General Physics Problem

1. Jan 14, 2008

am08

Select ALL the valid statements, i.e., B, AC, BCD. If an equation is dimensionally

A) correct, the equation must be correct.
B) correct, the equation may be wrong.
C) incorrect, the equation may be correct.
D) incorrect, the equation must be wrong.
E) correct, the equation may be correct.

Hint: An equation is dimensionally correct if both sides of the equation have the same dimensions. For instance, the equation x = (1/2)*a*t^2 has the units of length (meters) on both sides, because the units of a*t^2 are (m/s^2)*s^2 = m. The equation x = a*t is dimensionally incorrect, because the units on the left are length (meters), but the units on the right are (m/s^2)*s = m/s, the units of speed.

Which statements are correct?

2. Jan 14, 2008

mgb_phys

First do you understand what dimensionally correct means?

Can an equation which is dimensionally wrong be correct?
Then try and think of some equations that are dimensionally correct but obviously stupid.

3. Jan 14, 2008

am08

does it imply that both sides of the equation contain the same units?

4. Jan 14, 2008

mgb_phys

Yes.
Without giving away the answer to the question, both sides of the equation must contain the same units. You obviously can't have an equation that calculates speed if the units come out as eg mass. So the units of the parts on the right must came out to the units of the answer you want.

It's a very important topic in physics, you can often work out what form an equation is going to have purely from the units. It's also worth knowing how to break down units to the fundemental units of length, mass and time (at least for mechanics type questions).

Last edited: Jan 14, 2008
5. Jan 14, 2008

am08

I understand the topic but I can't determine the correct answers.. any chance you could help me finish this problem mgb_phys ?

6. Jan 14, 2008

Distortion

Dimensional analysis can prove very useful. As in this case, which is also pretty cool => http://www.atmosp.physics.utoronto.ca/people/codoban/PHY138/Mechanics/dimensional.pdf" [Broken]

Last edited by a moderator: May 3, 2017
7. Jan 15, 2008

mgb_phys

What if there is a constant missing?

If the units don't balance can the equation possibly be correct?

That shoudl be pretty obvious after answering the previous sets.