Question Bank 1

1. A student measured the diameter of a small steel ball using a screw gauge of least count 0.001cm. The
main scale reading is 5mm and zero of circular scale division coincides with 25 divisions above the
reference level. If screw gauge has a zero error of -0.004cm, the correct diameter of the ball is

1) 0.521cm 2) 0.525cm 3) 0.529cm 4) 0.053 cm

e2
2. A physical quantity of the dimensions of length that can be formed out of c, G and is (c is velocity
4 0
of light, G is universal constant of gravitation and e is charge)
1/ 2 1/ 2 1/ 2
 e2 
2 1  e2  1 e2 1  e2 
1) c G  2) 2   3) G 4) 2 G 
 4 0  c  G 4 0  c 4 0 c  4 0 

3. If dimensions of critical velocity c of a liquid flowing through a tube are expressed as  x  y r x  , where
 ,  and r are the coefficient of viscosity of liquid, density of liquid and radius of the tube respectively,
then the values of x, y and z are given by

1) -1,-1,1 2) -1,-1,-1 3) 1,1,1 4) 1,-1,-1

4. If energy (E), velocity (V) and time (T) are chosen as the fundamental quantities the dimensional
formula of surface tension will be

1)  EV −1T −2  2)  EV −2T −2  3)  E −2V −1T −3  4)  EV −2T −1 

5. If force (F), velocity (V) and time (T) are taken as fundamental units, then the dimensions of mass are :
1)  F V T −1  2)  F V T −2  3)  F V −1 T −1  4)  F V −1 T 
6. In an experiment, the percentage of error occurred in the measurement of physical quantities A, B, C and
D are 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% respectively. Then the maximum percentage of error in the measurement X,
A2 B1/2
where X = 1/3 3 , will be:
C D
3
(1)   % (2) 16% (3) –10% (4) 10%
 13 
7. The main scale of a vernier calliper has n divisions/cm. n divisions of the vernier scale coincide with (n
–1) divisions of main scale. The least count of the vernier calliper is,
1 1 1 1
1) cm 2) cm 3) 2 cm 4) cm
( n + 1)( n − 1) n n n ( n + 1)

8. The angle of 1' (minute of arc) in radian is nearly equal to

(1) 2.91 × 10–4 rad (2) 4.85 × 10–4 rad (3) 4.80 × 10–6 rad (4) 1.75 × 10–2 rad
9. Time intervals measured by a clock give the following readings:
1.25 s, 1.24 s, 1.27 s, 1.21 s and 1.28 s.
What is the percentage relative error of the observations?
(1) 2 % (2) 4 % (3) 16 % (4) 1.6 %
10. Dimensions of stress are:
1)  ML−1T −2  2)  MLT −2  3)  ML2T −2  4)  ML0T −2 
11. Taking into account of the significant figures, what is the value if 9.99m – 0.0099m?
1) 9.9 m 2) 9.9801m 3) 9.98m 4) 9.980m

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12. If force [F], acceleration [A] and time [T] are chosen as the fundamental physical quantities. Find the
dimensions of energy.
1)  F AT 2  2)  F AT −1  3)  FA −1 T  4)  F A  T 
13. A screw gauge gives the following readings when used to measure the diameter of a wire
Main scale reading: 0 nm
Circular scale reading: 52 divisions
given that 1 mm on main scale corresponds to 100 divisions on the circular scale. The diameter of the
wire from the above data is
1) 0.026 cm 2) 0.26 cm 3) 0.052 cm 4) 0.52 cm

E
14. If E and G respectively denote energy and gravitational constant, then has the dimensions of:
G
1.  M   L−1  T −1  2.  M   L0  T 0  3.  M 2   L−2  T −1  4.  M 2   L−1  T 0 

Question bank 2
1. If the time period t of a drop of liquid of density d, radius r, vibrating under surface tension s is given by
the formula t = d a r b s c , then c is
1) 1 2)2 3)-1 4)-2
2. If I is the moment of inertia and w the angular velocity, what is the dimensional formula of angular
momentum I
1)  ML2T −1  2)  M 2 L−1T −2  3)  ML2T −2  4)  M 2 L−1T −2 
3. A metal sample carrying along x-axis with density Jx is subjected to a magnetic field Bz (along z-axis). The
electric field Ey developed along Y-axis is directly proportional to Jx , as well as Bz. The constant of
proportionality has SI unit
m2 m3 m2 As
1) 2) 3) 4) 3
A As As m
4. The velocity of water waves (v) may depend on their wavelength  . The density of water  and the
acceleration due to gravity, g. The method of dimensions gives the relation between these quantities is

