Back to Directory
NEET PHYSICSMedium

A spherical body of mass m and radius r is allowed to fall in a medium of viscosity η. The time in which the velocity of the body increases from zero to 0.63 times the terminal velocity (v) is called time constant (τ). Dimensionally τ can be represented by:

A

\frac{mr^2}{6\pi\eta}

B

\sqrt{6\pi mr\eta g^2}

C

\frac{m}{6\pi\eta rv}

D

None of the above

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine the correct representation, we must find the option that possesses the dimensions of Time [T][T].

  1. Analyze Dimensions of Physical Quantities : Mass (mm): [M][M] Radius (rr): [L][L] Coefficient of Viscosity (η\eta): [ML1T1][ML^{-1}T^{-1}] Velocity (vv): [LT1][LT^{-1}]
  • Acceleration due to gravity (gg): [LT2][LT^{-2}]
  1. Analyze the Options:
  • Option A (mr26πη\frac{mr^2}{6\pi\eta}): [M][L2][ML1T1]=[L3T]\frac{[M][L^2]}{[ML^{-1}T^{-1}]} = [L^3T]. This represents volume ×\times time, not time.
  • Option B (6πmrηg2\sqrt{6\pi mr\eta g^2}): [M][L][ML1T1][L2T4]=[M2L2T5]\sqrt{[M][L][ML^{-1}T^{-1}][L^2T^{-4}]} = \sqrt{[M^2 L^2 T^{-5}]}. This does not simplify to [T][T].
  • Option C (m6πηrv\frac{m}{6\pi\eta rv}): [M][ML1T1][L][LT1]=[M][MLT2]=[L1T2]\frac{[M]}{[ML^{-1}T^{-1}][L][LT^{-1}]} = \frac{[M]}{[MLT^{-2}]} = [L^{-1}T^2]. This is incorrect.
  1. Theoretical Verification: The equation of motion for a particle falling under Stokes' drag is mdvdt=mg6πηrvm\frac{dv}{dt} = mg - 6\pi\eta rv. Rearranging for the time constant (coefficient of vv in the differential equation), we get τ=m6πηr\tau = \frac{m}{6\pi\eta r}.
  • Checking dimensions of m6πηr\frac{m}{6\pi\eta r}: [M][ML1T1][L]=[M][MT1]=[T]\frac{[M]}{[ML^{-1}T^{-1}][L]} = \frac{[M]}{[MT^{-1}]} = [T].

Since the correct expression m6πηr\frac{m}{6\pi\eta r} is not listed among the first three options, the correct choice is 'None of the above'.

Practice Mode Available

Master this Topic on Sushrut

Join thousands of students and practice with AI-generated mock tests.

Get Started