A physical quantity is a phyical property of a phenomenon , body, or substance , that can be quantified by measurement. The magnitude of the components of a vector are to be considered dimensionally distinct. For example , rather than an undifferentiated length unit L, we may represent length in the x direction as L_(x) , and so forth. This requirement status ultimately from the requirement that each component of a physically meaningful equation (scaler or vector) must be dimensionally consistent . As as example , suppose we wish to calculate the drift S of a swimmer crossing a river flowing with velocity V_(x) and of widht D and he is swimming in direction perpendicular to the river flow with velocity V_(y) relation to river, assuming no use of directed lengths, the quantities of interest are then V_(x),V_(y) both dimensioned as (L)/(T) , S the drift and D width of river both having dimension L. with these four quantities, we may conclude tha the equation for the drift S may be written : S prop V_(x)^(a)V_(y)^(b)D^(c) Or dimensionally L=((L)/(T))^(a+b)xx(L)^(c) from which we may deduce that a+b+c=1 and a+b=0, which leaves one of these exponents undetermined. If, however, we use directed length dimensions, then V_(x) will be dimensioned as (L_(x))/(T), V_(y) as (L_(y))/(T), S as L_(x)" and " D as L_(y) . The dimensional equation becomes : L_(x)=((L_(x))/(T))^(a) ((L_(y))/(T))^(b)(L_(y))^(c) and we may solve completely as a=1,b=-1 and c=1. The increase in deductive power gained by the use of directed length dimensions is apparent. From the concept of directed dimension what is the formula for a range (R) of a cannon ball when it is fired with vertical velocity component V_(y) and a horizontal velocity component V_(x) , assuming it is fired on a flat surface. [Range also depends upon acceleration due to gravity , g and k is numerical constant]
