The Role of Dimensional Analysis in Teaching Physics

Abstract

Dimensional analysis is a simple qualitative method for determining essential connections between physical quantities. It is applicable to a multitude of physics problems, many of which can be introduced early on in a university physics curriculum. Despite the relative simplicity of the approach, it is rarely included in physics curricula. Here, we apply dimensional analysis to find the radiated power from an electric dipole. Employing dimensional analysis, we demonstrate a straightforward way to derive the latter without the need for complex mathematical treatments.