10 minutes maximum! Can you do it in 5?
1. Which of these is a base SI quantity?
2. Which of these is a derived unit?
3. Which of these numbers represents the prefix 'nano'?
4. 0.0004 joules can be written in millijoules (mJ) or microjoules (µJ). Which of these gives both conversions correctly?
5. A power station has an output of 2.5 GW. This is
6. A coulomb has base units of
7. A rabbit is measured running a distance of 2.5 m in 3.45 seconds. The answer for the speed should be given as
8. The unit [kg m s-2] is the same as a
9. The viscous drag force Fd on a sphere falling through a fluid is given by the equation
Fd = 6πηrv
where r is the radius of the sphere, v is the velocity and η is the viscosity of the fluid.
The units of viscosity are therefore:
10. The speed of waves v in shallow water is found to depend on the depth of the water d, and the gravitational field strength g.
Using dimensional analysis of units, determine which of these equations connecting v, d and g is realistic.
Question 1:
The base SI quantities are:
Length (meter)
Mass (kilogram)
Time (second)
Electric current (ampere)
Temperature (kelvin)
Amount of substance (mole)
Luminous intensity (candela)
From the options:
A. current → base quantity (ampere)
B. power → derived (W = J/s)
C. energy → derived (J = kg·m²/s²)
D. acceleration → derived (m/s²)
Answer: A. current ✅
*These A.I. responses have been individually checked to ensure they match the accepted answer, but explanations may still be incorrect. Responses may give guidance but the A.I. might not be able to answer the question! This is particularly the case for questions based on diagrams, which the A.I. typically cannot interpret. Grade Gorilla uses Gemini, Deepseek and a range of other A.I. chatbots to generate the saved responses. Some answers have had human intervention for clarity or where the A.I. has not been able to answer the question.
Question 2:
The derived units are formed from combinations of base SI units.
A. amp (ampere) → base unit (electric current)
B. kilogram → base unit (mass)
C. joule → derived unit (kg·m²/s², for energy)
D. second → base unit (time)
Answer: C. joule ✅
Question 3:
The prefix nano means 10−9.
A. 10−3 → milli (m)
B. 10−6→ micro (µ)
C. 10−9 → nano (n)
D. 10−12 → pico (p)
Answer: C. 10−9 ✅
Question 4:
We start with 0.0004 J.
Step 1: Convert to millijoules (mJ) 1 mJ=10−3 J So:
Step 2: Convert to microjoules (µJ) 1 μJ=10−6 J So:
Checking the table:
B says 0.4 mJ and 400 μJ ✅
Question 5:
We know: 1 GW=109 W
So:
That matches D. ✅
Question 6:
We know: Electric charge Q=I×t Units: Q=[A⋅s]
That matches A.
Answer: A ✅
Question 7:
We need to consider significant figures in the calculation.
The distance 2.5 mhas 2 significant figures. The time 3.45 s has 3 significant figures. The result should be limited by the least number of significant figures in the input data, which is 2 (from 2.5 m).
Rounded to 2 significant figures: 0.72 m/s.
That matches C.
Answer: C ✅
Question 8:
We know: Force F=ma Units: [kg⋅m⋅s−2] This is the definition of the newton (N).
Question 9:
We start with:
Units:
Fd → newton (N)
r → meter (m)
v → m/s
Thus:
η=[N] / ([m]⋅[m/s])
η=[N] / [m2/s]
η=[N]⋅[s/m2]
That matches B. N s m⁻².
Answer: B ✅
Question 10:
To determine which equation relating the speed of waves vv v in shallow water depends on the depth dd d and the gravitational field strength gg g is dimensionally consistent, we can analyze the dimensions of each equation.
A. v = d √g Dimensions:
d √g = [L] √([L][T]−2)
d √g = [L] [L]½[T]−1
d √g = [L]3/2[T]−1
Not consistent.
B. v = g √d Dimensions:
g √d = [L][T]−2 √[L]
g √d = [L][T]−2 [L]½
g √d = [L]3/2[T]−2
C. v = √(g d) Dimensions:
√(gd) = √( [L][T]−2[L] )
√(gd) = √([L]2[T]−2)
√(gd) = [L][T]−1
Consistent!
D. g d = [L][T]−2[L]
g d = [L]2[T]−2
The only dimensionally consistent equation is:
C. √(gd) = [L][T]−1