1) v 2) v 2  g  3) v 2  g  2 4) v 2  g −1 2

5. E, m, J and G denote energy, mass, angular momentum and gravitational constant respectively, then the
EJ 2
unit of 5 2 is
mG
(1) newton (2) metre (3) kilogram (4) unitless
6. A physical parameter a can be determined by measuring the parameters b, c, d and e using the relation a
= b c  / d  e . If the maximum errors in the measurement of b, c, d and e are b1%, c1%, d1% and e1%,
then the maximum error in the value determined by the experiment is
(1) (b1 + c1 + d1 + e1) % (2) (b1 + c1 – d1 – e1) %
(3) (  b1 +  c1 –  d1 –  e1) % (4) (  b1 +  c1 +  d1 +  e1) %
7. The mass of the liquid flowing per second per unit area of cross-section of the tube is proportional to
(pressure difference across the ends)n and (average velocity of the liqui4)m. Which of the following
relations between m and n is correct?
1) m = n 2) m = - n 3) m2 = n 4) m = - n2
V
8. A quantity X is given by  0 L where 0 is the permittivity of the free space; L is a length, V is a
t
potential difference and t is a time interval. The dimensional formula for X is the same as that of
1) Resistance 2) Charge 3) voltage 4) current

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9. In a certain system of units, 1 unit of time is 5 sec, 1 unit of mass is 20 kg and 1 unit of length is 10m. In
this system, one unit of power will correspond to-
1) 16 watt 2) 1/16 watt 3) 25 watt 4) 1/25 watt
10. The frequency (f) of a wire oscillating with a length l , in p loops, under a tension T is given by
p T
f = where  = linear density of the wire. If the error made in determining length, tension and
2l 
linear density be 1%, –2% and 4%, then find the percentage error in the calculated frequency.
1) - 4% 2) - 2% 3) - 1% 4) - 5%
A
The electric field is given by E = 3 iˆ + Byjˆ + Cz kˆ . The SI units of A, B and C are respectively:
2
11.
x
N −m 3
1) ,V / m2 , N / m2 − C 2) V − m 2 , N / m 2 − C
C
3) V / m 2 , V / m, N − C / m 2 4) V / m, N − m3 / C , N − C / m
12. A length–scale (l) depends on the permittivity (e) of a dielectric material. Boltzmann constant (k2), the
absolute temperature (T), the number per unit volume (n) of certain charged particles, and the charge (q)
carried by each of the particles. Which of the following expression for l is dimensionally correct?
 nq 2   k T   q2   q 
1) l =   2) l =  B2  3) l =  2 / 3  4) l =  1/ 3 
  k BT   nq    n k BT    n k BT 
1 2 1/ 3
13. A physical quantity  is calculated using the formula  = xy / z , where x, y and z are
10
experimentally measured quantities. If the fractional error in the measurement of x, y and z are 2 %, 1%
and 3% respectively, then the fractional error in  will be
(1) 0.5% (2) 5% (3) 6% (4) 7%

14. The momentum of an electron in an orbit is h /  where h is a constant and  is wavelength associated
eh
with it. The nuclear magneton of electron of charge e and mass me is given as n = .The
3672 me
dimensions of  n are ( A → current )
1)  ML2 A 2)  ML3 A 3)  L2 A 4)  ML2 
15. The air bubble formed by explosion inside water performed oscillation with time period T that is
directly proportional to P A d b E c . where P is the pressure, d is the density and E is the energy due to
explosion. The values of a, b and c will be
(1) – 5/6, 1/2 and 1/3 (2) 5/6, 1/3 and –1/2 (3) 5/6, 1/3 and 1/2 (4) None of these
a b c
16. If the dimensions of a physical quantity are given by M L T , then the physical quantity will be
1) velocity if a = 1, b = 0, c = – 1 (2) acceleration if a = 1, b = 1, c = – 2
(3) Force if a = 0, b = – 1, c = – 2 (4) pressure if a = 1, b = – 1, c = – 2
17. An experiment is performed to obtain the value of acceleration due to gravity g by using a simple
pendulum of length L. In this experiment time for 100 oscillations is measured by using a watch of 1
second least count and the value is 90.0 seconds. The length L is measured by using a meter scale of
least count 1 mm and the value is 20.0 cm. The error in the determination of g would be:
(1) 1.7% (2) 2.7% (3) 4.4% (4) 2.27%
18. From the following combinations of physical constants (expressed through their usual symbols) the only
combination, that would have the same value in different systems of units, is:
ch e2  o o G 2 o o h
1) 2) 3) 4)
2 2
o 2 oGme2 c 2 he2 ce2 G

