Introduction to dimensional analysis and the theory of natural units
By: by T.H. Gawain
Contributors: Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School
Published: 1971
Place of publication: Monterey, California
Language: eng
Number of pages: 28
Subjects: Dimensional analysis
Description: The report presents a somewhat abbreviated introduction to dimensional analysis for students of science or engineering. It shows how to construct a system of consistent natural units appropriate to any given physical problem or context. It also explains how the well known Pi Theorem of dimensional analysis follows from this treatment, and how the dimensionless pi's of the theorem simply represent various physical quantities of interest as expressed in such natural units. The method is illustrated by application to the case of an ideal propeller. This example shows how dimensional analysis may be used to generalize and simplify a problem, and to extract the maximum degree of useful information and insight from its solution. (Author)
Notes: Title from cover.

"December 1971"--Cover.

"NPS-57GN71121A"--Cover.

DTIC Identifiers: Mathematical tables, measurement units, dimensional analysis.

Author(s) key words: Dimensional analysis, dimensions, fundamental dimensions, dimensionless numbers, dimensionless coefficients, dimensionless parameters, dimensionless pi's, Pi Theorem, English units, metric units, MKS units, CGS units, consistent units, inertial units, gravitational units, fixed units, standard units, natural units, intrinsic units, generalized units, unit and measure, dynamic similarity, thermodynamic similarity, theory of models, momentum theory, propeller parameters, physical equations, mathematical invariance.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 24).

"Approved for public release; distribution unlimited"--Cover.

Technical report; 1971.