@pikaa-ai/pikaa 0.2.5 → 0.3.0

package/skills/uncertainty-and-units/scripts/check_plausibility.py

@@ -0,0 +1,894 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Test a set of quantities against dimensionless groups and known physical scales.
+
+Unit bookkeeping proves a calculation is dimensionally consistent. It cannot
+say whether the answer is physically possible. A cell 2 m across, a Reynolds
+number of 4e7 in a capillary, and a diffusion time of 300 years across a
+membrane are all dimensionally impeccable.
+
+This CLI closes that gap three ways. It evaluates named dimensionless groups
+and reports the regime they place the system in; it computes characteristic
+scales such as a diffusion time or a settling velocity; and it compares a
+quantity against a curated band of values that quantity is actually observed to
+take. Every expression is checked for dimensional consistency first, so passing
+a kinematic viscosity where a dynamic one belongs is caught before any number
+is reported.
+
+Constants come from scipy.constants at run time rather than from literals in
+this file, so they track the CODATA release SciPy ships.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import argparse
+import math
+import sys
+from typing import Any
+
+import _common
+from _common import CliError
+from convert_units import build_registry, checked_unit
+
+
+MAX_ENTRIES = 64
+
+# Available to every expression below without being supplied on the command
+# line. The unit strings state what scipy.constants documents each value in.
+CONSTANT_UNITS: tuple[tuple[str, str, str], ...] = (
+    ("k_B", "k", "J/K"),
+    ("N_A", "N_A", "1/mol"),
+    ("R_gas", "R", "J/(mol*K)"),
+    ("c_light", "c", "m/s"),
+    ("h_planck", "h", "J*s"),
+    ("e_charge", "e", "C"),
+    ("epsilon_0", "epsilon_0", "F/m"),
+    ("g_earth", "g", "m/s**2"),
+    ("sigma_sb", "sigma", "W/(m**2*K**4)"),
+    ("m_u", "m_u", "kg"),
+)
+
+# Each regime is [lower, upper, label]; null is an open end.
+GROUPS: tuple[dict[str, Any], ...] = (
+    {
+        "name": "reynolds",
+        "symbol": "Re",
+        "expression": "density * velocity * length / viscosity",
+        "inputs": {
+            "density": "[mass] / [length] ** 3",
+            "velocity": "[length] / [time]",
+            "length": "[length]",
+            "viscosity": "[mass] / ([length] * [time])",
+        },
+        "regimes": [
+            [None, 2300.0, "laminar (circular pipe, length = diameter)"],
+            [2300.0, 4000.0, "transitional"],
+            [4000.0, None, "turbulent"],
+        ],
+        "note": "viscosity is dynamic; the thresholds are pipe-flow values and "
+        "differ for external and open-channel flow",
+        "source": "White, Fluid Mechanics, 8th ed., ch. 6",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "peclet",
+        "symbol": "Pe",
+        "expression": "velocity * length / diffusivity",
+        "inputs": {
+            "velocity": "[length] / [time]",
+            "length": "[length]",
+            "diffusivity": "[length] ** 2 / [time]",
+        },
+        "regimes": [
+            [None, 1.0, "diffusion dominates transport"],
+            [1.0, None, "advection dominates transport"],
+        ],
+        "note": "mass-transfer Peclet number; the thermal form replaces the "
+        "diffusivity with the thermal diffusivity",
+        "source": "Deen, Analysis of Transport Phenomena, 2nd ed., ch. 9",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "damkohler",
+        "symbol": "Da",
+        "expression": "rate_constant * length / velocity",
+        "inputs": {
+            "rate_constant": "1 / [time]",
+            "length": "[length]",
+            "velocity": "[length] / [time]",
+        },
+        "regimes": [
+            [None, 0.1, "transport-limited; reaction barely proceeds in transit"],
+            [0.1, 10.0, "reaction and transport comparable"],
+            [10.0, None, "reaction-limited; reagent consumed near the inlet"],
+        ],
+        "note": "first-order Damkohler number Da_I, for a first-order rate constant",
