If o is the permittivity of free space and E is the electric field, then oE2 has the dimensions :
- [ ML-1 T-2]
- [ ML2 T-2]
- [ M0L-2TA]
- [ M-1 L-3 T4 A2]
Answer
(1) [ ML-1 T-2]
Solution
The field of a point charge is E = Q4 o r2, so o = Q4 r2E.
Multiplying by E2 gives oE2 = QE4 r2; since QE is a force and 4 is a pure number, oE2 has the dimensions of force per unit area.
[ oE2] = [ MLT-2][L2] = [ ML-1T-2], so (1) is correct.
(2): [ ML2T-2] is the dimension of energy itself, not of force per area, so (2) is wrong.
(3): [ M0L-2TA] is charge per unit area, but the charge cancels in QE, so (3) is wrong.
(4): [ M-1L-3T4A2] is the dimension of o alone, so (4) is wrong.
Answer: (1)