3.1 Preface

This module is concerned with the conventional techniques such as concepts of measurement, fundamental and derived units, checking equations for dimensional consistency, and the metric system. Attention is directed almost exclusively to the dimensional necessities of scientific statements, and only incidentally to their scientific sufficiencies. The International System of Units, SI, is discussed and a problem set is used to provide practice with the metric system. The concept of dimensional homogeneity, i.e. that all terms of an equation must consist of like dimensions raised to like powers, is analyzed, and a related problem set is provided. Concepts presented in the module require knowledge of basic algebra.