Nondimensionalization#

Bid Ideas#

  • All physical quantities are combinations of base quantities such as time, length, mass and temperature.

  • The dimensions of a physical quantity refers to its expression in terms of the base quantities.

  • Nondimensionalization is the process of scalng variables in a differential equation to simplify the model and to identify key properties of the model in terms of dimensionless parameters.

Learning Goals#

  • Identify dimensions and units of variables and parameters in a mathematical model

  • Apply nondimensionalization procedure to a mathematical model

  • Interpret dimensionless parameters in a nondimensionalized mathematical model