Question
A book with many printing errors contains four different formulas for the displacement y of a particle undergoing a certain periodic motion:
(a = maximum displacement of the particle, v = speed of the particle, T = time-period
of motion).
Rule out the wrong formulas on dimensional grounds.
Solution
The displacement y has the dimension of length.
Therefore, the formula for it should also have the dimension of length.
Trigonometric functions are dimensionless and their arguments are also dimensionless.
Based on these considerations now checking each formula dimensionally, we have
Therefore, the formula for it should also have the dimension of length.
Trigonometric functions are dimensionless and their arguments are also dimensionless.
Based on these considerations now checking each formula dimensionally, we have
