanics, we treat length, mass and time as the three basic or fundamental quantities.
1.2 Derived : Physical quantities which can be expressed as combination of base quantities are called as
derived quantities.
For example : Speed, velocity, acceleration, force, momentum, pressure, energy etc.

dis tance length

Ex.1 Speed = =
time time
1.3 Supplementary : Beside the seven fundamental physical quantities two supplementary quantities are
also defined, they are :
(1) Plane angle (2) Solid angle.
Note : The supplementary quantities have only units but no dimensions.
2. MAGNITUDE :
Magnitude of physical quantity = (numerical value) × (unit)
Magnitude of a physical quantity is always constant. It is independent of the type of unit.

1
 numerical value 
unit
or n1u1 = n2u2 = constant
3. UNIT :
Measurement of any physical quantity is expressed in terms of an internationally accepted certain basic
reference standard called unit.
The units for the fundamental or base quantities are called fundamental or base unit. Other physical
quantities are expressed as combination of these base units and hence, called derived units.

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UNIT AND DIMENSION Page # 2

A complete set of units, both fundamental and derived is called a system of unit.
Supplementary units :
(1) Plane angle : radian (rad)
(2) Solid angle : steradian (sr)
* The SI system is at present widely used throughout the world. In IIT JEE only SI system is followed.

Definitions of some important SI Units

(i) Metre : 1 m = 1,650, 763.73 wavelengths in vaccum, of radiation corresponding to organ-red light of
krypton-86.
(ii) Second : 1 s = 9,192, 631,770 time periods of a particular from Ceasium - 133 atom.
(iii) Kilogram : 1kg = mass of 1 litre volume of water at 4°C
(iv) Ampere : It is the current which when flows through two infinitely long straight conductors of
negligible cross-section placed at a distance of one metre in vacuum produces a force of 2 × 10–7 N/m
between them.
(v) Kelvin : 1 K = 1/273.16 part of the thermodynamic temperature of triple point of water.
(vi) Mole : It is the amount of substance of a system which contains as many elementary particles
(atoms, molecules, ions etc.) as there are atoms in 12g of carbon - 12.
 1  2
(vii) Candela : It is luminous intensity in a perpendicular direction of a surface of   m of a black
 600000 
body at the temperature of freezing point under a pressure of 1.013 × 105 N/m2.
(viii) Radian : It is the plane angle between two radiia of a circle which cut-off on the circumference, an
arc equal in length to the radius.
(ix) Steradian : The steradian is the solid angle which having its vertex at the centre of the sphere, cut-
off an area of the surface of sphere equal to that of a square with sides of length equal to the radius of
the sphere.

4. DIMENSIONS
Dimensions of a physical quantity are the power to which the fundamental quantities must be raised to
represent the given physical quantity.

mass mass
For example, density = =
volume (length )3

or density = (mass) (length)–3 ...(i)

Thus, the dimensions of density are 1 in mass and –3 in length. The dimensions of all other fundamental
quantities are zero.
For convenience, the fundamental quantities are represented by one letter symbols. Generally mass is
denoted by M, length by L, time by T and electric current by A.

The thermodynamic temperature, the amount of substance and the luminous intensity are denoted by the
symbols of their units K, mol and cd respectively. The physical quantity that is expressed in terms of the
base quantities is enclosed in square brackets.
[sin] = [cos] = [tan] = [ex] = [M0L0T0]

5. USE OF DIMENSIONS
Theory of dimensions have following main uses :
Conversion of units :
This is based on the fact that the product of the numerical value (n) and its corresponding unit (u) is a
constant, i.e.,
n[u] = constant
or n1[u1] = n2 [u2]

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Suppose the dimensions of a physical quantity are a in mass, b in length and c in time. If the fundamental
units in one system are M1, L1 and T1 and in the other system are M2, L2 and T2 respectively. Then we can
write.

n1[M1a Lb1 T1c ]  n2 [Ma2 Lb2 T2c ] ...(i)

Here n1 and n2 are the numerical values in two system of units respectively. Using Eq. (i), we can convert
the numerical value of a physical quantity from one system of units into the other system.
Ex.1 The value of gravitation constant is G = 6.67 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2 in SI units. Convert it into CGS
system of units.
Sol. The dimensional formula of G is [M–1 L3 T–2].
Using equation number (i), i.e.,

n1[M1–1 L31 T1–2 ]  n2 [M2–1 L32 T2–2 ]

