Thursday, 7 July 2016

Order of magnitude

[Disclaimer: I just wanted to share some things which I am learning.Kindly confirm those from the textbooks.]
Hello friends,
Today we will learn about order of magnitude. In measurement this chapter is very important. First, let us see about what is order of magnitude. Let us find out.

3.1 – Introduction
So friends, this is our third chapter! You had learnt about units & dimensions. Now we will learn about order of magnitude. You know that there are very large quantities & very small quantities. For example, the speed of light in air is 300000000. This is very large. But on the other hand, the magnitude of the charge on an electron is 0.00000000000000000016 coulomb. This is too small.

This is very boring to write these zeros. So we can write these numbers in a shorter form. How to write it? In 8th standard you had learnt about that method. But now we will revise it today. Let’s revise the method of power of ten.

3.2 – Method of power of ten
Consider the number 460000000000. In this number it is very inconvenient to write these zeros. Here we will use the method of power of ten. For making this number short we have to use the following steps.

STEP 1
In step 1, first count the number of zeros. So you will find that there are 10 zeros. Now add 1 in that number of zeros. This is equal to 11.
Number of zeros + 1 = 10 + 1 = 11

STEP 2
In step 2, remove all zeros in that number & write down the remaining number. So, in this case, when we remove all the zeros in that number then the number will be 46. Now, we will write down the number 46.
46

STEP 3
Now in this step, we have to dissect the number 46 in digits & we will add a decimal point after the first digit. So the final number will be 4.6. Write down the number 4.6 as follows.
4.6

STEP 4
In this step, we will add a multiplication symbol after 4.6 & then we will write the number 10. Then, in step 1 our final answer was 11. So we will write the power of 10 as 11. So we will write it as 1011. So write down our final answer as given below.
4.6 x 1011.


In this case we had avoided the repetition of the zeros. In similar manner let us consider the digit 0.000000000019. For making this number short we have to use the following steps.

STEP 1
In step 1, first count the number of zeros which are after the decimal points. So you will find that there are 10 zeros. Now add 1 in that number of zeros. This is equal to 11.
Number of zeros + 1 = 10 + 1 = 11

STEP 2
In step 2, remove all zeros & decimal points in that number & write down the remaining number. So, in this case, when we remove all the zeros & a decimal point in that number then the number will be 19. Now, we will write down the number 19.
19

STEP 3
Now in this step, we have to dissect the number 19 in digits & we will add a decimal point after the first digit. So the final number will be 1.9. Write down the number 1.9 as follows.
1.9

STEP 4
In this step, we will add a multiplication symbol after 1.9 & then we will write the number 10. Then, in step 1 our final answer was 11. So we will write the power of 10 as 11 & we will add negative symbol before 11. So we will write it as 10-11. So write down our final answer as given below.
1.9 x 10-11

So you had revised this clearly. Your basic concepts are cleared. So let us see about order of magnitude.

3.3 – Order of magnitude
You had learnt about the method of the power of 10. But now we will learn about what is order of magnitude. In the above examples the positive indices of 10 represent large magnitudes while the negative indices represent small magnitudes. So we can write the speed of light in convenient form as 3 x 108 m/s while we can write the charge on an electron as 1.6 x 10-19 coulomb.

How to find the order of magnitude? The order of magnitude of a number is defined as the power of ten nearest to that number. So the order of magnitude of 432 is 102. This is because this number is closer to 102. Means the number 100 is closer to 1000. So the order of magnitude of 432 is 102. On the other hand, the magnitude of the number 0.00325 is 10-3.

It was very easy, isn’t it? Now I think you had learnt this chapter clearly. Thank you for watching my blog.

3.4 – Thank you
So friends thank you for watching my website. Best of luck for your exams… See you next time.

Your friend,

Aditya P

Wednesday, 6 July 2016

Dimensions
[Disclaimer: I just wanted to share some things which I am learning.Kindly confirm those from the textbooks.]
Hello friends,
Today we will learn about dimensions. The concept of dimensions takes very important role in Physics. For the competitive exams such as IIT JEE this chapter is very important. You had learnt about units in our last website. Now we will learn about dimensions. But before learning about dimensions you have to know the basic knowledge about units. I assume that you know about units. Now we will see about dimensions. What is dimension? Let us find out.

2.1 – Introduction to dimensions
We know about fundamental & derived quantities. Let us revise about fundamental & derived quantities. The quantities which are Independent are fundamental quantities. Also, fundamental quantities do not require help of any other physical quantities for their definition. On the other hand, the quantities which are not independent are said to be derived quantities. Derived quantities need help of other physical quantities for their definition.

Now what is dimension? When derived quantities are obtained from multiplying or dividing two or more fundamental quantities, it is written as a product of different powers of the fundamental quantities. The powers of fundamental quantities are the dimensions & we can write derived quantity in dimensional formula. What is dimensional formula? Let us find out...

2.2 – Finding dimensional formula
Now we have to learn about finding dimensional formula. Let us consider the physical quantity force. We know that the force is a derived quantity. Let us find out the dimensional formula of force. Use the following steps to find the dimensional formula of force.

STEP 1
First of all we have to write the formula of force. You know the formula of force is Mass x Acceleration. Write down the formula of force as follows.
FORCE = MASS x ACCELERATION

STEP 2
Before going to see step 2, we have to know when we have to find the dimensional formula of any physical quantity then we have to dissect it in the form of fundamental quantities. So we will dissect this mass x acceleration in the short form.

