Dimensional analysis lab preparation

The first part of the lab exercise is to review the unit factor method of unit conversion, which is based on deriving a sequence of dimensionless ratios that allow linear conversions between scales of measurement. This review will take the form of teaching you how to create a unit conversion calculator in Excel. To follow along with the examples, you might want to download the MS Excel template using the following link.

Link to download MS Excel template for unit factor unit conversion calculators

You are encouraged to pause the video as needed to create your own unit conversion calculator, so you have examples ready when you start working on the homework assignment.

Once you have the template open in Excel and ready to edit, follow along with the following video to learn how to create examples of unit conversion calculators in Excel that illustrate the unit factor conversion method (20:51 min).

The spreadsheet created in the video can be downloaded at the following link.

Link to download completed MS Excel spreadsheet with examples of unit conversion calculators

The following material from lecture may be especially helpful to preparing for this lab activity (7:54 min).

A useful transferrable skill for scientific fields is to understand how to represent mathematics professionally in electronic format. The Microsoft equation editor that is accessible in Word or PowerPoint include a set of shortcut special characters and hotkeys that allow typing out professionally formatted mathematical equations very quickly. The following is a video that works back through the calculations of the volume estimation exercise above, but this time providing detailed examples of how to show the mathematical work for that exercise professionally in Microsoft Word. I have tried to mention the hotkeys for both PC and Mac in the video. However, in general, when I say use the "alt" key on a PC, you can generally substitute the "control" key on a Mac and when I say use the "control" key on a PC, you can generally substitute the "command" key on a Mac. Note I said the wrong key for a Mac in the video a couple times, but I did some editing to be sure the correct key is clear while watching the video (24:15 min).

Here is the Word document built in the previous video.

Click this link to download the MS Word file

Note that the preview from Google Docs below does not render the mathematics appropriately, particularly in terms of italicized or non-italicized characters. Download the Word document to view the proper formatting.

Click this link to download the MS PowerPoint file with slides from this example

The embedded Google viewer below sometimes provides poor renderings of Microsoft files. Use the link above to download the original file with proper formatting.

Finally, make sure you go to the course management website, download the materials for the associated homework assignment, and get started on the homework. If you get started on the homework before lab and come to lab with questions for the instructor and ready to work with your peers, you will likely be able to finish most of the homework associated with this lab activity during the lab session. This is by far the most time-efficient strategy for completing the homework assignments, and probably the best strategy for maximizing the amount you learn and retain from each laboratory activity.