Question

What is the dimension of linear charge density?

(a) [I T L^-1]

(b) [I T^-1 L]

(c) [I T L]

(d) [I^-1 T^-1 L]

The question was asked in examination.

The above asked question is from Continuous Charge Distribution in division Charges and Fields of Physics – Class 12

Answer 1

Right option is (a) [I T L^-1]

To explain I would say: Linear charge density λ=\(\frac {Amount \, of\, charge}{Total \, length}\). The dimension of electric charge = [I T] and the dimension of length is [L]. Hence the dimension of linear-charge-density = [I T L^-1]. In the case of surface charge density, the dimension is [I T L^-2] because it means charge stored on the unit surface area.