UNIVERSITY OF THE W I T W AT E R S R A N D, J O H A N N E S B U R G

School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

PHYS1034
Applied Physics: Mathematical Modeling

Tutorial 01

n
Question 1 (10 Points)

io
Consider a soap bubble with radius, r . The pressure inside the bubble must be greater than the
pressure outside of the bubble. The surface tension of the bubble, γ, supports the difference in
pressure 4p . Using dimensional analysis, formulate an expression for the pressure difference.

Solution 1 (10 Points)

ut
Note,

• The radius (r ) has dimensions [r ] = L .

• The surface tension (γ) has dimensions [γ] = M T −2 .

• The difference in pressure 4p has dimensions of pressure [p ] = M L −1 T −2 .

Approach the problem as we usually would. The number of variables is N = 3 and the number
l
of primary dimensions is M = 3. Therefore, the equations relating the all the variables will have
N − M = 0 dimensionless groups! This is physically not meaningful, which means we have less
So

primary dimensions than originally thought.

γ
Let’s relook at the problem more closely. Notice that has dimensions
r
[γ] M T −2
= = M L −1 T −2 = [p ]. So in fact, the number of variables is N = 2. These two variables
[r ] L
γ
are 4p and . The number of primary dimensions is M = 1. Therefore, the equations relating the
r  γ b
all the variables will have N − M = 1 dimensionless groups. Therefore, [4p a ] = 1 = M 0 L 0T 0
r
That is, M a L −a T −2a M b L −b T −2b = M 0 L 0 T 0 . So we have a + b = 0 or b = −a . Thus
r
4p =c,
γ

1
where c is some constant. Finally we have
γ
4p = c .
r
ƒ

2
Question 2 (10 Points)
Use dimentional analysis to find a relationship between the force of the wind, F , on a car. You
will also need the velocity, v , the surface area of the car, A and the density of air, ρ.

Solution 2 (10 Points)

Note

• The force (F ) has dimensions [F ] = M LT −2 .

• The velocity (v ) has dimensions [v ] = LT −1 .

• The surface area A has dimensions [A] = L 2 .

• The density (ρ) has dimensions [ρ] = M L −3 .

Approach the problem as we usually would. The number of variables is N = 4 and the number
of primary dimensions is M = 3. Therefore, the equations relating the all the variables will have
N − M = 1 dimensionless groups.
Therefore, [F a v b A c ρ d ] = 1 = M 0 L 0 T 0 That is, (M a L a T −2a )(L b T −b )(L 2c )(M d L −3d ) = M 0 L 0 T 0 .
Equating exponents we get

M: a +d =0
L: a + b + 2c − 3d = 0
T: − 2a − b = 0

Thus from M we have d = −a and from T we have b = −2a . Using these for L we get c = −a . So

F v −2 A −1 ρ −1 = c ,

where c is some constant. Finally we have

F = c ρv 2 A.

This relationship for F is known as the drag force. ƒ

3
Question 3 (10 Points)
In 1945 the first atomic bomb was tested in New Mexico. The destructive power (Energy) of the
bomb was kept classified however, following the release of time stamped pictures showing the
bomb’s explosion radius a British physicist, G.I. Taylor, was able to estimate the power released
by the explosion. Identify the missing parameter and use dimensional analysis to formulate an
expression for the Energy.

Solution 3 (10 Points)

Firstly, students must correctly recognise that the missing parameter is the density of air as the
explosion will propagate through air.

• The energy (E ) has dimensions [E ] = M L 2 T −2 .

• The time (t ) has dimensions [t ] = T .

• The radius (r ) has dimensions [r ] = L .

• The density (ρ) has dimensions [ρ] = M L −3

Approach the problem as we usually would. The number of variables is N = 4 and the number
of primary dimensions is M = 3. Therefore, the equations relating the all the variables will have
N − M = 1 dimensionless groups.
Therefore, [E a t b r c ρ d ] = 1 = M 0 L 0 T 0 That is, (M a L 2a T −2a )(T b )(L c )(M d L −3d ) = M 0 L 0 T 0 .
Equating exponents we get

M: a +d =0
L: 2a + c − 3d = 0
T: − 2a + b = 0

Thus from M we have d = −a and from T we have b = 2a . Using these for L we get c = −5a . So

E t 2 r −5 ρ −1 = c ,

where c is some constant. Finally we have

ρr 5
E =c .
t2
This relationship for F is known as the drag force. ƒ

4
Question 4 (10 Points)
(Problem from Giordana, Weir and Fox) *Challenge* Consider the problem of determining the
terminal velocity of a raindrop falling from a motionless cloud. Determine a general model using
dimensional analysis. Hint: You will need 5 parameters.

Solution 4 (10 Points)

Here we stresss that students spend a few minutes brainstorming possible parameters.

• The velocity of the raindrop (v ) has dimensions [v ] = LT −1 .

• The radius of the raindrop (r ) has dimensions [r ] = L .

• The gravity (g ) has dimensions [g ] = LT −2

• The density of the air (ρ) has dimensions [ρ] = M L −3 .

• The viscosity of the drop (µ) has dimensions [µ] = M L −1 T −1 .

Approach the problem as we usually would. The number of variables is N = 5 and the number
of primary dimensions is M = 3. Therefore, the equations relating the all the variables will have
N − M = 2 dimensionless groups.
Therefore, v a r b g c ρ d µe = 1 = M 0 L 0T 0 That is,
(LT ) L (LT
−1 a b −2 c
) (M L ) (M L T
−3 d −1
) = M L T . Equating exponents we get
−1 e 0 0 0

M: d + e = 0L : a + b + c − 3d − e = 0T : − a − 2c − e = 0

We have 3 equations for 5 unknowns and we expect 2 dimensionless  a + e  products. From the equation
for M we get d = −e . From the equation for T we get c = − . Substituting the above into
2
3e + a
 ‹
the equation for L we get b = − . Thus for one dimensionless group Π1 set a = 1 and
2
e = 0. So that Π1 = v r −1/2 g −1/2 . For the second dimensionless group Π2 set
 a = 0 and e = 1. So
µ

that Π2 = r −3/2 g −1/2 ρ −1 µ. Now Π1 = F (Π2 ) that is, v r −1/2 g −1/2 = F . Finally we have
ρ r 3g
p

µ
 
v=
p
rg F .
ρ r 3g
p