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Dimensional analysis to determine unknown exponents

 
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Oct25-08, 11:49 AM   #1
 

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?
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Oct25-08, 12:25 PM   #2
 
Oh, I got it. Sorry, I keep doing this with my posts here. XD
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