A note on the wedge reversion antisymmetry operation and 51 types of physical quantities in arbitrary dimensions

Piotr Fabrykiewicz1

  • 1Institute of Crystallography, RWTH Aachen University, Jägerstraße 17-19, D-52066 Aachen, Germany.

Related Concept Videos

Dimensional Analysis02:19

Dimensional Analysis

The concept of dimension is important because every mathematical equation linking physical quantities must be dimensionally consistent, implying that mathematical equations must meet the following two rules. The first rule is that, in an equation, the expressions on each side of the equal sign must have the same dimensions. This is fairly intuitive since we can only add or subtract quantities of the same type (dimension). The second rule states that, in an equation, the arguments of any of the...
15.4K
Wedges01:24

Wedges

A wedge is a simple machine that serves various purposes, such as adjusting the elevation of structural or mechanical parts, providing stability for heavy objects, and splitting a body into two parts. This versatile tool can amplify an applied force, making it easier to manipulate large or heavy objects.
Consider using a wedge to lift a heavy slab. Here, the wedge functions by converting the applied force into a much larger force directed almost perpendicular to the initial force. This...
1.2K
Cartesian Vector Notation01:28

Cartesian Vector Notation

Cartesian vector notation is a valuable tool in mechanical engineering for representing vectors in three-dimensional space, performing vector operations such as determining the gradient, divergence, and curl, and expressing physical quantities such as the displacement, velocity, acceleration, and force. By using Cartesian vector notation, engineers can more easily analyze and solve problems in various areas of mechanical engineering, including dynamics, kinematics, and fluid mechanics. This...
813
Problem Solving: Dimensional Analysis01:08

Problem Solving: Dimensional Analysis

Every mathematical equation that connects separate distinct physical quantities must be dimensionally consistent, which implies it must abide by two rules. For this reason, the concept of dimension is crucial. The first rule is that an equation's expressions on either side of an equality must have the exact same dimension, i.e., quantities of the same dimension can be added or removed. The second rule stipulates that all popular mathematical functions, such as exponential, logarithmic, and...
3.5K
Scalar and Vectors01:22

Scalar and Vectors

In mechanics, commonly used terms like force, speed, velocity, and work can be classified as either scalar or vector quantities. A scalar is a physical quantity that can be described by its magnitude alone and does not require any directional components. Examples of scalar quantities are mass, area, and length.
Scalar quantities with the same physical units can be added or subtracted according to the usual algebra rules for numbers. For example, a class ending 10 min earlier than 50 min lasts...
1.3K
Woodward–Hoffmann Selection Rules and Microscopic Reversibility01:34

Woodward–Hoffmann Selection Rules and Microscopic Reversibility

Electrocyclic reactions, cycloadditions, and sigmatropic rearrangements are concerted pericyclic reactions that proceed via a cyclic transition state. These reactions are stereospecific and regioselective. The stereochemistry of the products depends on the symmetry characteristics of the interacting orbitals and the reaction conditions. Accordingly, pericyclic reactions are classified as either symmetry-allowed or symmetry-forbidden. Woodward and Hoffmann presented the selection criteria for...
3.2K