+        "source": "Fogler, Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering, 6th ed.",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "knudsen",
+        "symbol": "Kn",
+        "expression": "mean_free_path / length",
+        "inputs": {"mean_free_path": "[length]", "length": "[length]"},
+        "regimes": [
+            [None, 0.01, "continuum; Navier-Stokes with no-slip applies"],
+            [0.01, 0.1, "slip flow; no-slip boundary condition fails"],
+            [0.1, 10.0, "transition; continuum treatment invalid"],
+            [10.0, None, "free molecular"],
+        ],
+        "note": "compute the mean free path with the mean_free_path_gas scale",
+        "source": "Karniadakis et al., Microflows and Nanoflows, ch. 1",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "mach",
+        "symbol": "Ma",
+        "expression": "velocity / sound_speed",
+        "inputs": {
+            "velocity": "[length] / [time]",
+            "sound_speed": "[length] / [time]",
+        },
+        "regimes": [
+            [None, 0.3, "incompressible treatment valid to about 5% in density"],
+            [0.3, 0.8, "subsonic compressible"],
+            [0.8, 1.2, "transonic"],
+            [1.2, None, "supersonic"],
+        ],
+        "note": "the 0.3 threshold is a 5% density-change criterion, not a hard limit",
+        "source": "Anderson, Modern Compressible Flow, 4th ed., ch. 1",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "womersley",
+        "symbol": "Wo",
+        "expression": "radius * sqrt(angular_frequency * density / viscosity)",
+        "inputs": {
+            "radius": "[length]",
+            "angular_frequency": "1 / [time]",
+            "density": "[mass] / [length] ** 3",
+            "viscosity": "[mass] / ([length] * [time])",
+        },
+        "regimes": [
+            [None, 1.0, "quasi-steady; velocity profile stays parabolic"],
+            [1.0, 10.0, "transitional; profile flattens and lags pressure"],
+            [10.0, None, "inertia-dominated plug flow"],
+        ],
+        "note": "angular frequency, not frequency: use 2*pi*f",
+        "source": "Womersley, J. Physiol. 127:553 (1955)",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "capillary",
+        "symbol": "Ca",
+        "expression": "viscosity * velocity / surface_tension",
+        "inputs": {
+            "viscosity": "[mass] / ([length] * [time])",
+            "velocity": "[length] / [time]",
+            "surface_tension": "[mass] / [time] ** 2",
+        },
+        "regimes": [
+            [None, 0.001, "interface shape set by surface tension alone"],
+            [0.001, None, "viscous stress deforms the interface"],
+        ],
+        "note": "governs droplet breakup and wetting in microfluidics",
+        "source": "Bruus, Theoretical Microfluidics, ch. 7",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "weber",
+        "symbol": "We",
+        "expression": "density * velocity ** 2 * length / surface_tension",
+        "inputs": {
+            "density": "[mass] / [length] ** 3",
+            "velocity": "[length] / [time]",
+            "length": "[length]",
+            "surface_tension": "[mass] / [time] ** 2",
+        },
+        "regimes": [
+            [None, 1.0, "surface tension holds the drop together"],
+            [1.0, 12.0, "deformation without breakup"],
+            [12.0, None, "aerodynamic breakup"],
+        ],
+        "note": "the critical Weber number for bag breakup is about 12",
+        "source": "Pilch and Erdman, Int. J. Multiphase Flow 13:741 (1987)",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "bond",
+        "symbol": "Bo",
+        "expression": "density_difference * g_earth * length ** 2 / surface_tension",
+        "inputs": {
+            "density_difference": "[mass] / [length] ** 3",
+            "length": "[length]",
+            "surface_tension": "[mass] / [time] ** 2",
+        },
+        "regimes": [
+            [None, 1.0, "surface tension dominates gravity"],
+            [1.0, None, "gravity dominates; the interface flattens"],
+        ],
+        "note": "also called the Eotvos number",
