Physics · Physical world and measurement · chapter 1 of 14

Class 11 Physics Chapter 1: Units and Measurement worksheet with answer key

A 20-mark worksheet on Units and Measurement for about 40 minutes of class or homework: 5 multiple-choice, 3 very short answer and 3 short answer questions, written from the NCERT chapter and checked by a second reviewer. Print the PDF for the class; the answer key carries the marking scheme. Teachers may photocopy it freely.

Download the worksheet (PDF)Answer key (PDF)
Question 1
A student adds the masses 18.62 g, 3.1 g and 0.457 g and reports the total as 22.18 g. Which statement about his result is correct?
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Answer: (c) It should be 22.2 g, since 3.1 g has only one decimal place.

The arithmetic sum is 22.177 g. In addition the result keeps as many decimal places as the least precise term, 3.1 g with one decimal place, so the total is 22.2 g. The significant-figure rule of (b) is the rule for multiplication and division, not for addition.

Question 2
Which one of the following readings has exactly three significant figures?
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Answer: (a) 0.00203 s

0.00203 s: the leading zeros only place the decimal point, so 2, 0, 3 count: three. 0.04050 kg has four (4, 0, 5 and the trailing zero after the decimal point); 3.070 m has four; 2.300 × 10³ g has four, since every zero in the base number of scientific notation is significant.

Question 3
A rectangular plot is measured as 12.6 m long and 4.2 m wide. A student multiplies the two and reports the area as 52.92 m². How many of the digits he has written are not justified by the measurements?
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Answer: (c) 2

In multiplication the result keeps as many significant figures as the factor with the fewest: 4.2 m has two. So 52.92 m² must be reported as 53 m², and the last two digits written, 9 and 2, are not justified.

Question 4
The length of a road is written as 3600 m, without a decimal point and not in scientific notation. By NCERT's rules, the number of significant figures in it is
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Answer: (d) 2

In a number without a decimal point the trailing zeros are not significant, so only 3 and 6 count: two significant figures.

Question 5
By the convention for dropping a final digit 5, the number 6.375 rounded off to three significant figures is
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Answer: (b) 6.38

The digit dropped is 5 and the preceding digit, 7, is odd, so it is raised by 1: 6.38. (Had the preceding digit been even, the 5 would simply be dropped.)

Question 6 · 2 marks
Using the method of dimensions, find how many dynes make one newton.
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Force has dimensions [M L T⁻²], so a = 1, b = 1, c = −2. n₂ = n₁ [M₁/M₂]¹ [L₁/L₂]¹ [T₁/T₂]⁻² = 1 × (1 kg/1 g) × (1 m/1 cm) × 1 = 1000 × 100 = 10⁵. So 1 N = 10⁵ dyne.

  • dimensions [M L T⁻²] and the conversion formula set up (1)
  • 1 N = 10⁵ dyne (1)
Question 7 · 2 marks
In the revised SI, each base unit is defined by fixing the numerical value of a constant of nature. Name the constant used to define (a) the metre and (b) the kilogram, and give the unit in which each fixed value is expressed.
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(a) The metre: the speed of light in vacuum c, fixed at 299792458 in m s⁻¹. (b) The kilogram: the Planck constant h, fixed at 6.62607015 × 10⁻³⁴ in J s (= kg m² s⁻¹).

  • metre: speed of light c, in m s⁻¹ (1)
  • kilogram: Planck constant h, in J s or kg m² s⁻¹ (1)
Question 8 · 2 marks
Name the SI base units of (a) amount of substance and (b) luminous intensity, with their symbols. Why must the elementary entities be stated whenever the mole is used?
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(a) mole, mol; (b) candela, cd. One mole contains exactly 6.02214076 × 10²³ elementary entities, and these may be atoms, molecules, ions, electrons or other particles; a mole of hydrogen atoms is not the same amount of matter as a mole of hydrogen molecules, so the entity must be named.

  • mole (mol) and candela (cd) (1)
  • the entities may be atoms, molecules, ions etc., so the count is meaningless unless they are specified (1)
Question 9 · 3 marks
A surveyor measures a distance to the nearest metre and writes it as 7200 m. (a) Why is this way of writing it ambiguous? (b) Write it in scientific notation so that its precision is clear. (c) Write it in kilometres, keeping the same precision.
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(a) In a number without a decimal point the trailing zeros are not significant, so 7200 m reads as two significant figures, though the surveyor's reading has four. (b) 7.200 × 10³ m: zeros in the base number are significant, so four figures are shown. (c) 7.200 km; a change of units does not change the number of significant figures.

  • trailing zeros without a decimal point read as not significant (1)
  • 7.200 × 10³ m (1)
  • 7.200 km (1)
Question 10 · 3 marks
Young's modulus of steel is 2.0 × 10¹¹ N m⁻²; it has the dimensions of stress. Asked to express it in dyne cm⁻² using n₂ = n₁[M₁/M₂]ᵃ[L₁/L₂]ᵇ[T₁/T₂]ᶜ, Arjun writes 2.0 × 10¹² dyne cm⁻² and Kabir writes 2.0 × 10¹⁶ dyne cm⁻². (a) Write the values of a, b and c. (b) Decide which answer is right, showing the working. (c) Identify the error that gives the other answer.
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(a) Stress, and so the modulus, has dimensions [M L⁻¹ T⁻²]: a = 1, b = −1, c = −2. (b) M₁/M₂ = 1 kg/1 g = 1000; L₁/L₂ = 1 m/1 cm = 100; T₁/T₂ = 1. n₂ = 2.0 × 10¹¹ × 1000 × (100)⁻¹ = 2.0 × 10¹² dyne cm⁻²: Arjun is right. (c) 2.0 × 10¹¹ × 1000 × 100 = 2.0 × 10¹⁶: Kabir took b = +1, the power of L in force, and forgot the area in the denominator, which makes the power of L −1.

  • a = 1, b = −1, c = −2 (1)
  • 2.0 × 10¹¹ × 1000 × (100)⁻¹ = 2.0 × 10¹² dyne cm⁻²; Arjun right (1)
  • Kabir used b = +1 (ignored the m⁻² of area) (1)
Question 11 · 3 marks
Find the dimensional formula of (a) impulse (force × time), (b) torque (force × perpendicular distance) and (c) pressure (force/area). For each, name one other quantity with the same dimensions.
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(a) [M L T⁻²][T] = [M L T⁻¹], the same as linear momentum. (b) [M L T⁻²][L] = [M L² T⁻²], the same as work or energy. (c) [M L T⁻²]/[L²] = [M L⁻¹ T⁻²], the same as stress or modulus of elasticity.

  • impulse [M L T⁻¹], momentum (1)
  • torque [M L² T⁻²], work or energy (1)
  • pressure [M L⁻¹ T⁻²], stress or modulus (1)
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