CHAPTER 1

Dimensions
 DIMENSIONS

• A dimension is a property that can be

measured
• Length, Time, Mass, Temperature

• Can express units in dimensions e.g V [L3]

• NOTE: SI Units are not dimensions

• Equations need to be dimensionally consistent

 Quantity SI Dimension
Unit
Mass Kilogram M

Length Meter L

Temperature K θ

Time s T

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3 SYSTEMS OF UNITS

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 Dimensional Homogeneity

• Quantities can be added/subtracted if ONLY

their units are same
• Unit same, the DIMENSION of each term must be
the same.
Eg. : VELOCITY = LENGTH / TIME
(L) / (T) (L) / (T)

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 So…
Every valid equation must be
dimensionally homogeneous:
all additive terms on both sides of the
equation must have same dimensions

VALID EQUATION DIMENSIONALLY

HOMOGENEOUS

and?

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 Examples:
• F = ma where F = Force (N = kg.m/s2)
m = mass (kg)
a = acceleration (m/s2)
F = ( M ) ( L ) / ( T )2 , m = ( M ) , a = ( L ) / ( T )2

(M)(L) =(M) x (L)

( T )2 ( T )2
(M)(L) =(M)(L)
( T )2 ( T )2

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 Dimensional Analysis
• This is a very important tool to check your work
Eg. : Doing a problem you get the answer distance
d = v t2 (velocity x time2)

Units on left side = ( L )

Units on right side = ( L )/( T ) x ( T )2 = ( L ) .( T )

• Left units and right units don’t match, so

answer must be wrong!!
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 Exercise
• The period P of a swinging pendulum
depends only on the length of the pendulum
d and the acceleration of gravity g.
– Which of the following formulas for P
could be correct ?
d d
(a) P = 2 (dg)2 (b) P  2 (c P  2
g ) g
Given : d has units of length ( L ) and

g has units of ( L / T 2). 10

• Realize that the left hand side P
has units of time (T )
• Try the first equation

2 4
 L L Not Right !!
L  2   4  T
(a)
 T  T

d d
(a) P  2  dg  (b)
2
P  2 (c) P  2
g g
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 • Try the second equation

L 2
T T Not Right !!
(b) L
2
T

d d
(a)
P  2  dg 
2 (b) P  2 (c)
P  2
g g
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  Try the third equation

L
(c)  T T
2
L This has the correct units!!
2
T This must be the answer!!

d d
(a) P  2  dg  (b)
2
P  2 (c) P  2
g g
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• If an equation is dimensionally homogeneous
but its additive terms have inconsistent unit,
the terms may be made consistent by applying
conversion factors

Example:
V (m/s) = Vo (m/s) + g (m/s2) t (min)
– Apply the conversion factor
– V (m/s) = Vo (m/s) + g (m/s2) t (min)
(60s/min)
V = Vo + 60 g t
An equation is only VALID
when it is dimensionally
Homogeneous &
consistent in UNITS!!!

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 Dimensionless Quantities
• Can be a pure number
– Eg. : 2, 1.3 ,5/2
• a multiplicative combination of variables with
no net dimensions
– Eg. : ud
Re  DIMENSIONLESS

ρ = (g/cm3) , u = (cm/s),
d = (cm), μ = (g/cm.s)
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 DIMENSIONLESS GROUPS

 = density (kg/m3) [M/L3]

VD
R V = velocity (m/s) [L/T]

D = diameter (m) [L]
R = [M/L3]*[L/T]*[L]*[L.T/M]
 = viscosity (kg/m.s) [M/L.T]

• Ratio of inertial to viscous forces – used in fluid flow

• Small values of R – laminar flow
• Large values of R – turbulent flow
 So far….
• Units
• dimensions
• Conversion of units
• Mass, mole
• T, P

All important concepts and techniques for

studying systems and developing and solving
material balances