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Physics · Textbook solutions

Units and Measurement

Every solved example, exercise, and miscellaneous question — in the order the textbook teaches them. · 41 questions

Worked Examples

5 q

Solved Examples

Worked · 5
  1. Eg 1.1
    Each side of a cube is measured to be 7.203 m7.203\,\text{m}. What are the total surface area and the volume of the cube to appropriate significant figures?
  2. Eg 1.2
    5.74 g5.74\,\text{g} of a substance occupies 1.2 cm31.2\,\text{cm}^{3}. Express its density by keeping the significant figures in view.
  3. Eg 1.3
    Let us consider an equation 12mv2=mgh\dfrac{1}{2} m v^{2} = m g h where mm is the mass of the body, vv its velocity, gg is the acceleration due to gravity and hh is the height. Check whether this equation is dimensionally correct.
  4. Eg 1.4
    The SI unit of energy is J=kg m2s−2\text{J} = \text{kg m}^{2}\text{s}^{-2}; that of speed vv is m s−1\text{m s}^{-1} and of acceleration aa is m s−2\text{m s}^{-2}. Which of the formulae for kinetic energy (K)(K) given below can you rule out on the basis of dimensional arguments (mm stands for the mass of the body): (a) K=m2v3K = m^{2} v^{3} (b) K=(1/2)mv2K = (1/2) m v^{2} (c) K=maK = ma (d) K=(3/16)mv2K = (3/16) m v^{2} (e) K=(1/2)mv2+maK = (1/2) m v^{2} + ma
  5. Eg 1.5
    Consider a simple pendulum, having a bob attached to a string, that oscillates under the action of the force of gravity. Suppose that the period of oscillation of the simple pendulum depends on its length (l)(l), mass of the bob (m)(m) and acceleration due to gravity (g)(g). Derive the expression for its time period using method of dimensions.