–1 3 –2
M  L   T 
n 2  n1  1   1   1 
 M2   L 2   T2 
Here, n1 = 6.67 × 10–11
M1 = 1 kg, M2 = 1 g = 10–3 kg L1 = 1 m, L2 = 1cm = 10–2 m, T1 = T2 = 1s
Substituting in the above equation, we get
–1 3 –2
 1kg   1m   1s 
n2 = 6.67 × 10 –11  –3   –2   
 10 kg   10 m   1s 

or n2 = 6.67 × 10–8
Thus, value of G in CGS system of units is 6.67 × 10–8 dyne cm2/g2.
To check the dimensional correctness of a given physical equation :
Every physical equation should be dimensionally balanced. This is called the 'Principle of Homogeneity'.
The dimensions of each term on both sides of an equation must be the same. On this basis we can judge
whether a given equation is correct or not. But a dimensionally correct equation may or may not be
physically correct.

l
Ex.2 Show that the expression of the time period T of a simple pendulum of length l given by T = 2
g
is dimensionally correct.

l
Sol. T  2
g
[L ]
Dimensionally [T]   [T]
[LT – 2 ]
As in the above equation, the dimensions of both sides are same. The given formula is dimensionally
correct.
Principle of Homogeneity of Dimensions.
This principle states that the dimensions of all the terms in a physical expression should be same. For
1 1
example, in the physical expression s = ut + at2, the dimensions of s, ut and at2 all are same.
2 2
Limitations of Dimensional Analysis
The method of dimensions has the following limitations :
(i) By this method the value of dimensionless constant can not be calculated.
(ii) By this method the equation containing trigonometrical, exponential and logarithmic terms cannot be
analysed.

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UNIT AND DIMENSION Page # 4

(iii) If a physical quantity depends on more than three factors, then relation among them cannot be
established because we can have only three equations by equalising the powers of M, L and T.

# ERROR'S #

Systematic errors
The systematic errors are those errors that tend to be in one direction, either positive or negative. Some of
the sources of systematic errors are :

(a) Instrumental errors that arise from the errors due to imperfect design or calibration of the measuring
instrument, zero error in the instrument, etc.

(c) Personal errors that arise due to an individual’s bias, lack of proper setting of the apparatus or individual’s
carelessness in taking observations without observing proper precautions, etc. Systematic errors can be
minimised by improving experimental techniques, selecting better instruments and removing personal bias
as far as possible.

Random errors
The random errors are those errors, which occur irregularly and hence are random with respect to sign
and size. These can arise due to random and unpredictable fluctuations in experimental conditions

Least count error

The smallest value that can be measured by the measuring instrument is called its least count. All the
readings or measured values are good only up to this value. The least count error is the error associated
with the resolution of the instrument.

The magnitude of the difference between the true value of the quantity and the individual measurement
value is called the absolute error of the measurement. This is denoted by | a | . In absence of any other
method of knowing true value, we considered arithmatic mean as the true value. Then the errors in the
individual measurement values are
a1 = amean – a1,
a2 = amean – a2,
.... .... ....
.... .... ....
an = amean – an

The a calculated above may be positive in certain cases and negative in some other cases. But absolute
error |?a| will always be positive.

(b) The arithmetic mean of all the absolute errors is taken as the final or mean absolute error of the value of
the physical quantity a. It is represented by ?amean.
Thus,

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amean = (|a1|+|a2 |+|a3|+...+ |?an|)/n |ai|/n

If we do a single measurement, the value we get may be in the range amean ± ?amean
i.e. a = amean ± ?amean
or,amean – amean  a  amean + amean

This implies that any measurement of the physical quantity a is likely to lie between
(amean+ amean) and (amean – amean).

(c) Instead of the absolute error, we often use the relative error or the percentage error (a). The relative
error is the ratio of the mean absolute error amean to the mean value amean of the quantity measured.
Relative error = amean/amean When the relative error is expressed in percent, it is called the percentage
error (a).
Thus, Percentage error a = (amean/amean) × 100% Let us now consider an example.

Combination of Errors
(a) Error of a sum or a difference
Suppose two physical quantities A and B have measured values A ± A, B ± B respectively where A and
B are their absolute errors. We wish to find the error Z in the sum Z = A + B. We have by addition, Z ±
Z = (A ± A) + (B ± B).
The maximum possible error in Z Z = A + B For the difference Z = A – B,
we have
Z ±  Z = (A ± A) – (B ± B)
= (A – B) ± A ± B
or, ± Z = ± A ± B
The maximum value of the error Z is again A + B.