We know the formula of acceleration is Velocity / Time. So we will replace acceleration with velocity / time. Write down the complete formula of force.
FORCE = (MASS x VELOCITY) / TIME

STEP 3
Now we will dissect this formula once again. We know the formula of velocity. The formula of velocity is Length / Time. So we will replace velocity with Length / Time. Write down the complete formula of force.
FORCE = [MASS x (LENGTH / TIME)] / TIME
So, FORCE = (MASS x LENGTH) / TIME2
So, FORCE = MASS1 x LENGTH1 x TIME-2

STEP 4
Note that in dimensional formula we write Mass as M, Length as L & Time as T. So the dimensional formula of force is M1 x L1 x T-2. Also, when we write the dimensional formula we cannot write ‘x’ this symbol of multiplication. So the actual dimensional formula of force will be M1L1T-2. Note that the dimensional formula of any physical quantity should be written in two square brackets. Write down the dimensional formula of force.
[M1L1T-2]

Finding dimensional formula of any physical quantity was very easy. Isn’t it? In the following chart some quantities and their dimensional formulae are given.

2.3 – Some quantities and their dimensional formulae
Now let us see about some applications based on dimensional analysis.

2.3 – Applications based on dimensional analysis
TYPE 1: Finding unit of a physical quantity in a given system of units
How to find the unit of a physical quantity in a given system of units? For learning about it let us take an example.
Q.1 – What is the unit of density in MKS system?
Before solving this question let us revise about the system of units. Here is the chart given for system of units.

Observe it.

In MKS system, the units for Length, Mass & Time are meter, kilogram & second respectively. The dimensional formula of density is [M1L-3T0]. In MKS system L, M & T is meter, kilogram & second respectively.

Density = M1L-3T0
Density = kg1 X m-3
Density = kg / m3

So the unit of density in MKS system is kg / m3.

TYPE 2: Converting physical quantities from one system to other
In this case we have to change a physical quantity from one system to the other. Here is the formula of this type of questions.

n2 = nX [M1 / M2]a X [L1 / L2]b X [T1 / T2]c

In this formula, n1 is a numerical value of a physical quantity which is in the first system & n2 is a numerical value of a physical quantity which is in the second system. M1, L1 & T1 are mass, length & time of a physical quantity in the first system respectively. M2, L2 & T2 are mass, length & time of a physical quantity in the second system respectively & a, b & c are dimensions of Mass, length & time respectively.

Now let us take an example to clear this concept.
Q.2 – Convert one newton into dyne.
You know that newton is the unit of force in SI system & dyne is the unit of force in CGS system. In SI system the units of Mass, Length & Time are kg, m & s respectively & in MKS system the units of Mass, Length & Time are g, cm & s respectively. Here the dimensional formula of force is M1L1T-2. So here a, b & c are 1, 1 & -2 respectively. By using the formula,

n2 = nX [M1 / M2]a X [L1 / L2]b X [T1 / T2]c

1 N = 1 X [kg / g]1 X [m / cm]1 X [s / s]-2

1 N = 1 X [103 g / g] X [102 cm / cm] X [1]-2

1 N = 1 X 103 X 102 X 1

1 N = 105 dyne.

So 1 N = 105 dyne.

It was very easy, wasn’t it? Now I think your concept based on dimensions is complete. Thank you.

2.4 – Thank you
So friends thank you for watching my website. Best of luck for your exams… See you next time.

Your friend,
Aditya P




Monday, 4 July 2016

Check this video about how to calculate acceleration.

Units
[Disclaimer: I just wanted to share some things which I am learning.Kindly confirm those from the textbooks.]
Hello friends,
In this website we will learn about units. This chapter of Units is very important while learning physics. For IIT JEE exam this chapter is important. So let us learn about units.

1.1 – Physical Quantity
Physical quantity is a quantity which can be measured & by which various physical happenings can be explained in the form of laws. Length, Mass, Time, Force, Energy, etc. are the examples of a physical quantity.

1.2 – Measurement
Measurement is important to compare two similar quantities. It is also necessary to determine the magnitude of a physical quantity & to prove some physical laws. We can find the magnitude of a physical quantity. When we colour our room, we measure the length, breadth & height of that room. After measuring the length, breadth & height of the room, we can give the colour to the room.

A physical quantity is completely represented by its magnitude & its unit. For example, 20 m means a length which is 20 times that of unit of length. Here, meter is a unit of length. So we can say that 20 m means a length which is 20 times that of unit of length. Here is the formula of a physical quantity.
Physical Quantity (Q) = Magnitude X Unit = n X u

1.3 – Fundamental Quantity
We know that there are a large number of quantities are there in our vast world. But out of these only few are independent. In SI system of units there are only seven quantities are independent. The quantities which are independent of all other quantities & do not require the help of any other physical quantity for their definition. Such quantities are said to be fundamental quantities. The fundamental quantities in SI System are given below in this chart.
There are supplementary quantities also in SI system. Here is a chart of the supplementary quantities & their SI Unit.

1.4 – Derived Quantities
The quantities which are not fundamental quantities are derived quantities. This is just a simple definition. But what is the main definition of derived quantities? The quantities which are not independent & do require the help of any other fundamental quantity for their definition. Such quantities are said to be derived quantities. For example, Force, Volume, Energy, etc. are derived quantities.

1.5 – Fundamental & Derived Units
The units of fundamental quantities are said to be fundamental units & the units of derived quantities are said to be derived units. So meter, second, time, kelvin, etc. are fundamental units & newton, area, volume, etc. are derived units.

1.6 – System of units
There are three common systems which we use in our everyday life. These three systems and their units are given below in this chart.
 


1.7 – Thank you
So friends thank you for watching my website. Best of luck for your exams… See you next time.

Your friend,
Aditya P