Chapter 1, Problem 5Q

For an answer to be complete, the units need to be specified. Why?

To determine

To Explain: The units need to be specified for an answer to be complete.

Answer to Problem 5Q

Solution:

The unit of measurement gives an idea about physical quantity(type) and the system of units (S.I unit, C.G.S unit, MKS unit, etc.).So,one must specify units.

Explanation of Solution

During a particular communication, units are understood, but not always.

Suppose a friend asks the age of one’s younger brother and onereplies that it is 11. The friend would not reachthe correct answer as it maybe 11 days,11 months,or11 years.

If one asksthe price of an object atan international airport and the shopkeeper says 10, it is not the complete answer. It may be ten dollars, ten pounds or ten euros.

In physics, there area large number of physical quantities, so to differentiate, the unit must be mentionedotherwise, it has no meaning.

Conclusion:

For an answer to be complete, the unitsneed to be specified otherwise there will be no meaning of the answer with the numerical value only.