Good posts, Crab and Nick.
Question for Nick: You said that Power is Torque times RRPM - I can't say I've ever heard that stated anywhere, and it is a good equation to throw in front of a student.
But I tried to do a dimensional analysis on the equation and got bogged down. Probably the rum-riddled brain, but how is this:
Dimensions used are Mass=M, distance=L, time=T
Power = work done per unit time
Work = force x distance
Force = mass x acceleration
Acceleration is distance per second per second, or LT(-2) (Sorry, can't put up a squared sign)
Thus Force is MLT(-2)
Work is MLT(-2) times L, or ML(2)T(-2)
and Power isML(2)T(-2) divided by T, or ML(2)T(-3)
But RRPM - what dimensions does it use? radians/sec? And Torque is a twisting force, so it must have MLT(-2) in it, so is RRPM simply distance per second, or LT(-1)?
Help!
