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JEE Advanced 1997 · Units and Measurements

The dimension of electrical conductivity is ________.

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Written solution

Step 1: Relate electrical conductivity to current density and electric field.

Ohm's law in microscopic form relates current density J⃗\vec{J}, electrical conductivity σ\sigma, and electric field E⃗\vec{E}.

J⃗=σE⃗\vec{J} = \sigma \vec{E} σ=JE\sigma = \frac{J}{E}

Step 2: Express current density and electric field in terms of fundamental quantities.

Current density JJ is current per unit area, and electric field EE is force per unit charge.

J=IAJ = \frac{I}{A} E=FqE = \frac{F}{q}

Step 3: Determine the dimensional formula of current density [J][J].

Substitute the dimensions of current [I]=I[I] = I and area [A]=L2[A] = L^{2}.

[J]=[I][A][J] = \frac{[I]}{[A]} [J]=IL2[J] = \frac{I}{L^{2}} [J]=IL−2[J] = I L^{-2}

Step 4: Determine the dimensional formula of electric field [E][E].

Substitute the dimensions of force [F]=MLT−2[F] = M L T^{-2} and charge [q]=IT[q] = I T.

[E]=[F][q][E] = \frac{[F]}{[q]} [E]=MLT−2IT[E] = \frac{M L T^{-2}}{I T} [E]=MLT−3I−1[E] = M L T^{-3} I^{-1}

Step 5: Calculate the dimensional formula of electrical conductivity [σ][\sigma].

Substitute the dimensions of [J][J] and [E][E] into the expression for [σ][\sigma].

[σ]=[J][E][\sigma] = \frac{[J]}{[E]} [σ]=IL−2MLT−3I−1[\sigma] = \frac{I L^{-2}}{M L T^{-3} I^{-1}} [σ]=M−1L−3T3I2[\sigma] = M^{-1} L^{-3} T^{3} I^{2}

Answer: M−1L−3T3I2M^{-1} L^{-3} T^{3} I^{2}

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