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Dimensional analysis to determine unknown exponents |
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| Oct25-08, 11:49 AM | #1 |
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Dimensional analysis to determine unknown exponents
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
1. Use the method of Dimensional Analysis to show that the unknown exponents in Equation (1) are l=-1/2, m=-1, and n=1/2. 2. Relevant equations Equation (1) is [tex]\lambda = k \mu ^{l} f ^{m} T^{n}[/tex] Where: [tex]\lambda[/tex] is the wavelength; f is the frequency of the sound; T is the tension in the string; [tex]\mu[/tex] is the mass per unit length of the string. k is a dimensionless constant. 3. The attempt at a solution The dimensions for the above terms should be: [tex]\lambda = [L][/tex] (Simple enough) [tex]f=[L] ^{-1}[/tex] (Since the frequency is the inverse of time. Is this correct?) [tex]T=[M][L][T] ^{-2}[/tex] (Since the tension in the rope is just the force exerted on it, right?) [tex]\mu = [M][L] ^{-1}[/tex] (Since it is the mass per unit length) Which gives the dimensional equation as: [tex][L]=([M] \cdot [L]^{-1}) ^{l} \cdot ([T] ^{-1}) ^{m} \cdot ([M] \cdot [L] \cdot [T]^{-2})^{n}[/tex] Which can be used to make equations for [L], [T], and [M], respectively: 1=-1l + 1n ([L]) (i) 0=-1m - 2n ([T]) (ii) 0=1l + 1n ([M]) (iii) And from here I don't know where to go. If I manipulate (ii) to state n in terms of m, I get n=-1/2m. But where do I go from here? I need to solve these three equations simultaneously? |
| Oct25-08, 12:25 PM | #2 |
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Oh, I got it. Sorry, I keep doing this with my posts here. XD
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