Differential Equations - Help with scaling / dimensionalizing

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on dimensional analysis in the context of fluid dynamics, specifically related to the conservation of energy. The user seeks assistance in dimensionalizing various functions and parameters, including density (ρ), specific heat (c_{p}), thermal conductivity (k), and bulk viscosity (μ). The main challenge lies in converting temperature functions, such as \widetilde{T}, into dimensional terms and understanding the implications of dimensionless parameters derived from the Pi theorem. The user expresses confusion over the resulting powers in the calculations, particularly with the term α_{1} yielding extreme values.

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tomgill
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Hi all,

I have a homework assignment related to the conservation of energy in a fluid.
This is given in terms of the density ρ, specific heat c_{p}, thermal conductivity k, bulk viscosity μ, dissipation function \widetilde{\phi}_{v}, velocity function \widetilde{u}, spatial derivative of the Temperature function (respect to L) \widetilde{∇}\widetilde{T}, second spatial derivative with respect to L, \widetilde{∇}^{2}\widetilde{T}, and partial derivative of the temperature function \frac{∂\widetilde{T}}{∂\widetilde{t}}. T is temp, t is time, U is velocity, mass is M, length is L.

All of the tilde's are supposed to be on top of that preceding variable, I am sorry if this is way too confusing, tried my best..

That's a lot of variables, but it is OK.

The basic part of this problem is to dimensionalize the problem and find the dimensionless parameters according to the pi theorem.

It looks something like this ρc_{p}(\frac{∂\widetilde{T}}{∂\widetilde{t}} + \widetilde{u}\bullet\widetilde{∇}\widetilde{T}) = k\widetilde{∇}^{2}\widetilde{T} + μ\widetilde{\phi}_{v}

I know the units for the basic nonfunctional variables like ρ and c_{p}.
My issue is with the functions. My instructor said that, for example \widetilde{\phi}_{v} = \frac{U^{2}\phi_{v}}{L^{2}}, where \phi_{v}is the value and not the function.

I can figure out all of the terms' dimensions and come out OK.

But, how would I convert something like \widetilde{T} (temperature function) into dimensions? Would that be as simple as just \frac{T}{t}? So the partial \frac{∂\widetilde{T}}{∂\widetilde{t}} is dimensionalized as \frac{T}{t}?
Or am I missing something here that turns the function into a different set of terms when given initial temp T_{0}?

I am given initial temperature T_{0}, velocity U, and length L.

When I find the dimensionless parameters, I am calculating that α_{1}, for example is something with insane powers like ρc_{p}^{6}\widetilde{u}^{{-14}}k(\frac{\widetilde{∂T}}{\widetilde{∂t}})^{5}

This just seems completely wrong, we go from nothing more than 3rd powers at the most to all of the sudden -14 powers?

Thx in advance. I don't need direct answers but help is appreciated!

EDIT: if it helps, I am fine with the math side of this, but I took Physics C Mechanics in high school, that was it and we never even came close to problems of this complexity. I have to get used to this physics mumbo jumbo.

Okay I made this into LaTeX, which I had forgotten. Hopefully I can get an answer now!
 
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Can you show a bit of your work... So for example, what are the units of \mu and \phi_v? What do the tildes mean?
 

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