(b) Error of a product or a quotient

Suppose Z = AB and the measured values of A and B are A ± A and B ± B. Then Z ± Z = (A ± A)
(B ± B) = AB ± B A ± A B ± A B.
Dividing LHS by Z and RHS by AB we have, 1±(Z/Z) = 1 ± (A/A) ± (B/B) ± (A/A)(B/B). Since A and
B are small, we shall ignore their product.
Hence the maximum relative error
Z/ Z = (A/A) + (B/B).

(c) Error in case of a measured quantity raised to a power

Suppose Z = A2,
Then,
Z/Z = (A/A) + (A/A) = 2 (A/A). Hence, the relative error in A2 is two times the error in A.
In general, if Z = Ap Bq/Cr Then,
Z/Z = p (A/A) + q (B/B) + r (C/C).

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SOLVED EXAMPLE
Ex.1 Calculate the angle of (a) 1º (degree) (b) 1' Ex.4 The Sun’s angular diameter is measured to
(minute of arc or arcmin) and (c) 1" (second of be 1920' '. The distance D ofthe Sun from the Earth
arc or arc second) in radians. Use 360º = 2 rad, is 1.496 × 1011 m. What is the diameter of the
10 = 60' and 1' = 60" Sun ?
Ans. Sun's angular diameter 
Ans. (a) We have 360º = 2 rad 1º = ( /180) rad
= 1920"
= 1.745 × 10–2 rad (b) 1º = 60' = 1.745 × 10–2 rad
= 1920 × 4.85 × 10–6 rad
1' = 2.908×10–4 rad ; 2.91 × 10–4 rad (c) 1' = 60"
= 9.31 × 10–3 rad
= 2.908 × 10–4 rad 1" = 4.847 × 10–4 rad ;
Sun's diameter
4.85 × 10–6 rad
d =D
= (9.31 × 10–3) × (1.496 × 1011) m
Ex.2 A man wishes to estimate the distance of a
= 1.39 ×109 m
nearby tower from him. He stands at a point A in
front of the tower C and spots a very distant object Ex.5 If the size of a nucleus (in the range of 10–15
O in line with AC. He then walks perpendicular to to 10–14 m) i s scaled up to the tip of a sharp pin,
AC up to B, a distance of 100 m, and looks at O what roughly is the size of an atom ? Assume tip
and C again. Since O is very distant, the direction of the pin to be in the range 10–5 m to 10–4 m.
BO is practically the same as AO; but he finds the Ans. The size of a nucleus is in the range of 10–15 m
line of sight of C shifted from the original line of and 10–14 m. The tip of a sharp pin is taken to be in
sight by an angle  = 40º ( is known as ‘parallax’) the range of 10–5 m and 10–4 m. Thus we are scaling
estimate the distance of the tower C from his up by a factor of 1010. An atom roughly of size 10–10 m
original position A. will be scaled up to a size of 1 m. Thus a nucleus in
an atom is as small in size as the tip of a sharp pin
placed at the centre of a sphere of radius about a
metre long.

Ex.6 The temperatures of two bodies measured

by a thermometer are t1 = 20 ºC ± 0.5 ºC and t2 =
50 ºC ± 0.5 ºC. Calculate the temperature
difference and the error theirin.
Ans. We have, parallax angle  = 400 From Fig. 2.3, Ans. t' = t2– t1 = (50 ºC±0.5 ºC) – (20ºC ± 0.5 ºC)
t' = 30 ºC ± 1 ºC
AB = AC tan  AC = AB/tan = 100 m/tan 40º
= 100 m/0.8391 = 119 m Ex.7 The resistance R = V/I where V = (100 ± 5)V
and I = (10 ± 0.2)A. Find the percentage error in
Ex.3 The moon is observed from two diametrically
R.
opposite points A and B on Earth. The angle 
Ans. The psercentage error in V is 5% and in I it is
subtended at the moon by the two directions of
2%. The total error in R would therefore be
observation is 1º 54' . Given the diameter of the
5% + 2% = 7%.
Earth to be about 1.276 × 107 m, compute the
distance of the moon from the Earth. Ex.8 5.74 g of a substance occupies 1.2 cm3.
Ans.We have ? = 1° 54' = 114' Express its density bykeeping the significant
= (114 × 60)" × (4.85 ×10-6 ) rad figures in view.
= 3.32 × 10–2 rad, Ans.There are 3 significant figures in the measured
since 1" = 4.85 ×10–6 rad. Also b = AB =1.276 × 107m mass whereas there are only 2 significant figures in
Hence from Eq. (2.1), we have the earth-moon the measured volume. Hence the density should be
distance, D = b / expressed to only 2 significant figures.