+        "source": "de Gennes et al., Capillarity and Wetting Phenomena, ch. 2",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "stokes_number",
+        "symbol": "Stk",
+        "expression": (
+            "particle_density * particle_diameter ** 2 * velocity "
+            "/ (18 * viscosity * length)"
+        ),
+        "inputs": {
+            "particle_density": "[mass] / [length] ** 3",
+            "particle_diameter": "[length]",
+            "velocity": "[length] / [time]",
+            "viscosity": "[mass] / ([length] * [time])",
+            "length": "[length]",
+        },
+        "regimes": [
+            [None, 0.1, "particles follow streamlines; tracer assumption holds"],
+            [0.1, 1.0, "partial slip; sampling bias likely"],
+            [1.0, None, "ballistic; particles leave the flow and impact"],
+        ],
+        "note": "the tracer assumption behind particle image velocimetry needs "
+        "Stk well below 0.1",
+        "source": "Raffel et al., Particle Image Velocimetry, 3rd ed., ch. 2",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "biot",
+        "symbol": "Bi",
+        "expression": "heat_transfer_coefficient * length / conductivity",
+        "inputs": {
+            "heat_transfer_coefficient": "[mass] / ([time] ** 3 * [temperature])",
+            "length": "[length]",
+            "conductivity": "[length] * [mass] / ([time] ** 3 * [temperature])",
+        },
+        "regimes": [
+            [None, 0.1, "lumped capacitance valid; body is nearly isothermal"],
+            [0.1, None, "internal gradients matter; solve the conduction equation"],
+        ],
+        "note": "length is volume divided by surface area for an irregular body",
+        "source": "Incropera et al., Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, ch. 5",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "fourier",
+        "symbol": "Fo",
+        "expression": "thermal_diffusivity * time / length ** 2",
+        "inputs": {
+            "thermal_diffusivity": "[length] ** 2 / [time]",
+            "time": "[time]",
+            "length": "[length]",
+        },
+        "regimes": [
+            [None, 0.05, "early transient; semi-infinite solution applies"],
+            [0.05, 1.0, "transient"],
+            [1.0, None, "effectively equilibrated"],
+        ],
+        "note": "dimensionless time for conduction; the same form with a mass "
+        "diffusivity governs diffusion",
+        "source": "Incropera et al., Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, ch. 5",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "schmidt",
+        "symbol": "Sc",
+        "expression": "viscosity / (density * diffusivity)",
+        "inputs": {
+            "viscosity": "[mass] / ([length] * [time])",
+            "density": "[mass] / [length] ** 3",
+            "diffusivity": "[length] ** 2 / [time]",
+        },
+        "regimes": [
+            [None, 10.0, "gases; momentum and mass diffuse comparably"],
+            [10.0, None, "liquids; momentum diffuses far faster than solute"],
+        ],
+        "note": "about 1 for gases and 1e3 with small molecules in water",
+        "source": "Cussler, Diffusion, 3rd ed., ch. 9",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "deborah",
+        "symbol": "De",
+        "expression": "relaxation_time / observation_time",
+        "inputs": {"relaxation_time": "[time]", "observation_time": "[time]"},
+        "regimes": [
+            [None, 1.0, "material responds as a viscous liquid"],
+            [1.0, None, "material responds elastically on this timescale"],
+        ],
+        "note": "the same material is a liquid or a solid depending on how long "
+        "you watch it",
+        "source": "Reiner, Physics Today 17:62 (1964)",
+    },
+)
+
+SCALES: tuple[dict[str, Any], ...] = (
+    {
+        "name": "diffusion_time",
+        "expression": "length ** 2 / diffusivity",
+        "inputs": {"length": "[length]", "diffusivity": "[length] ** 2 / [time]"},
+        "unit": "s",
+        "note": "the L-squared scaling is why diffusion crosses a membrane in "
+        "microseconds and a millimetre of tissue in minutes",