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19. A, B, C and D are four different physical quantities having different dimensions. None of them is
dimensionless. But we know that the equation AD = C ln (B4) holds true. Then which of the
combination is not a meaningful quantity?
C AD 2 A ( A−C)
1) − 2) A2 − B 2C 2 3) − C 4)
BD C B D
20. Turpentine oil is flowing through a capillary tube of length l and radius r. The pressure difference

between the two ends of the tube is p. The viscosity of oil is given by  =
(
p r 2 − x2 )
.Here v is velocity
4vl
of oil at a distance x from the axis of the tube. From this relation, the dimensional formula of  is
1)  ML−1T −1  2)  MLT −1  3)  ML2T −2  4)  M 0 L0T 0 
21. The moment of inertia of a body rotating about a given axis is 6.0 kg m2 in the SI system. What is the
value of the moment of inertia in a system of units in which the unit of length is 5 cm and the unit of
mass is 10 g?
1) 2.4 103 g cm 2 2) 2.4 105 g cm 2 3) 6.0 103 g cm 2 4) 6.0 105 g cm 2
22. A spherical body of mass m and radius r is allowed to fall in a medium of viscosity .The time in which
the velocity of the body increases from zero to 0.63 times the terminal velocity (v) is called time
constant  .Dimensionally  can be represented by
mr 2  6 m r   m
1) 2)   3)
6 rv
4) none of these
6  g
2

b k . .t 3
23. A formula is given as P = 1+ where P = pressure; k = Boltzmann’s constant;  = temperature;
a m.a
t = time; ‘a’ and ‘b’ are constants. Dimensional formula of ‘b’ is same as
1) Force 2) Linear momentum 3) Angular momentum 4) Torque
24. The speed of light in vacuum, c, depends on two fundamental constants, the permeability of free space,
1
 0 and the permittivity of free space,  0 . The speed of light is given by c = . The units of  0 are
0 0
N −1C 2 m −2 . The units for  0 are
1) kg −1m −1C 2 2) kg mC −2 3) kg ms −4C −2 4) kg −1s −3C −2
25. The length of the string of a simple pendulum is measured with a metre scale to be 90.0 cm. The radius
of the bob plus the length of the hook is calculated to be 2.13 cm using measurements with a slide
callipers. What is the effective length of the pendulum? (This effective length is defined as the distance
between the point of suspension and the centre of the bo2)
(1) 87.87cm (2) 92.1 cm (3) 91.2 cm (4) 90.2 cm
26. A highly rigid cubical block A of small mass M and side L is fixed rigidly on the other cubical block of
same dimensions and of low modulus of rigidity  such that the lower face of A completely covers the
upper face of B. The lower face of B is rigidly held on a horizontal surface. A small force F is applied
perpendicular to one of the side faces of A. After the force is withdrawn, block A executes small
oscillations, the time period of which is given by
1) 2 M L 2) 2 M / L 3) 2 ML /  4) 2 M /  L
b−x 2
27. Write the dimensions of a  b in the relation E = , where E is the energy, x is the displacement
at
and t is time
1) ML2T 2) M −1L2T 1 3) ML2T −2 4) MLT −2
28. The dimensions of the quantity E  B where E represents the electric field and B the magnetic field
may be given as
1)  MT 3  2)  M 2 LT −5 A−2  3)  M 2 L−3T 2 A−1  4)  MLT 2 A−2 

4|Page
29. What are the dimensions of A/B in the relation F = A x + Bt 2 , where F is the force, x is the distance
and t is time?
1) ML2T −2 2) L−1/ 2T 2 3) L−1/ 2T −1 4) LT −2
30. The time dependence of a physical quantity p is given by p = p0 exp. ( − t 2 ) , where  is a constant and
t is the time. The constant 
1) is dimensionless 2) has dimensions T-2 3) has dimensions T2 4) has dimensions of p.