1.276  107 5.74

= = 3.84 ×108m Density = g cm–3 = 4.8 g cm–3
3.32  10 2 1.2

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Exercise - I UNSOLVED PROBLEMS

Q.1 Fill in the blanks of view of the microscope is 3.5 mm. What is the
(a) The volume of a cube of side 1 cm is equal to estimate on the thickness of hair ?
... m3
(b) The surface area of a solid cylinder of radius Q.8 Answer the following :
2.0cm, and height 10.0 cm is equal to .... (mm)2 (A) You are given a thread and a metre scale. How
(c) A vehicle moving with a speed of 18 km, h–1 will you estimate the diameter of the thread ?
covers ....m in 1s (b) A screw gauge has a pitch of 1.0 mm and 200
(d) The relative density of lead is 11.3. Its density divisions of the circular scale. Do you think it is
is ..... g cm–3 or ..... kg m–3. possible to increase the accuracy of the screw
gauge arbitrarily by increasing the number of
Q.2 Fill in blanks by suitable conversion of units. divisions on the circular scale ?
(a) 1 kg m2 s –2 = .... g cm2 s –2 (c) The mean daimeter of a thin brass rod is to be
(b) 1 m = ..... 1 y (c) 3 m s–2 = ..... km h–2 measured by vernier callipers. Why is a set of 100
(d) G = 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 (kg)–2 = .... (cm)3 s –2 g–1. measurements of the diameter expected yield a
more reliable estimate than a set of 5 measurements
Q.3 A calorie is a unit of heat or energy and it only
equals about 4.2 J where 1 J = 1 kg m2 s–2 . Suppose
we employ a system of units in which the unit of Q.9 The photograph of a house occupation area
mass equals  kg, the unit of length equals  m, the of 1.75 cm2 on a 35 mm slide. The slide is projected
unit of time is  s. Show that a calorie has a onto a screen, and the area of the house on the
magnitude 4.2 –1  –2 2 in terms of the new units. screen is 1.55 m 2. What is the linear magnification
of the projector-screen arrangement.
Q.4 Explain this statement clearly :
"To call a dimensional quantity ''large' or 'small' is Q.10 State the number of significant figures in the
meaningless without specifying a standard for following :
comparison ". In view of this, reframe the following (a) 0.007 m 2 (b) 2.64 × 1024 kg
statements wherever necessary : (c) 0.2370 g cm –3
(d) 6.320 J
(a) atoms are very small objects (e) 6.032 N m–2 (f) 0.0006032 m2
(b) a jet plane moves with great speed
(c) the mass of Jupiter is very large Q.11 The length, breadth and thickness of a
(d) the air inside this room contains a large number rectangular sheet of metal are 4.234 m, 1.005 m,
of molecules and 2.01 cm respectively. Given the area and volume
(e) a proton is much more massive than an electron of the sheet to correct significant figures.
(f) the sped of sound is much smaller than the
Q.12 The mass of a box measured by a grocer's
speed of light.
balance is 2.3 kg. Two gold pieces of masses 20.15
Q.5 A new unit of length is chosen such that the g and 20.17 g are added to the box. What is (1)
speed of light in vacuum is unity. What is the the total mass of the box, (b) the difference in the
distance between the Sun and the Earth in terms masses of the pieces to correct significant figures
of the new unit if light takes 8 min and 20 s to
Q.13 A physical quantity related to four observables
cover this distance ?
a, b, c and d as follows :
Q.6 which of the following is the most precise P = a3 b2 / ( cd )
device for measuring length :
The percentage errors of measurement in a, b, c
(a) a vernier callipers with 20 divisions on the sliding
and d are 1%, 3%, 4% and 2% respectively. What
scale
is the percentage error in the quantity P ?
(b) a screw gauge of pitch 1 mm and 100 divisions
on the circular scale Q.14 A book with many printing errors contains four
(c) an optical instrument that can measure length different formulas for the displacement y of a particle
to with within a wavelength of light ? undergoing a certain periodic motion :
(a) y = a sin 2  t/T
Q.7 A student measures the thickness of a human
(b) y = a sin vt
hair by looking at it through a microscope of
(c) y = (a/T) sin t/a
magnification 100. He makes 20 observations and
finds that the average width of the hair in the field (d) y = (a 2 ) (sin 2  t/T + cos 2  t/T)

