Question

In 8.01, Units and Dimensional Analysis Challenge problems, the solution gives time as a function of density, Cross sectional area 1 and 2 and height as well as two unknown variables b and g. What are these variables and where do they come from?

Answer 1

The variable b is a numerical constant and g is the speed of the liquid. It looks like they are beginning their analysis by writing down all the things they can think of which might be involved... could depend on the density, could depend on the area of hole 1, could depend on the area of hole 2, could depend on the speed of the liquid, could depend on the height of the standing liquid, and of course could have a numerical constant involved. Don't know that it depends on the first power of each of those, so throw in powers. I think the point is if you guess wrong, the power will end up being 0.

Answer 2

... or you will not be able to get a solution...