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JEE Advanced 2026 · Units and Measurements

In a new system of units, the units of mass, length, time and current are 5 kg, 5 m, 5 s and 5 A, respectively. If μ0\mu_{0} and ϵ0\epsilon_{0} are the permeability and permittivity of free space, respectively, then in this new system of units, the magnitude of one SI unit of μ0/ϵ0,\sqrt{\mu_{0}/\epsilon_{0}}, is:

Answer: 2525

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Written solution

Step 1: Define the base units of the new system.

The units of mass, length, time, and current in the new system are given as:

M0=5 kgM_0 = 5\,\text{kg} L0=5 mL_0 = 5\,\text{m} T0=5 sT_0 = 5\,\text{s} I0=5 AI_0 = 5\,\text{A}

Step 2: Find the dimensions of permeability μ0\mu_0.

Using the magnetic force per unit length between two parallel current-carrying conductors:

FL=μ0I1I22πd\frac{F}{L} = \frac{\mu_0 I_1 I_2}{2\pi d}

This yields the dimensional formula:

[μ0]=[MLT−2I−2][\mu_0] = [M L T^{-2} I^{-2}]

Step 3: Find the dimensions of permittivity ε0\varepsilon_0.

Using Coulomb's Law for electrostatic force:

F=14πε0q1q2r2F = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{q_1 q_2}{r^2}

Since charge q=I⋅Tq = I \cdot T, the dimensional formula is:

[ε0]=[M−1L−3T4I2][\varepsilon_0] = [M^{-1} L^{-3} T^{4} I^{2}]

Step 4: Determine the dimensions of the quantity μ0/ε0\sqrt{\mu_0/\varepsilon_0}.

Divide the dimensions of μ0\mu_0 by ε0\varepsilon_0:

[μ0ε0]=[M2L4T−6I−4]\left[\frac{\mu_0}{\varepsilon_0}\right] = [M^{2} L^{4} T^{-6} I^{-4}]

Taking the square root gives the dimensions of the quantity:

[μ0ε0]=[ML2T−3I−2]\left[\sqrt{\frac{\mu_0}{\varepsilon_0}}\right] = [M L^{2} T^{-3} I^{-2}]

Step 5: Calculate the value of the new unit in terms of SI units.

Substitute the values of the new base units into the dimensional formula:

New Unit=(5)1⋅(5)2⋅(5)−3⋅(5)−2 SI units\text{New Unit} = (5)^{1} \cdot (5)^{2} \cdot (5)^{-3} \cdot (5)^{-2} \text{ SI units} New Unit=51+2−3−2 SI units\text{New Unit} = 5^{1+2-3-2} \text{ SI units} New Unit=5−2 SI units\text{New Unit} = 5^{-2} \text{ SI units} New Unit=125 SI units\text{New Unit} = \frac{1}{25} \text{ SI units}

Step 6: Convert one SI unit into the new system of units.

Using the relation n1u1=n2u2n_1 u_1 = n_2 u_2:

1 SI unit=N×(New Unit)1 \text{ SI unit} = N \times (\text{New Unit}) 1=N×1251 = N \times \frac{1}{25} N=25N = 25

Answer: 25

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