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(a) a = maximum displacement of the particle, v = is nearly constant for different nuclei. Estimate the
speed of the particle. T = time-period of motion). mass density of sodium nucleus. Compare it with
Rule out the wrong formulas on dimensional grounds. the average mass density of a sodium atom obtained
in 2.20.
Q.15 A famous relation in physics relates 'moving
mass' m to the 'rest mass' m0 of a particle in terms Q.22 Explain this common observation clearly : If
of its speed v and the speed of light, c. (This relation you look out of the window of a fast moving train,
first arose as a consequence of special relativity the nearby trees, houses etc. Seem to move rapidly
due to Albert Einstein). A boy recalls the relation in a direction opposite to the train's motion, but
almost correctly but forget where to put the the distant objects (hill tops, the Moon, the stars
m0 etc.) seem to the train's motion, but the distant
constant c. He writes : m = G u e s s
(1  v 2 )1/ 2 objects (hill tops, the Moon, the stars etc.) seem
where to put the missing c. to be stationary. In fact, since you are aware that
you are moving, these distance object seem to move
Q.16 A man walking briskly in rain with speed v
with you.).
must slant his umbrella forward making an angle
(with the vertical. A student derives the following Q.23 The principle of 'parallax' in section 2.3.1 is
relation between  and v and checks that the relation used in the determination of distances of very
has a correct limit : as v  0,(  0, as expected. distant stars. The base line AB is the line joining
(We are assuming there is not strong wind and that the Earth's two locations six months apart in its
the rain falls vertically for a stationary man). Do orbit around the Sun. That is, the base line is about
you think this relation can be correct ? If not, guess the diameter of the Earth's orbit  3 × 1011 m.
the correct relation. However, even the nearest stars are so distant that
with such a long base line, they show parallax only
Q.17 It is claimed that two cesium clocks, if allowed
of the order of 1 " (second) of arc or so. A parsec
to run for 100 years, free from any disturbance,
is a convenient unit of length on the astronomical
may differ by only about 0.02 s. What does this
scale. It is the distance of an object that will show
imply for the accuracy of the standard cesium clock
a parallax of 1" (second) of arc from opposite ends
in measuring a time-interval of 1 s ?
of a baseline equal to the distance from the Earth
Q.18 The unit of length convenient on the atomic to the Sun. How much is a parsec in terms of metres
scale is known as an angstrom and is denoted by
Q.24 The nearest star tour solar system is 4.29
Å : 1 Å = 10–10 m. The size of a hydrogen atom is
light years away. How much is this distance in terms
about 0.5 Å. What is the total atomic volume in m 3
of parsecs ? How much parallax would this star
of a mole of hydrogen atoms ?
(named Alpha Centauri) show when viewed from
Q.19 O ne mo le o f an ide al gas at stan dard two locations of the Earth six months apart in its
temperature and pressure occupies 22.4 L (molar orbit around the Sun ?
volume). What is the ratio of molar volume to the
Q.25 A L A S E R i s a s o u r c e o f v e r y i n t e ns e ,
atomic volume of a mole of hydrogen ? (Take the
monochromatic, and unidirectional beam of light.
size of hydrogen molecule to be about 1 Å). Why is
These properties of a laser light can be exploited
this ratio so large ?
to measure long distances. The distance of the
Q.20 estimate the average mass density of a sodium Moon from the Earth has been already determined
atom assuming its size to be about 2.5 Å. (Use the very precisely using a laser as a source of light. A
known values of Avogadro's number and the atomic laser light beamed at the Moon takes 2.46 s to
mass of sodium). Compare it with the density of return after reflection at the Moon's surface. How
sodium in its crystalline phase : 970 kg m–3. Are the much is the radius of the lunar orbit around the
two densities of the same order of magnitude ? If Earth ?
so, why ?
Q.26 A SONAR (sound navigation and ranging) used
Q.21 The unit of length convenient on the nuclear ultrasonic waves to detect and locate objects under
scale is a fermi : 1 f = 10–15 m. Nuclear sizes obey water. In a submarine equipped with a SONAR the
roughly the following empirical relation : time delay between generation of a probe wave
r = r0 A1/3 and the reception of its echo after reflection from
where r is the radius of the nucleus, A its mass an enemy submarine is found to be 77.0 s. What is
number, and r0 is a constant equal to about, 1.2 f. the distance of the enemy submarine ? (Speed of
Show that the rule implies that nuclear mass density sound in water = 1450 m s–1).

