Dimensional Formulas of Physical
Quantities
Below is a list of common physical quantities along with their formulas, SI units, and
dimensional formulas. This is meant to help you understand how to derive and remember
the dimensional formulas for physics.
Quantity Formula / Definition SI Unit Dimensional
Formula
Area Length × Breadth m² [L²]
Volume Length × Breadth × m³ [L³]
Height
Velocity Displacement / m/s [L T⁻¹]
Time
Acceleration Velocity / Time m/s² [L T⁻²]
Angular Velocity Angle / Time rad/s [T⁻¹]
Angular Angular Velocity / rad/s² [T⁻²]
Acceleration Time
Force Mass × Acceleration N (kg·m/s²) [M L T⁻²]
Spring Constant Force / Extension N/m [M T⁻²]
Friction μ × Normal Force N [M L T⁻²]
Work Force × J (N·m) [M L² T⁻²]
Displacement
Kinetic Energy (1/2)mv² J [M L² T⁻²]
Potential Energy mgh J [M L² T⁻²]
Power Work / Time W (J/s) [M L² T⁻³]
Coeff. of Restitution v₂/v₁ (ratio) Unitless [M⁰ L⁰ T⁰]
Torque Force × N·m [M L² T⁻²]
Perpendicular
Distance
Moment of Inertia Σmr² kg·m² [M L²]
Momentum Mass × Velocity kg·m/s [M L T⁻¹]
Angular Momentum I×ω kg·m²/s [M L² T⁻¹]
Areal Velocity Area swept / Time m²/s [L² T⁻¹]
Gravitational Force G·(m₁m₂)/r² N [M L T⁻²]
Gravitational −GM/r J/kg [L² T⁻²]
Potential
Stress Force / Area N/m² [M L⁻¹ T⁻²]
Strain ΔL / L Unitless [M⁰ L⁰ T⁰]
Young’s Modulus Stress / Strain N/m² [M L⁻¹ T⁻²]
Poisson’s Ratio Lateral Strain / Unitless [M⁰ L⁰ T⁰]
Longitudinal Strain
Density Mass / Volume kg/m³ [M L⁻³]
Surface Tension Force / Length N/m [M T⁻²]
Resistance V/I Ohm (Ω) [M L² T⁻³ A⁻²]
Magnetic Field F / (qv sinθ) Tesla (T) [M T⁻² A⁻¹]
Refractive Index Speed in vacuum / Unitless [M⁰ L⁰ T⁰]
speed in medium
Permeability μ = B/H H/m [M L T⁻² A⁻²]