Key and Solutions

Question Bank 1
1) 3 2) 4 3) 4 4) 2 5) 4 6) 2 7) 3 8) 2 9) 4 10) 1
11) 3 12) 1 13) 3 14) 4
Question Bank 2
1) 3 2) 1 3) 2 4) 2 5) 4 6) 4 7) 2 8) 4 9) 2 10) 1
11) 1 12) 2 13) 2 14) 3 15) 1 16) 4 17) 2 18) 2 19) 4 20) 1
21) 2 22) 4 23) 2 24) 2 25) 2 26) 4 27) 2 28) 2 29) 2 30) 2

Hints and Solutions

Question Bank 1
1. 3) Diameter of the ball = MSR + CSR  ( l east count) – zero error = 0.5cm + 25  0.001 – (-0.004)= 0.5 +
0.025 + 0.004 = 0.529 cm
2. 4) Let dimensions of length is related as,
z
 e2 
L =  c  G  
x y

 4 0 

e2
= ML3T −2
4 0
x y z
L =  LT −1   M −1L3T −2   ML3T −2 

 L =  Lx+3 y +3 z M − y + zT − x−2 y −2 z 
Comparing both sides
-y + z = 0  y = z ……(i)

x + 3y + 3z = 1 ……..(ii)

-x – 4z = 0 ( y = z ) …….(iii)

From (i), (ii), (iii)

5|Page
Z = y = 1/2, x = -2
1/ 2
 e2 
−2
Hence, L = c G. 
 4 0 

3. (4) Applying dimensional method:

vc =  x  y r z
x y z
 M 0 LT −1  =  ML−1T −1   ML−3T 0   M 0 LT 0 

Equating power both sides

x + y = 0; − x = −1 x = 1

1 + y = 0  y = −1 ; −x − 3y + z = 1

−1 − 3 ( −1) + z = 1 ; −1 + 3 + z = 1

 z = −1

4) b) let surface tension

s = E aV bT c

MLT −2
b
a L
= ( ML2T −2 )   (T )
C

L T 

Equating the dimension of LHS and RHS

ML0T −2 = M a L2 a +bT −2 a−b+c

 a = 1, 2a + b = 0, − 2a − b + c = −2  a = 1, b = −2, c = −2

Hence, the dimensions of surface tension are  EV −2T −2 

 force   force 
5. 4) Force = mass  acceleration   Mass  =   =   =  FV −1T 
 acceleration   velocity / time 

6.

7.

6|Page

0
 1  1
8. 1) 1 =   = 
'
radian
 60  60 180
1.25 + 1.24 + 1.27 + 1.21 + 1.28
9. 4)Mean of observation = = 1.25s
5
0 + 0.01 + 0.02 + 0.04 + 0.03
Mean absolute error = = 0.02s
5
0.02
% Error = 100 = 1.6%
1.25
F MLT −2
10. 1)DF of stress = = 2
; Stress = [ML – 1T – 2]
A L
11. 3)9.99 – 0.0099= 9.99 – 0.009 = 9.981
Here minimum number of decimal places = 2
So other numbers should be rounded off up to 3 decimal places.
Answer should be rounded off up to ‘2’ decimal places.
Ans = 9.98
1
12. 1)E = F.S  S = at 2 ; E = [ FAT 2 ]
2
1mm
13. 3)Reading = M.S.R +[C.S.R(L.C)] =0+ 52  =0.052 cm
100
14. 4)
Gm1m2
E=
R
 E  m 
2

 G   R  =  M L T 
2 −1 0
=
 

Question Bank 2

 a b c c
3)  t  = d 2 r 2 s 2   T  =  ML−3   L   MT −2  Comparing both side we get, 1 = −2   c = −1
a/2 b/2 c/2
1.
  2

2. 1) L = r  Q = LMLT −1 = ML2T −1

7|Page
3. 2) According to question ; E y  J x Bz

Ey C m3
 constant of proportionality ; K= = =
BZ J x J x As

4. 2) v = k a b g c

M0 LT −1  = La ( ML−3 ) ( LT −2 ) = Mb La −3b+cT −2c

b c

 b = 0;a − 3b + c = 1

1
−2c = −1  c = 1/ 2  a =
2

v  1/ 20 g1/ 2or v 2  g

5. 4) unitless quantity

6. 4) a = b cd  e
So maximum error in a is given by

 a  b c d e
 100  =  100 +  100 +  100 +  100 = ( b1 + c1 + d1 + e1 ) %
 a max b c d e