+        "source": "Berg, Random Walks in Biology, ch. 2",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "thermal_diffusion_time",
+        "expression": "length ** 2 / thermal_diffusivity",
+        "inputs": {
+            "length": "[length]",
+            "thermal_diffusivity": "[length] ** 2 / [time]",
+        },
+        "unit": "s",
+        "note": "same scaling with the thermal diffusivity k/(rho*c_p)",
+        "source": "Incropera et al., Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, ch. 5",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "thermal_energy",
+        "expression": "k_B * temperature",
+        "inputs": {"temperature": "[temperature]"},
+        "unit": "J",
+        "note": "the energy scale every biological interaction is measured "
+        "against; 4.14e-21 J at 300 K, or 2.5 kJ/mol",
+        "source": "Phillips et al., Physical Biology of the Cell, 2nd ed., ch. 5",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "molar_thermal_energy",
+        "expression": "R_gas * temperature",
+        "inputs": {"temperature": "[temperature]"},
+        "unit": "kJ/mol",
+        "note": "a binding free energy below this is indistinguishable from "
+        "thermal noise",
+        "source": "Phillips et al., Physical Biology of the Cell, 2nd ed., ch. 6",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "stokes_settling_velocity",
+        "expression": (
+            "density_difference * g_earth * particle_diameter ** 2 "
+            "/ (18 * viscosity)"
+        ),
+        "inputs": {
+            "density_difference": "[mass] / [length] ** 3",
+            "particle_diameter": "[length]",
+            "viscosity": "[mass] / ([length] * [time])",
+        },
+        "unit": "m/s",
+        "note": "valid only while the particle Reynolds number stays below about "
+        "0.1; check it with the reynolds group",
+        "source": "Batchelor, An Introduction to Fluid Dynamics, ch. 4",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "mean_free_path_gas",
+        "expression": (
+            "k_B * temperature / (sqrt(2) * pi * molecular_diameter ** 2 * pressure)"
+        ),
+        "inputs": {
+            "temperature": "[temperature]",
+            "molecular_diameter": "[length]",
+            "pressure": "[mass] / ([length] * [time] ** 2)",
+        },
+        "unit": "m",
+        "note": "hard-sphere estimate; the collision diameter of N2 is about 0.37 nm",
+        "source": "Atkins and de Paula, Physical Chemistry, 12th ed., ch. 1",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "debye_length",
+        "expression": (
+            "sqrt(epsilon_0 * relative_permittivity * k_B * temperature "
+            "/ (2 * N_A * e_charge ** 2 * ionic_strength))"
+        ),
+        "inputs": {
+            "relative_permittivity": "",
+            "temperature": "[temperature]",
+            "ionic_strength": "[substance] / [length] ** 3",
+        },
+        "unit": "nm",
+        "note": "for a symmetric monovalent electrolyte; about 0.96 nm at 100 mM "
+        "and 0.7 nm at physiological ionic strength",
+        "source": "Israelachvili, Intermolecular and Surface Forces, 3rd ed., ch. 14",
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "capillary_length",
+        "expression": "sqrt(surface_tension / (density * g_earth))",
+        "inputs": {
+            "surface_tension": "[mass] / [time] ** 2",
+            "density": "[mass] / [length] ** 3",
+        },
+        "unit": "mm",
+        "note": "below this size a drop is held by surface tension and does not "
+        "puddle; about 2.7 mm for water",
+        "source": "de Gennes et al., Capillarity and Wetting Phenomena, ch. 2",
+    },
+)
+
+# Observed ranges, deliberately generous: a value outside one of these is worth
+# a second look, not automatically wrong.
+BANDS: tuple[dict[str, Any], ...] = (
+    {"name": "bacterial_cell_diameter", "low": 0.2, "high": 10.0, "unit": "um",
+     "source": "Milo and Phillips, Cell Biology by the Numbers, ch. 1"},
+    {"name": "eukaryotic_cell_diameter", "low": 5.0, "high": 100.0, "unit": "um",
+     "source": "Milo and Phillips, Cell Biology by the Numbers, ch. 1"},
