Dimensional Analysis for Equation Consistency

David Nyirenda
Malawi University of Science and Technology

David Nyirenda Malawi University of Science Dimensional

and Technology
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 Dimensional Analysis for Equation Consistency

Introduction: Dimensional analysis is a powerful tool used in physics and

engineering to verify the consistency of equations and derive relationships
between physical quantities. It involves examining the dimensions of each
term in an equation to ensure they are compatible.
Dimension: Expression of the dependence of a physical quantity on
the base quantities as a product of powers of symbols representing
the base quantities.
Dimensionally Consistent: Equation in which every term has the
same dimensions.
Dimensionless: Quantity with a dimension of 1.

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 Dimensional Analysis for Equation Consistency (continued)
Definition: The dimension of any physical quantity expresses its
dependence on the base quantities as a product of symbols representing
the base quantities.
Base Quantities:
Length (L)
Mass (M)
Time (T )
Electric Current (I )
Temperature (Θ)
Amount of Substance (N)
Luminous Intensity (J)
Dimensional Representation:
[L]a [M]b [T ]c [I ]d [Θ]e [N]f [J]g
Using Dimensions to Remember an Equation:
Check dimensions of expressions to verify correctness.
Example: Area of a circle (πr 2 ) vs. circumference (2πr ).
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 Dimensional Analysis for Equation Consistency (continued)

Checking Equations for Dimensional Consistency:

Ensure each term in the equation has the same dimensions.
Verify that arguments of functions are dimensionless.
Example: s = vt + 0.5at 2 is consistent, s = vt 2 + 0.5at is not.
Additional Notes:
Constants are considered dimensionless.
Quantities within trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic
functions are also considered dimensionless.
Warning: Just because an equation is dimensionally correct, that does not
necessarily make it physically correct. For example, Einstein’s famous
equation E = mc 2 is both dimensionally and physically correct, but
E = 15mc 2 would also be dimensionally correct - but wrong!

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 Checking Dimensional Correctness

Using dimensional analysis, state whether the equations below are

dimensionally correct or not:
1 v = ut + at
2 x = At 3 + Bt find dimensions of A and B
3 The velocity v of an object is related to time t according to the
b
equation v = at 2 + c+t for some constants a, b, and c. Find the
dimensions of a, b, and c.
4 The velocity of an object is given by v = ut 2 + at where a is
acceleration, t is time, and u is initial velocity. Is this equation
dimensionally correct?

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 Solution: We demonstrate v = u + at

[v ] = LT −1
[u] + [at] = LT −1 + LT −2 · T
= LT −1 + LT −1
= LT −1
This equation is dimensionally correct because on both the left and the
right, v has dimensions LT −1 and u + at has dimensions LT −1 .

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 Solution for Problem 3 (Part 1)
Problem 4: The velocity v of an object is related to time t according to
b
the equation v = at 2 + c+t for some constants a, b, and c. Find the
dimensions of a, b, and c.
Solution:
1 Dimension of v :

[v ] = LT −1
2 Dimension of at 2 :
[at 2 ] = [a][t]2 = LT −2 T 2 = LT −1
b
3 Dimension of c+t :
 
b [b] [b]
= =
c +t [c + t] [c] + [t]
Since this term must have the same dimension as velocity (LT −1 ), we
can equate:
[b]
= LT −1
T
Solving
David Nyirenda for [b]:
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 Solution for Problem 3 (Part 2)

4 Dimension of c: Since c is added to t, it must have the same

dimensions as t, i.e., time.

[c] = T
5 Conclusion:
Dimension of a: [a] = LT −3
Dimension of b: [b] = L
Dimension of c: [c] = T

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