Problem 7.

9 [Difficulty: 2]

Given: Functional relationship between the drag on a satellite and other physical parameters
Find: Expression for FD in terms of the other variables

Solution: We will use the Buckingham pi-theorem.

1 FD λ ρ L c n = 5 parameters
2 Select primary dimensions M, L, t:
3 FD λ ρ L c

M L M L
L L r = 3 dimensions
2 3 t
t L

4 ρ L c m = r = 3 repeating parameters

5 We have n - m = 2 dimensionless groups. Setting up dimensional equations:

a d
M L

M
 L  
a b d b L 0 0 0
Π1  D ρ  L  c Thus:
 3   M L t
2  
t
t L 
Summing exponents: The solution to this system is: FD
Π1 
a  1 b  2 d  2 2 2
M: 1  a  0 ρ L  c

L: 1  3 a  b  d  0
t: 2  d  0
4 2
L 1 t
Check using F, L, t dimensions: F   1
2 2 2
F t L L

a d
L 
M
 L  
a b d b L 0 0 0
Π2  λ ρ  L  c Thus:
 3   M L t
t
L 
Summing exponents: The solution to this system is: λ (Π2 is sometimes referred to
Π2 
L as the Knudsen number.)
a0 b  1 d0
M: a  0
L: 1  3 a  b  d  0
t: d0
1
Check using F, L, t dimensions: L 1
L
FD
 f 
λ
  FD  ρ L  c  f  
2 2 λ
The functional relationship is: Π1  f Π2 
2 2
ρ L  c  L  L