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Q.27 T h e f a r t h e s t o b j e c t s i n o u r U n i v e r s e Q.32 Assuming that the orbit of the planet Mercury

discovered by modern astronomers are so distant around the Sun to be a circle, copernicus determined
that light emitted by them takes billions of years to the orbital radius to be 0.38 AU. From this, determine
reach the Earth. These objects (known as quasars) the angle of maximum elongation for Mercury and
have many puzzling features, which have not yet its distance from the Earth when the elongation is
been satisfactorily explained. What is the distance maximum.
in km of quasar from which light takes 3.0 billion
Q.33 Suppose there existed a planet that went
years to reach us ?
around the Sun twice as fast as the Earth. What
Q.28 Precise measurements of physical quantities would be its orbital size as compared to that of the
are a need of modern times. For example, to Earth ?
ascertain the speed of an enemy fighter plane, one
Q.34 Io, one of the satellites of Jupiter has an orbital
must have an accurate method to find its positions
period of 1.769 days and the radius of the orbit is
at closely separated instants of time. Only then we
4.22 × 108 m. Show that the mass of Jupiter is
can hope to shell it by an antiaircraft gun. This
about one-thousandth that the Sun.
was the actual motivation behind the discovery of
radar in World War II. Think of different examples in Q.35 It is a well known fact that during a total
modern science where precision measurements of solar eclipse the disk of the moon almost completely
length, time, mass etc. are needed Also, wherever covers the disk of the Sun. From the fact and from
you can, give a quantitative idea of the precision the information you can gather from examples 2.1
needed. and 2.2, determine the approximate diameter of the
moon.
Q.29 Just as precise measurements are necessary
in science, it is equally important to be able to Q.36 Suppose the Sunsharnk from its present size
m a k e r o u g h e s t i m a t e s o f q u an t i t i e s u s i n g so that its radius is halved. What would be the
rudimentary ideas and common observations. Think change in tis gravitational potential energy
of ways by which you can estimate the following (Calculate the actual number in joules).
(where an estimate is difficult to obtain, try to get
an upper bound on the quantity ) : Q.37 Let us assume that our galaxy consists of 2.5
(a) the total mass of rain-bearing clouds over India × 1011 stars each of one solar mass. How long will
during the Monsoon a star at a distance of 50,000 ly from the galactic
(b) the mass of an elephant centre take to complete one revolution ? Take the
(c) the wind speed during a storm diameter of the Milky Way to be 105 ly.
(d) the number of stands of hair on your head
(e) the number of air molecules in your classroom. Q.38 A great physicist of this century (P. A.M.
Dirac) loved playing with numerical values of
Q.30 The Sun is a hot plasma (ionized matter) with Fundamental constants of nature. This led him to
its inner core at a temperature exceeding 107 K, an interesting observation. Dirac found that from
and its outer surface at a temperature, of about basic constants of atomic physics (c,e, mass of
6000 K. At these high temperatures, no substance electron. mass of proton) and the gravitational
remains in a solid or liquid phase. In what range do constant G, he could arrive at a number with the
you expect the mass density of the Sun to be In dimension of time. Further, it was a very large
the range of densities of solids and liquids or gases number, its magnitude being close to the present
? Check if your guess is correct from the following estimate on the age of the universe (~ 15 billion
data : mass of the Sun = 2.0 × 1030 kg, radius of years). From the table of fundamental constants in
the sun = 7.0 × 108 m. this book, try to see if you too can construct this
number (or any other interesting number you can
Q.31 When the planet Jupiter is at a distance of think of). If its coincidence with the age of the
824.7 million kilometers from the Earth, its angular universe were significant, what would this imply for
diameter is measured to be 35.72" of arc. Calculate the constancy of fundamental constants ?
the diameter of Jupiter.

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