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Dimensional Analysis

Dimensional analysis can be used to check the validity of physical formulas by examining the dimensions of the variables. The most common system used is MLT, where all quantities are expressed in terms of mass [M], length [L], and time [T]. Dimensional analysis verifies that the dimensions on both sides of an equation are the same. For example, the formula for speed [S] can be written as length/time, verifying its dimensions are [LT-1].

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Kenneth Maima
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240 views2 pages

Dimensional Analysis

Dimensional analysis can be used to check the validity of physical formulas by examining the dimensions of the variables. The most common system used is MLT, where all quantities are expressed in terms of mass [M], length [L], and time [T]. Dimensional analysis verifies that the dimensions on both sides of an equation are the same. For example, the formula for speed [S] can be written as length/time, verifying its dimensions are [LT-1].

Uploaded by

Kenneth Maima
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Dimensional Analysis

Key Points
• Dimensional analysis can be used to check for the validity of a formula.
• The most common analysis used is the MLT system.

1.1. Performing Dimensional Analysis


The nature of physical quantities is described by its dimensions. The dimension is the qualitative
nature of a physical quantity. All physical quantities represented by derived units can be
expressed in terms of some combination of seven fundamental or base quantities.

Dimensional analysis can be used to check for the validity of a formula. All physical quantities can
be written in terms of their dimensions as [M] mass, [L] length and [T] time. This is referred to as
the MLT system and is the most commonly used method for dimensional analysis.

Below is a table that displaying some examples.

Table 6: Derived Quantities

Quantity Formula Dimensional Analysis

A = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ A = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ2


Area
∴ [𝐀] = L2

𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
𝑣= 𝑣=
Velocity 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
∴ [𝒗] = LT-1

𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 × 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦


𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 ×
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
Force 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
= 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 ×
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 2
∴ [𝑭] = MLT-2

𝑊 = 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 × 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ


= 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 × × 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
Work 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 2
∴ [𝑾] = ML2T-2

It is also important to note that the numerical values of the units (e.g., 3 in 3 metres or 3 Newtons)
is irrelevant when performing dimensional analysis and can be ignored. The only concern is the
validity of units used in its equation.
Activity 1: Exercise
Answer the following questions.

1. What is Dimensional Analysis?


Sample Answer
Dimensional Analysis is a method used for verifying the validity of a formula or equation. The most
commonly used is the Mass Length Time (MLT) Analysis.

2. Perform dimensional analysis to examine the validity of the following formulas;

Quantity Formula Dimensional Analysis

𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
𝑆= 𝑆=
Speed 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
∴ [𝑺] = LT-1

𝑉 = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ × ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑉 = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ


Volume (Cuboid)
∴ [𝑽] = L3

𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 × 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒


𝑃= 𝑃=
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
Power 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 × × 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
= 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 2
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
∴ [𝑷] = ML2T-3

𝑝 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 × 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ


𝑝 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 ×
Momentum 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
∴ [𝑴] = MLT-1

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
𝜌= 𝜌=
Density 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
∴ [𝝆] = ML3

𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒/𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑎= 𝑎=
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
Acceleration 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ/𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝑎=
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
∴ [𝒂] = LT-2

𝑊 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 × 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒/𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒


𝑊 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 ×
Weight 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
∴ [𝑾] = MLT-2

𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
𝑃= 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 ×
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑃= 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 2
Pressure 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
∴ [𝑷] = ML-1T-2

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