Exercises

36 q
  1. Ex 1.1(a)
    Fill in the blanks (a) The volume of a cube of side 1 cm1\,\text{cm} is equal to … m3\ldots\,\text{m}^{3}
  2. Ex 1.1(b)
    Fill in the blanks (b) The surface area of a solid cylinder of radius 2.0 cm2.0\,\text{cm} and height 10.0 cm10.0\,\text{cm} is equal to … (mm)2\ldots\,(\text{mm})^{2}
  3. Ex 1.1(c)
    Fill in the blanks (c) A vehicle moving with a speed of 18 km h−118\,\text{km h}^{-1} covers … m\ldots\,\text{m} in 1 s1\,\text{s}
  4. Ex 1.1(d)
    Fill in the blanks (d) The relative density of lead is 11.311.3. Its density is … g cm−3\ldots\,\text{g cm}^{-3} or … kg m−3\ldots\,\text{kg m}^{-3}.
  5. Ex 1.2(a)
    Fill in the blanks by suitable conversion of units (a) 1 kg m2s−2=… g cm2s−21\,\text{kg m}^{2}\text{s}^{-2} = \ldots\,\text{g cm}^{2}\text{s}^{-2}
  6. Ex 1.2(b)
    Fill in the blanks by suitable conversion of units (b) 1 m=… ly1\,\text{m} = \ldots\,\text{ly}
  7. Ex 1.2(c)
    Fill in the blanks by suitable conversion of units (c) 3.0 m s−2=… km h−23.0\,\text{m s}^{-2} = \ldots\,\text{km h}^{-2}
  8. Ex 1.2(d)
    Fill in the blanks by suitable conversion of units (d) G=6.67×10−11 N m2 (kg)−2=… (cm)3s−2 g−1G = 6.67 \times 10^{-11}\,\text{N m}^{2}\,(\text{kg})^{-2} = \ldots\,(\text{cm})^{3}\text{s}^{-2}\,\text{g}^{-1}.
  9. Ex 1.3
    A calorie is a unit of heat (energy in transit) and it equals about 4.2 J4.2\,\text{J} where 1 J=1 kg m2s−21\,\text{J} = 1\,\text{kg m}^{2}\text{s}^{-2}. Suppose we employ a system of units in which the unit of mass equals α kg\alpha\,\text{kg}, the unit of length equals β m\beta\,\text{m}, the unit of time is γ s\gamma\,\text{s}. Show that a calorie has a magnitude 4.2 α−1β−2γ24.2\,\alpha^{-1}\beta^{-2}\gamma^{2} in terms of the new units.
  10. Ex 1.4(a)
    Explain this statement clearly : "To call a dimensional quantity 'large' or 'small' is meaningless without specifying a standard for comparison". In view of this, reframe the following statements wherever necessary : (a) atoms are very small objects
  11. Ex 1.4(b)
    Explain this statement clearly : "To call a dimensional quantity 'large' or 'small' is meaningless without specifying a standard for comparison". In view of this, reframe the following statements wherever necessary : (b) a jet plane moves with great speed
  12. Ex 1.4(c)
    Explain this statement clearly : "To call a dimensional quantity 'large' or 'small' is meaningless without specifying a standard for comparison". In view of this, reframe the following statements wherever necessary : (c) the mass of Jupiter is very large
  13. Ex 1.4(d)
    Explain this statement clearly : "To call a dimensional quantity 'large' or 'small' is meaningless without specifying a standard for comparison". In view of this, reframe the following statements wherever necessary : (d) the air inside this room contains a large number of molecules
  14. Ex 1.4(e)
    Explain this statement clearly : "To call a dimensional quantity 'large' or 'small' is meaningless without specifying a standard for comparison". In view of this, reframe the following statements wherever necessary : (e) a proton is much more massive than an electron
  15. Ex 1.4(f)
    Explain this statement clearly : "To call a dimensional quantity 'large' or 'small' is meaningless without specifying a standard for comparison". In view of this, reframe the following statements wherever necessary : (f) the speed of sound is much smaller than the speed of light.
  16. Ex 1.5
    A new unit of length is chosen such that the speed of light in vacuum is unity. What is the distance between the Sun and the Earth in terms of the new unit if light takes 8 min8\,\text{min} and 20 s20\,\text{s} to cover this distance ?
  17. Ex 1.6
    Which of the following is the most precise device for measuring length : (a) a vernier callipers with 20 divisions on the sliding scale (b) a screw gauge of pitch 1 mm1\,\text{mm} and 100 divisions on the circular scale (c) an optical instrument that can measure length to within a wavelength of light ?
  18. Ex 1.7
    A student measures the thickness of a human hair by looking at it through a microscope of magnification 100. He makes 20 observations and finds that the average width of the hair in the field of view of the microscope is 3.5 mm3.5\,\text{mm}. What is the estimate on the thickness of hair ?
  19. Ex 1.8(a)
    Answer the following : (a) You are given a thread and a metre scale. How will you estimate the diameter of the thread ?
  20. Ex 1.8(b)
    Answer the following : (b) A screw gauge has a pitch of 1.0 mm1.0\,\text{mm} and 200 divisions on the circular scale. Do you think it is possible to increase the accuracy of the screw gauge arbitrarily by increasing the number of divisions on the circular scale ?
  21. Ex 1.8(c)
    Answer the following : (c) The mean diameter of a thin brass rod is to be measured by vernier callipers. Why is a set of 100 measurements of the diameter expected to yield a more reliable estimate than a set of 5 measurements only ?
  22. Ex 1.9
    The photograph of a house occupies an area of 1.75 cm21.75\,\text{cm}^{2} on a 35 mm35\,\text{mm} slide. The slide is projected on to a screen, and the area of the house on the screen is 1.55 m21.55\,\text{m}^{2}. What is the linear magnification of the projector-screen arrangement.
  23. Ex 1.10(a)
    State the number of significant figures in the following : (a) 0.007 m20.007\,\text{m}^{2}
  24. Ex 1.10(b)
    State the number of significant figures in the following : (b) 2.64×1024 kg2.64 \times 10^{24}\,\text{kg}
  25. Ex 1.10(c)
    State the number of significant figures in the following : (c) 0.2370 g cm−30.2370\,\text{g cm}^{-3}
  26. Ex 1.10(d)
    State the number of significant figures in the following : (d) 6.320 J6.320\,\text{J}
  27. Ex 1.10(e)
    State the number of significant figures in the following : (e) 6.032 N m−26.032\,\text{N m}^{-2}
  28. Ex 1.10(f)
    State the number of significant figures in the following : (f) 0.0006032 m20.0006032\,\text{m}^{2}
  29. Ex 1.11
    The length, breadth and thickness of a rectangular sheet of metal are 4.234 m4.234\,\text{m}, 1.005 m1.005\,\text{m}, and 2.01 cm2.01\,\text{cm} respectively. Give the area and volume of the sheet to correct significant figures.
  30. Ex 1.12(a)
    The mass of a box measured by a grocer's balance is 2.30 kg2.30\,\text{kg}. Two gold pieces of masses 20.15 g20.15\,\text{g} and 20.17 g20.17\,\text{g} are added to the box. What is (a) the total mass of the box, to correct significant figures ?
  31. Ex 1.12(b)
    The mass of a box measured by a grocer's balance is 2.30 kg2.30\,\text{kg}. Two gold pieces of masses 20.15 g20.15\,\text{g} and 20.17 g20.17\,\text{g} are added to the box. What is (b) the difference in the masses of the pieces to correct significant figures ?
  32. Ex 1.13
    A famous relation in physics relates 'moving mass' mm to the 'rest mass' m0m_{0} of a particle in terms of its speed vv and the speed of light, cc. (This relation first arose as a consequence of special relativity due to Albert Einstein). A boy recalls the relation almost correctly but forgets where to put the constant cc. He writes : m=m0(1−v2)1/2m = \dfrac{m_{0}}{\left(1 - v^{2}\right)^{1/2}} Guess where to put the missing cc.
  33. Ex 1.14
    The unit of length convenient on the atomic scale is known as an angstrom and is denoted by A˚\text{Å}: 1 A˚=10−10 m1\,\text{Å} = 10^{-10}\,\text{m}. The size of a hydrogen atom is about 0.5 A˚0.5\,\text{Å}. What is the total atomic volume in m3\text{m}^{3} of a mole of hydrogen atoms ?
  34. Ex 1.15
    One mole of an ideal gas at standard temperature and pressure occupies 22.4 L22.4\,\text{L} (molar volume). What is the ratio of molar volume to the atomic volume of a mole of hydrogen ? (Take the size of hydrogen molecule to be about 1 A˚1\,\text{Å}). Why is this ratio so large ?
  35. Ex 1.16
    Explain this common observation clearly : If you look out of the window of a fast moving train, the nearby trees, houses etc. seem to move rapidly in a direction opposite to the train's motion, but the distant objects (hill tops, the Moon, the stars etc.) seem to be stationary. (In fact, since you are aware that you are moving, these distant objects seem to move with you).
  36. Ex 1.17
    The Sun is a hot plasma (ionized matter) with its inner core at a temperature exceeding 107 K10^{7}\,\text{K}, and its outer surface at a temperature of about 6000 K6000\,\text{K}. At these high temperatures, no substance remains in a solid or liquid phase. In what range do you expect the mass density of the Sun to be, in the range of densities of solids and liquids or gases ? Check if your guess is correct from the following data : mass of the Sun =2.0×1030 kg= 2.0 \times 10^{30}\,\text{kg}, radius of the Sun =7.0×108 m= 7.0 \times 10^{8}\,\text{m}.