Question Details

Which pairs do not have equal dimensions?

Options

A

Energy and torque

B

Force and impulse

C

Angular momentum and Planck's constant

D

Elastic modulus and pressure.

Correct Answer :

Force and impulse

Solution :

The correct option is Force and impulse.

To determine which pair of physical quantities does not have equal dimensions, let us analyze the dimensional formulas for each option step-by-step:

1. Energy and Torque:
Energy is the capacity to do work, which is given by:
Energy=Force×displacement
Its dimensional formula is:
[Energy]=[MLT-2]×[L]=[ML2T-2]
Torque (τ) is the rotational equivalent of force, defined as:
Torque=Force×perpendicular distance
Its dimensional formula is:
[Torque]=[MLT-2]×[L]=[ML2T-2]
Since both have the same dimensions, this pair has equal dimensions.

2. Force and Impulse:
Force is defined as mass times acceleration:
Force=Mass×acceleration
Its dimensional formula is:
[Force]=[MLT-2]
Impulse is defined as the product of force and the time interval over which it acts:
Impulse=Force×time
Its dimensional formula is:
[Impulse]=[MLT-2]×[T]=[MLT-1]
Comparing the two, we see that:
[MLT-2][MLT-1]
Therefore, Force and Impulse do not have equal dimensions.

3. Angular Momentum and Planck's Constant:
Angular momentum (L) is given by:
L=mvr
Its dimensional formula is:
[L]=[M]×[LT-1]×[L]=[ML2T-1]
Planck's constant (h) is derived from the relation:
E=hνh=Eν
where E is energy and ν is frequency (with dimensions of [T-1]).
Its dimensional formula is:
[h]=[ML2T-2][T-1]=[ML2T-1]
Since both have the same dimensions, this pair has equal dimensions.

4. Elastic Modulus and Pressure:
Elastic modulus is defined as stress divided by strain. Since strain is a dimensionless ratio of lengths, the dimensions of elastic modulus are the same as stress:
Elastic modulus=StressStrain=Force/Areadimensionless
Its dimensional formula is:
[Elastic modulus]=[ML-1T-2]
Pressure is also defined as force per unit area:
Pressure=ForceArea
Its dimensional formula is:
[Pressure]=[ML-1T-2]
Since both have the same dimensions, this pair has equal dimensions.

Conclusion: The only pair that does not have equal dimensions is Force and impulse.

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