NASA Logo - Web Link to NASA.gov Vertical Line

+ Text Only Site
+ Non-Flash Version
+ Contact Glenn

Go
ABOUT NASA NEWS AND EVENTS MULTIMEDIA MISSIONS MyNASA WORK FOR NASA

Dimensional Analysis Activity
If so instructed by your teacher, print out a worksheet page for these problems.


 

Access each location in Table 1 and note the indicated equation. (Hint: Most slides explain the variables of the equation.)

Perform a dimensional analysis on each side of the equations, reducing to fundamental units to verify validity. Table 2 is a chart of unit data and symbols to aid you in your work.

Name or description of equation
Location of equation
   

Dynamic Pressure (middle term of the total pressure equation) Sample problem

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/bern.html

Force
(Algebraic Form)

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/newton2.html

Force
(with mass constant)

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/newton2.html

Velocity
(if force and mass remain constant)

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/motion.html

Displacement
(if force and mass remain constant)

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/motion.html

Lift equation

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/lifteq.html

Lift Coefficient

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/liftco.html

Velocity squared equation http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/pitot.html

Table 1

 

Name

Symbol

Units

Fundamental units

       

Acceleration

a

m/s2

 

Area

A

m2

 

Displacement

X, or X0

m

 

Density

r

kg/m3

 

Force

F

n (newton)

kgm/s2

Lift

L

n (newton)

kgm/s2

Lift Coefficient

Cl

no units

 

Mass

m

kg

 

Pressure

P, Pt, or Ps

pa

(pascals n / A )

kg/ms2

Time

t, t1, or t0

s

 

Velocity

V, V0, or V1

m/s

 
Table 2: Unit Data Chart

Sample problem:

Dynamic Pressure equation: P = r * V2/2, where P stands for pressure and is measured in pa (pascals), r stands for density and is measured in kg/m3, and V stands for velocity and is measured in m/s.

Step #1.
Replace the variables with the correct unit; ignore constants.

pa = kg/m3 * (m/s)2


Step #2.
Change derived units to fundamental units.

n/A = kg/m3 * (m/s)2 ----------- (pa = n/A)

(kg * m/s2)/m2 = kg/m3 * ( m/s)2 ------------- (n = kg * m/s2 and A = m2)

Step #3.
Perform the indicated binary operations.

kg/(m * s2) = kg/(m * s2)
 


Related Pages:
Standards
Worksheet
Lesson Index
Aerodynamics Index

 

     First Gov Image


+ Inspector General Hotline
+ Equal Employment Opportunity Data Posted Pursuant to the No Fear Act
+ Budgets, Strategic Plans and Accountability Reports
+ Freedom of Information Act
+ The President's Management Agenda
+ NASA Privacy Statement, Disclaimer,
and Accessibility Certification

 

NASA Logo   
Editor: Tom Benson
NASA Official: Tom Benson
Last Updated: Thu, May 13 02:38:26 PM EDT 2021

+ Contact Glenn