Sterrett, S. G. (2009) Similarity and Dimensional Analysis (forthcoming entry in Handbook of Philosophy of Science, Elsevier). [Preprint]

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Abstract

The topic of this Handbook entry is the relationship between similarity and dimensional analysis, and some of the philosophical issues involved in understanding and making use of that relationship. Discusses basics of the relationship between units, dimensions, and quantities. It explains the significance of dimensionless parameters, and explains that similarity of a physical systems is established by showing equality of a certain set of dimensionless parameters that characterizes the system behavior. Similarity is always relative -- to some system behavior. Other topics discussed: generalization of the notion of similarity, the difference between relative similarity and partial similarity; how the notion of similarity in science differs from similarity as it has been discussed in recent philosophy. Philosophers' views discussed: R. Giere, N. Goodman, P. Bridgman, and B. Ellis.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Sterrett, S. G.
Keywords:	Similarity, Models, Physical Similarity, Dimensions, Dimensionless, Dimensional Analysis, Units, Systems of units
Subjects:	General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances General Issues > Experimentation
Depositing User:	Dr Susan G. Sterrett
Date Deposited:	01 Mar 2009
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:17
Item ID:	4474
Subjects:	General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances General Issues > Experimentation
Date:	January 2009
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/4474

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