7. 2) Let M = p n v m

ML−2T −1 = ( ML−1T −2 ) ( LT −1 ) = Mn L− n +mT −2n −m

n m

 n = 1; −n + m = −2

 m = −2 + n = −2 + 1 = −1  m = −n
8. 4) Dimensionally  0 L = C where C = capacitance Now the given expression reduces to CV / t .
Dimensionally CV = q where q is charge. Again the given expression reduces to q / t . Dimensionally
q
= I where I is current
t

9. 2) 1 sec* = 5sec,1kg* = 20kg,1m* = 10m

1 watt = 1kg m 2 sec −3

2 −3
1 * 1 * 1 * 1 1 1
= kg  m   sec  =  125kg*m*2 sec*−3 = watt*
20  10   5  20 100 16

p T
10. 1)Given f = taking log of both sides
2l 

p 1 1
log f = log   − log + log T − log 
2 2 2

Differentiating partially on both sides,

8|Page
df d 1 dT 1 d
= 0− + − or
f 2 T 2 
df  d   1 dT   1 d  1 1
100 =  − 100  +  100  −  100  = ( −1) + ( −2 ) − ( 4 ) = −1 − 1 − 2 = −4%
f   2 T  2   2 2

A
11. 1) Units of 2
= By = Cz 2 is equal to unit of electric field
x
The unit of electric field is N/C

Nm3
So the SI unit of A is =
C

N
The SI unit of B is =
mC
The SI unit of C is =N/m2C

q2 RT
12. 2)We know that, dimensionally = 2
, k BT = = PV = F  Now
F NA
1/ 2
k BT  q 2 F  
=  2  −3 2  =
nq 2  F q 

1/ 2
q2  2F  q2 
= =
 n1/ 3k BT  q 2 −1  F  
Also

  x 2y 1 z  1
13. 2) 100 =  + +  100 = 2 + 2 1 +  3 = 5%
  x y 3 z  3

ATML2 T −1
14. 3)  n = = L2 A
M
15. 1)

MLT −2
16. 4) Pressure = = 2
=  ML−1T −2   a = 1, b = −1, c = −2
L
17. 2)

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18. 2) The combination of physical constants that will have the same value in different systems of units should be a
dimensionless quantity, since dimensions are something that change the magnitude of a particular quantity.
Form Newton's law of gravitation and Coulomb's law of forces on charges,
GMm kQq
F= = 2
r2 r
Now, Observing the above expressions suggests that,
e2
the dimensions of are that of Nm2.
2 0
Also, the dimensions of Gm2 are that of Nm2.
Hence, we conclude that a division of these quantities will be a dimensionless quantity and its value will not
change depending on the system of units chosen.
19. 4) Dimension of A  dimension of (c).Hence A - C is not possible

p (r2 − x2 )  ML−1T −2   L2 
20. 1)  = = =  ML−1T −1 
4v  LT   L 
−1

21. 2) In new system, 1g* = 10g, 1cm* = 5cm

I = 6 100  g* ( 20cm* ) = 6 100  400g  cm*2 = 2.4 105 g*cm*2

2

22. 4) None of the expressions has the dimensions of time.

k.t 3
23. 2) = dimensionless
ma

ML2 T −2 K −1K.T 3
= M 0 L0T 0 ; a = L2T
M.a

 b 
Dimension of P = Dimension of b/a  ML−1T −2 = 2  b = MLT −1 =  Linear momentum 
LT
24. 2)

25. 2) L = 90.0cm, r = 2.13cm

Effective length = 90.0+2.13 = 92.1cm

26. 4)   =  ML−1T −2 

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 M M = T
Hence,  =
 L   ML−1T −2   L 

x2 L2
27. 2) Here, b and x 2 = L2 have same dimensions also, a = = = M −1T1
E  t ( ML2 T −2 ) T

a  b =  M −1L2T1 

F M1L1T −2
28. 2) E = = = M1L1T −3A −1
q AT

B = F = qvB

F M1L1T −2
B= = = M1L0T −2 A −1
qv
( A  T )   
L
T

E  B = M 2 LT −5A −2

2) Given, F = A x + Bt here, F = force, x = distance and t = time

2
29.

A T 
2
A t2
Dimensionally, F = A x = Bt  =  = 1/ 2 =  L−1/ 2T 2 
2

B x B  L 

30. ( )
2) In p = p 0 exp. − t 2 is dimensions

1 1
 = 2
= 2 = T −2 
t T

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