Dimensional Analysis is a multi-step conversion process to convert one unit into another. You will use dimensional analysis to create a presentation this week.
Scenario: A mother has been given a prescription for her child. She fills the prescription at her local pharmacy. When she gets home, she reads the prescription instructions and doesn’t know how to administer the prescription with the tools that she has at home. She calls you.
Create a presentation with voice narration (voice over):
Your instructor will provide you with the prescription instructions. Please reach out on Monday of Week 5 if you have not received the prescription instructions you are supposed to use for this presentation.
Use the provided template and use dimensional analysis to complete the conversion needed in the prescription instructions given by your instructor.
Make sure to explain every step in your process and speak to the conclusion questions thoroughly.
Summarize what you would tell the mother after you complete your calculations.
Describe another situation or professional field in which dimensional analysis would take place.
What did you learn after completing this presentation?
Slide 1: Title Slide
Visuals:
Title: Dimensional Analysis in the Real World
Subtitle: Helping a Patient with Dosage
Your Name
Course Name
Date
Narration Script:
"Hello, my name is [Your Name]. This presentation explores the practical application of dimensional analysis. We will be looking at a specific scenario where a mother needs help administering a prescription to her child using the tools she has at home."
Slide 2: The Scenario
Visuals:
The Problem: A mother picks up a prescription.
The Obstacle: The bottle instructions are in a unit she cannot measure (e.g., mL), but she only has a different measuring tool at home (e.g., a teaspoon).
The Goal: Use dimensional analysis to convert the units so the child gets the safe, correct dose.
Narration Script:
"Here is the situation: A mother has filled a prescription for her sick child. When she gets home, she realizes the instructions on the bottle are written in units that don't match the measuring spoons she has in her kitchen. Worried about giving the wrong amount, she calls me for help. My job is to bridge that gap using math."
Slide 3: The Prescription & The Setup
Visuals:
Prescription: [Insert Instructor's Number] (Example: 10 mL)
Home Tool: [Insert Target Unit] (Example: Teaspoon)
Conversion Factor: [Insert Factor] (Example: 1 Teaspoon = 5 mL)
Narration Script:
"The doctor prescribed a dose of 10 milliliters (mL). However, the mother only has a standard teaspoon at home. To solve this, we need a conversion factor. We know that 1 teaspoon is equal to 5 milliliters. We will use this fact to set up our equation."
Slide 4: Dimensional Analysis – The Calculation
Visuals:
Show the math clearly laid out:
(Use a red line to cross out the "mL" in the 10 and the "mL" in the 5 to show they cancel).
Result:
Narration Script:
"Now we perform the dimensional analysis. We start with what we know: 10 mL. We multiply this by our conversion factor, written as a fraction.
Because we want to get rid of mL, we put the 5 mL on the bottom of the fraction and the 1 teaspoon on the top. This allows the 'milliliter' units to cancel each other out, leaving us with only 'teaspoons.'
We then multiply across: 10 times 1 is 10. We divide that by 5. The result is 2 teaspoons."
Sample Answer
This is a complete guide to help you build your presentation. Since I do not have the specific prescription numbers your instructor provided, I have used a common placeholder scenario (Converting liquid Milliliters to Teaspoons).
Crucial Step: You must replace my numbers (10 mL and teaspoons) with the specific numbers given to you by your instructor.
Here is a slide-by-slide breakdown including Visuals (what goes on the screen) and Narration Script (what you should say).