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JEE Advanced 1997 · Units and Measurements

The equation of state for real gas is given by (P+aV2)(V−b)=RT\left(P+\frac{a}{V^{2}}\right)(V-b)=RT. The dimensions of the constant aa is ______.

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Written solution

Step 1: State the given equation and identify the variables.

The equation of state for a real gas is:

(P+aV2)(V−b)=RT\left(P+\frac{a}{V^{2}}\right)(V-b)=RT

Here, PP represents pressure, VV represents volume, TT represents temperature, and RR is the universal gas constant.

Step 2: Apply the principle of dimensional homogeneity.

Physical quantities can only be added or subtracted if they have the same dimensions.

[P]=[aV2][P] = \left[\frac{a}{V^{2}}\right]

Rearranging this relation gives the dimensional formula for the constant aa.

[a]=[P][V2][a] = [P][V^{2}]

Step 3: Determine the dimensions of pressure and volume.

Pressure is defined as force per unit area.

[P]=[F][A][P] = \frac{[F]}{[A]} [P]=MLT−2L2[P] = \frac{\text{M}\text{L}\text{T}^{-2}}{\text{L}^{2}} [P]=ML−1T−2[P] = \text{M}\text{L}^{-1}\text{T}^{-2}

Volume has the dimension of length cubed.

[V]=L3[V] = \text{L}^{3} [V2]=L6[V^{2}] = \text{L}^{6}

Step 4: Calculate the dimensions of the constant aa.

Substitute the dimensions of pressure and volume squared into the expression for [a][a].

[a]=(ML−1T−2)(L6)[a] = (\text{M}\text{L}^{-1}\text{T}^{-2})(\text{L}^{6}) [a]=ML5T−2[a] = \text{M}\text{L}^{5}\text{T}^{-2}

Answer: The dimensions of the constant aa are ML5T−2\text{M}\text{L}^{5}\text{T}^{-2}.

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