Fluid Mechanics Lesson 12A: Nondimensionalization of the Equations of Fluid Flow

[@FreddyCaban]

This is a great video that discusses the difference between nondimensionalization and proper scaling to get normalization. Thanks. What do you do in a situation where you have 2 different mass scales in the same equation? For example m =1 solar mass and M =10^8 solar masses? How do I know which mass to choose as a characteristic scale?

[@johncimbala]

Usually depends on the application. We have that same problem in fluid mechanics when we deal with boundary layers that have a tiny lengh scale and, say, an airplane wing that has a huge lenght scale. We choose the length scale appropriate to what we are doing. Thank you for your comment. Please tell your friends and colleagues about my KZbin channel where there are more than 450 free videos about the Bible, fluid mechanics, science, math, statistics, air pollution, and other topics. I would greatly appreciate it.

[@FreddyCaban]

@@johncimbala Thank you so much for your reply. Just to clarify, then in my case I would have to choose one characteristic scale for the mass say the M =10^8 solar mass and use this as the characteristic mass scale when putting together all other characteristic scales?

[@johncimbala]

@@FreddyCaban I would say that it depends on whether you are looking at large scale events or small scale events. You can choose whichever scale you want that makes the most sense for the problem you are trying to solve.

[@FreddyCaban]

@@johncimbala Ok got it, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions I greatly appreciate it.

[@irr_18]

I will major in Fluid Mechanics please how do I learn the basics of this science? And how do I get your book "Essentials of Fluid Mechanics".

[@johncimbala]

All of my technical books are available on Amazon (new and used). As for learning science, I recommend my fluid mechanics video series with over 80 short videos that I use as the lessons in my fluid mechanics course. I have other short, humorous videos on science too. I have playlists on KZbin for all of these. Thank you for your comment. Please tell your friends and colleagues about my KZbin channel where there are almost 500 free videos about the Bible, fluid mechanics, science, math, Excel, statistics, air pollution, and other topics. I would greatly appreciate it.

[@miguelaltamar9274]

I need this for cilindrical coordinates

[@johncimbala]

Pretty much the same for any coordinate system. You can still nondimensionalize the same way.

[@johncimbala]

Thank you for your comment. Please tell your friends and colleagues about my KZbin channel where there are more than 400 free videos about the Bible, fluid mechanics, science, math, statistics, air pollution, and other topics. I would greatly appreciate it.

[@miguelaltamar9274]

@@johncimbala Thanks, I’ll recommend you

[@shehzaibyk]

Professor, you are the best. I just love your book "Essentials of Fluid Mechanics".

[@johncimbala]

Thank you!