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Units and Measurements appeared 50 times across 3 years — 5.8% of Physics. This question is from Least Count and Vernier Instruments.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 14 22 14 50

For the determination of refractive index of glass slab, a travelling microscope is used whose main scale contains 300 equal divisions equals to 15 cm. The vernier scale attached to the microscope has 25 divisions equals to 24 divisions of main scale. The least count (LC) of the travelling microscope is (in cm):

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula
1 MSD = Total LengthTotal Divisions Least Count (LC) = 1 MSD - 1 VSD = 1 MSD · (1 - (24)/(25))
Core Logic

Calculate the value of one main scale division:

1 MSD = 15 cm300 = 0.05 cm

Given that 25 VSD = 24 MSD, we find:

1 VSD = (24)/(25) MSD
Step 1: Compute Least Count
LC = 1 MSD · ((1)/(25)) = 0.05 cm25 = 0.002 cm
Pattern Recognition

Least count calculation is conventionally LC = 1 MSDN where N represents the total count of divisions on the vernier scale whenever (N-1) MSD = N VSD.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Units and Measurements

Reference Study Guides

More Units and Measurements Previous-Year Questions — Page 2

Q26 jee_main_2026_22_january_evening Dimensional Analysis
If in, E and t represent the free space permittivity, electric field and time respectively, then the unit of (in E)/(t) will be :
  • A. Am
  • B. Am²
  • C. A/m²
  • D. A/m

Solution

Related Formula
E = (1)/(4πin) · (q)/(r²) [(in E)/(t)] = [(q)/(t · r²)]
Core Logic

Substituting electric field equation into the expression gives:

(in E)/(t) = (in)/(t) · (1)/(4πin) (q)/(r²) = (q)/(4π t r²)

Substituting dimensional formulas for current (I = q/t arrow A) and area (r² arrow m²):

[(in E)/(t)] = A · TT · L² = A L⁻² = A/m²
Step 1: Final Conclusion

Hence, the unit of (in E)/(t) is A/m².

Pattern Recognition

Sees: in E / t product. Shortcut: Permittivity times Electric Field is Displacement Field D = in E, which has units of Charge per unit Area (C/m²). Dividing by time yields C/(s · m²) = A/m² directly.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Units and Measurements Class 12 Physics: Electrostatics

Q29 jee_main_2026_23_january_morning Errors in Measurement
Four persons measure the length of a rod as 20.00 cm, 19.75 cm, 17.01 cm and 18.25 cm. The relative error in the measurement of average length of the rod is :
  • A. 0.24
  • B. 0.18
  • C. 0.06
  • D. 0.08

Solution

Related Formula
lmean = Σ lᵢn Δ lmean = Σ |Δ lᵢ|n Relative Error = Δ lmeanlmean
Step 1: Calculate Mean Value
lmean = (20.00 + 19.75 + 17.01 + 18.25)/(4) lmean = (75.01)/(4) = 18.7525 ≈ 18.75 cm
Step 2: Calculate Mean Absolute Error

Deviations from the mean: |Δ l₁| = |20.00 - 18.75| = 1.25 |Δ l₂| = |19.75 - 18.75| = 1.00 |Δ l₃| = |17.01 - 18.75| = 1.74 |Δ l₄| = |18.25 - 18.75| = 0.50

Δ lmean = (1.25 + 1.00 + 1.74 + 0.50)/(4) Δ lmean = (4.49)/(4) = 1.1225 ≈ 1.12 cm
Step 3: Calculate Relative Error
Relative Error = Δ lmeanlmean Relative Error = (1.12)/(18.75) = 0.05973 ≈ 0.06
Pattern Recognition

Sees: "relative error" + "multiple readings" → first find mean, then find absolute differences from mean, average those differences, and finally divide by the mean.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Units and Measurements

