A Level Physics Notes: Principles, Dimensions Units, Error Analysis - Homogeneity
Consistency in equations
means the units in formulae have to be the same on both sides. For
example:
distance=speed*time
m=m/s*s=m so the units on both
sides are the same
The equation distance=speed/time is not
possible because the units on both sides are not the
same.
distance=speed/time
m<>m/s/s=m/s2
Some
equations can be written down with this in mind.
For instance
the Reynolds number, important in studies of fluid motion,
could be written in many different ways, but only equations of the
form R=U*x*ρ/μ
are homogeneous.
U=speed in m/s or m s-1
x=distance
in m
ρ=density in Kg
m-3
μ=viscosity
in N s m-2=Kg m s-2 s m-2=Kg m-1
s-1
Sometimes it is necessary to change units
to the standard units of mass (kg), length (m) and time (seconds) and
temperature (K) as I did above to write N as Kg m s-2 to
make the equations homogeneous but this is also consistent.
Scientists might not know the equation for the Reynolds number, but they can do experiments to find the factors it depends on. So suppose they do these experiments and they find it depends on the speed U in m/s, the distance x in m, the density μ in Kg/m3 and the viscosity μ in Kg m-1 s-1.
They might assume an equation of the forum R=Ua*xb*ρc*μd. Then a, b, c and d are found using dimensional analysis. We replace each quantity with their units,
U becomes m/s
x becomes m
ρ becomes Kg m-3
μ
becomes Kg m-1s-1
Since R has no units 0= (m s-1)a*mb*(Kg m-3)c(Kg m-1 s-1)d. We can write down the equations, by equating powers of units,
For m, 0=a+b-3c-d
For s, 0=-a-d
For Kg, 0=c+d
Solving these equations gives us the powers.