Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Students are often confused by units when dealing with a logarithmic function. This is frequently dealt with by stating that the function gives a unitless result. Though correct, it does not address the deeper question of why the logarithm is unitless and how a graphical analysis involving logarithms can lead to unitless results that depend on the original data’s units. This paper explains this by considering the logarithm as a transcendental function and how that relates to the determination of units.
Source: Physics Education
Authors: Jeffrey Bierman, Eric Kincanon
Institution: Gonzaga University
Language: English
Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4401442391