Fundamental Dimensions of μ₀ and K₀ in Electrical Science

Abstract

THE recent work of committees both national and international upon the fundamental units and definitions in electrical science has shown that a considerable further step in advance, by removing difficulties, would result from the discovery of the dimensions of ₀ and K₀, the magnetic permeability and electric permittivity or specific inductive capacity of the medium. Some writers have recommended that the dimensions of one of these should be chosen arbitrarily in order to get this simplification, the result of which would be that the difference in physical dimensions of the various quantities, when measured in electrostatic and electromagnetic units, would disappear. Difference in size of unit causes no confusion, but the difference in dimensions due to changing the scale of measurement has been a great cause of confusion.