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Part of JME-07 — Units, Measurements & Error Analysis

Dimensional Analysis — Worked Example

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Problem: Derive the time period of a simple pendulum using dimensional analysis.

T depends on: length L, mass m, acceleration due to gravity g.

Let T = k * L^a * m^b * g^c

Dimensions: [T] = [L]^a * [M]^b * [LT^{-2}]^c

For M: 0 = b => b = 0 (T is independent of mass!) For L: 0 = a + c For T: 1 = -2c => c = -1/2 => a = 1/2

Therefore: T = k * sqrt(L/g)

The constant k = 2pi (cannot be found by dimensional analysis). Final: T = 2pi*sqrt(L/g)

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