Q44 jee_main_2026_23_january_morning Screw Gauge
In a screw gauge, the zero of the circular scale lies 3 divisions above the horizontal pitch line when their metallic studs are brought in contact. Using this instrument thickness of a sheet is measured. If pitch scale reading is 1 mm and the circular scale reading is 51 then the correct thickness of the sheet is ____ mm. [Assume least count is 0.01 mm]
  • A. 1.50
  • B. 1.48
  • C. 1.54
  • D. 1.51

Solution

Related Formula
Zero Error = Division × Least Count True Reading = Measured Reading - Zero Error
Core Logic

Since the zero of the circular scale lies above the horizontal reference line when the studs are in contact, the screw gauge has a negative zero error. This means the instrument fundamentally "reads" a value less than the actual value, so the error must be added to the raw reading.

Step 1: Evaluate Zero Error
Zero error e = -3 × LC = -3 × 0.01 mm = -0.03 mm
Step 2: Calculate Reading
Measured Reading = Pitch Scale Reading + (Circular Scale Reading × LC) Measured Reading = 1 mm + (51 × 0.01 mm) Measured Reading = 1.51 mm
Step 3: Apply Zero Correction
Correct Thickness = Measured Reading - e Correct Thickness = 1.51 - (-0.03) = 1.54 mm
Pattern Recognition

Sees: "zero lies above reference line" → Negative zero error. True value = Measured + |Error|. If it lies below, positive error.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Units and Measurements

Q48 jee_main_2026_23_january_evening Dimensional Analysis
A ball of radius r and density ρ dropped through a viscous liquid of density σ and viscosity η attains its terminal velocity at time t, given by t = A ρa rb ηc σd , where A is a constant and a, b c and d are integers. The value of (b + c)/(a + d) is ____.
Numerical Answer. Answer: 1 to 1

Solution

Related Formula

Time dimension: [T] = T Density dimension: [ρ] = [σ] = ML⁻³ Radius dimension: [r] = L Viscosity dimension: [η] = ML⁻¹T⁻¹

Core Logic

Given dimensional equation:

T = [ρ]^a [r]^b [η]^c [σ]^d T = ( ML⁻³)^a (L)^b ( ML⁻¹T⁻¹)^c ( ML⁻³)^d

Expand the bases:

T¹ = Ma+c+d L-3a+b-c-3d T-c
Step 1: Compare Exponents

For Time (T):

-c = 1 c = -1

For Mass (M):

a + c + d = 0 a - 1 + d = 0 a + d = 1

For Length (L):

-3a + b - c - 3d = 0 b - c - 3(a + d) = 0

Substitute c = -1 and a + d = 1:

b - (-1) - 3(1) = 0 b + 1 - 3 = 0 b = 2
Step 2: Final Calculation

We need the value of (b+c)/(a+d): Numerator b+c = 2 + (-1) = 1 Denominator a+d = 1

(b+c)/(a+d) = (1)/(1) = 1
Pattern Recognition

Whenever variables are lumped in a product string X = y^a z^b, equating dimensions on both sides produces a solvable linear system. The sum groups (a+d) can sometimes be substituted directly without fully isolating a or d individually.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Units and Measurements Class 11 Physics: Mechanical Properties of Fluids

Q27 jee_main_2026_24_january_evening Vernier Callipers
In a vernier callipers, 50 vernier scale divisions are equal to 48 main scale divisions. If one main scale division = 0.05 mm, then the least count of the vernier callipers is ____ mm.
  • A. 0.002
  • B. 0.05
  • C. 0.02
  • D. 0.005

Solution

Related Formula
Least Count (LC) = 1 MSD - 1 VSD
Core Logic

Given 50 VSD = 48 MSD, we have:

1 VSD = (48)/(50) MSD LC = 1 MSD - (48)/(50) MSD = (2)/(50) MSD
Step 1: Calculation

Substitute 1 MSD = 0.05 mm:

LC = (2)/(50) × 0.05 mm = 0.002 mm
Pattern Recognition

For non-standard vernier calipers where N VSD = (N-x) MSD, the least count is (x/N) × MSD.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Units and Measurements

More Units and Measurements Questions — jee_main_2025_04_april_evening

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