English

Dimensionless Units in the SI

Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability 2015-05-27 v1 Classical Physics History and Philosophy of Physics

Abstract

The International System of Units (SI) is supposed to be coherent. That is, when a combination of units is replaced by an equivalent unit, there is no additional numerical factor. Here we consider dimensionless units as defined in the SI, {\it e.g.} angular units like radians or steradians and counting units like radioactive decays or molecules. We show that an incoherence may arise when different units of this type are replaced by a single dimensionless unit, the unit "one", and suggest how to properly include such units into the SI in order to remove the incoherence. In particular, we argue that the radian is the appropriate coherent unit for angles and that hertz is not a coherent unit in the SI. We also discuss how including angular and counting units affects the fundamental constants.

Cite

@article{arxiv.1409.2794,
  title  = {Dimensionless Units in the SI},
  author = {Peter J. Mohr and William D. Phillips},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1409.2794},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

19 pages

R2 v1 2026-06-22T05:52:37.404Z