Class 11th

2.6 Which of the following is the most precise device for measuring length?

(a) A vernier calipers with 20 divisions on the sliding scale

(b) A screw gauge of pitch 1 mm and 100 divisions on the circular scale

(c) An optical instrument that can measure length to within a wavelength of light ?

Q.2.4 Explain this statement clearly:

“To call a dimensional quantity 'large' or 'small' is meaningless without specifying a standard for comparison”. In view of this, reframe the following statements wherever necessary:

(a) Atoms are very small objects

(b) A jet plane moves with great speed

(c) The mass of Jupiter is very large

(d) The air inside this room contains a large number of molecules

(e) A proton is much more massive than an electron

(f) The speed of sound is much smaller than the speed of light

Q.2.1 Fill in the blanks

A calorie is a unit of heat (energy in transit) and it equals about 4.2 J where 1J = 1 kg m² s^–2. Suppose we employ a system of units in which the unit of mass equals α kg, the unit of length equals β m, the unit of time is γ s. Show that a calorie has a magnitude 4.2 α ^–1 β ^–2 γ ² in terms of the new units.

Q.2.3 A calorie is a unit of heat (energy in transit) and it equals about 4.2 J where 1J = 1 kg m² s^–2. Suppose we employ a system of units in which the unit of mass equals α kg, the unit of length equals β m, the unit of time is γ s. Show that a calorie has a magnitude 4.2 α ^–1 β ^–2 γ ² in terms of the new units.

Matter can exist in three primary states:

Solids: Definite shape and volume, incompressible, particles tightly packed.

Liquids: Definite volume but no definite shape, slightly compressible, particles less tightly packed than in solids.

Gases: Neither definite shape nor volume, highly compressible, particles far apart.

Q.2.3 A calorie is a unit of heat (energy in transit) and it equals about 4.2 J where 1J = 1 kg m² s^–2. Suppose we employ a system of units in which the unit of mass equals α kg, the unit of length equals β m, the unit of time is γ s. Show that a calorie has a magnitude 4.2 α ^–1 β ^–2 γ ² in terms of the new units.

1.14 “It is more important to have beauty in the equations of physics than to have them agree with experiments”. The great British physicist P. A. M. Dirac held this view. Criticize this statement. Look out for some equations and results in this book which strike you as beautiful.

1.13 Though the law gives women equal status in India, many people hold unscientific views on a woman's innate nature, capacity and intelligence, and in practice give them a secondary status and role. Demolish this view using scientific arguments, and by quoting examples of great women in science and other spheres; and persuade yourself and others that, given equal opportunity, women are on par with men.

1.12 India has had a long and unbroken tradition of great scholarship — in mathematics, astronomy, linguistics, logic and ethics. Yet, in parallel with this, several superstitious and obscurantist attitudes and practices flourished in our society and unfortunately continue even today — among many educated people too. How will you use your knowledge of science to develop strategies to counter these attitudes?