LECTURE 2: PHY 101

DIMENSIONS AND DIMENTIONAL

ANALYSIS

CHONGO, E. @ 2023 - IBBS

• Most physical quantities can be expressed in terms of five basic
dimensions, listed below. The first three are the commonest.
 Checking for dimensional consistency

 For example, the symbol for speed v, and in our notation, the dimensions of speed
are written [v] = L/T.

 As another example, the dimensions of area A are [A] =

1.Consider one of the equations of constant acceleration

 The equation contains three terms: s, All three terms must have the same
dimensions.
 : displacement a unit of length, [s]=L

 : velocity x time, [𝑢𝑡] = LT-1 x T = L

 :acceleration x time, ]= LT-2 x T2 = L

 Checking for dimensional consistency
 Suppose we are told that the acceleration a of a particle moving with uniform speed v
in a circle of radius r is proportional is given the following equation. Where is the
constant of proportionality.
a  kr n v m
 Determine the values of n and m and write the simplest form of an equation for the
acceleration.
m
L n  L Ln  m
1. Substitute the dimensions of , , and : 2
L    m
T T  T
2. Equate the exponents of L and T so that the dimensional equation is balanced:
n  m  1, m  2
Solving the two equations for : 1
3. Write the acceleration expression:
2
v
a  kr 1v 2  k
r
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