A Student's Guide to Dimensional Analysis

A Student's Guide

by Don S. Lemons

This introduction to dimensional analysis covers the methods, history and formalisation of the field, and provides physics and engineering applications. Covering topics from mechanics, hydro- and electrodynamics to thermal and quantum physics, it illustrates the possibilities and limitations of dimensional analysis. Introducing basic physics and fluid engineering topics through the mathematical methods of dimensional analysis, this book is perfect for students in physics, engineering and mathematics. Explaining potentially unfamiliar concepts such as viscosity and diffusivity, the text includes worked examples and end-of-chapter problems with answers provided in an accompanying appendix, which help make it ideal for self-study. Long-standing methodological problems arising in popular presentations of dimensional analysis are also identified and solved, making the book a useful text for advanced students and professionals.

112 pages, Hardcover

Published August 4, 2017

Reviews

[Liam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and interesting, but a little formulaic without much physical insight, based on the Rayleigh algorithm. The author readily acknowledges the limitations of dimensional analysis, but little attention is given to proceeding beyond that. I found the last chapter, on dimensional cosmology, the most interesting

[Frederick Bingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very brief guide to analyzing dimensions in physics problems. The author introduces a method to state problems in such a way that you can easily figure out a way to get a first guess at a solution. There are lots of examples, and end-of-chapter exercises.