+    {"name": "cell_membrane_thickness", "low": 3.0, "high": 5.0, "unit": "nm",
+     "source": "Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 7th ed., ch. 10"},
+    {"name": "dna_base_pair_rise", "low": 0.32, "high": 0.36, "unit": "nm",
+     "source": "Bloomfield et al., Nucleic Acids: Structures and Properties"},
+    {"name": "ribosome_diameter", "low": 20.0, "high": 30.0, "unit": "nm",
+     "source": "Milo and Phillips, Cell Biology by the Numbers, ch. 1"},
+    {"name": "protein_molar_mass", "low": 5.0, "high": 1000.0, "unit": "kDa",
+     "source": "Milo and Phillips, Cell Biology by the Numbers, ch. 1"},
+    {"name": "human_capillary_diameter", "low": 5.0, "high": 10.0, "unit": "um",
+     "source": "Guyton and Hall, Textbook of Medical Physiology, 14th ed., ch. 16"},
+    {"name": "mammalian_body_temperature", "low": 306.0, "high": 315.0, "unit": "K",
+     "source": "Guyton and Hall, Textbook of Medical Physiology, 14th ed., ch. 74"},
+    {"name": "resting_heart_rate", "low": 0.7, "high": 3.0, "unit": "Hz",
+     "source": "Guyton and Hall, Textbook of Medical Physiology, 14th ed., ch. 9"},
+    {"name": "blood_plasma_osmolarity", "low": 275.0, "high": 300.0, "unit": "mol/m**3",
+     "source": "Guyton and Hall, Textbook of Medical Physiology, 14th ed., ch. 25"},
+    {"name": "diffusivity_small_molecule_water", "low": 3e-10, "high": 3e-9,
+     "unit": "m**2/s", "source": "Cussler, Diffusion, 3rd ed., app. A"},
+    {"name": "diffusivity_protein_water", "low": 1e-11, "high": 1.5e-10,
+     "unit": "m**2/s", "source": "Cussler, Diffusion, 3rd ed., app. A"},
+    {"name": "dynamic_viscosity_water", "low": 0.5, "high": 1.5, "unit": "mPa*s",
+     "source": "IAPWS R12-08, viscosity of ordinary water substance"},
+    {"name": "surface_tension_water", "low": 0.06, "high": 0.08, "unit": "N/m",
+     "source": "IAPWS R1-76, surface tension of ordinary water substance"},
+    {"name": "sound_speed_water", "low": 1400.0, "high": 1560.0, "unit": "m/s",
+     "source": "Del Grosso and Mader, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 52:1442 (1972)"},
+    {"name": "sound_speed_air", "low": 320.0, "high": 350.0, "unit": "m/s",
+     "source": "Cramer, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 93:2510 (1993)"},
+    {"name": "atmospheric_pressure_sea_level", "low": 95.0, "high": 105.0,
+     "unit": "kPa", "source": "ISO 2533 standard atmosphere"},
+    {"name": "earth_surface_gravity", "low": 9.76, "high": 9.84, "unit": "m/s**2",
+     "source": "WGS 84 normal gravity at the ellipsoid"},
+    {"name": "visible_wavelength", "low": 380.0, "high": 750.0, "unit": "nm",
+     "source": "CIE S 017:2020, International Lighting Vocabulary"},
+    {"name": "noncovalent_bond_energy", "low": 1.0, "high": 40.0, "unit": "kJ/mol",
+     "source": "Israelachvili, Intermolecular and Surface Forces, 3rd ed., ch. 2"},
+    {"name": "covalent_bond_energy", "low": 150.0, "high": 1000.0, "unit": "kJ/mol",
+     "source": "Atkins and de Paula, Physical Chemistry, 12th ed., data section"},
+    {"name": "atp_hydrolysis_energy", "low": 40.0, "high": 60.0, "unit": "kJ/mol",
+     "source": "Milo and Phillips, Cell Biology by the Numbers, ch. 4"},
+)
+
+CATALOGUE = {
+    "groups": {entry["name"]: entry for entry in GROUPS},
+    "scales": {entry["name"]: entry for entry in SCALES},
+    "bands": {entry["name"]: entry for entry in BANDS},
+}
+
+
+def parse_quantity(text: str, registry: Any) -> tuple[str, Any]:
+    """Parse `name=value[ unit]` into a named pint quantity."""
+
+    name, separator, payload = text.partition("=")
+    name = name.strip()
+    if not separator or not name.isidentifier() or name.startswith("_"):
+        raise CliError(
+            f"quantity {text!r} must look like velocity=1.2 m/s, with a "
+            "Python-identifier name"
+        )
+    fields = payload.strip().split(None, 1)
+    if not fields:
+        raise CliError(f"quantity {name!r} needs a magnitude")
+    magnitude = _common.finite_float(fields[0])
+    unit = checked_unit(fields[1], label=name) if len(fields) == 2 else "dimensionless"
+    try:
+        return name, registry.Quantity(magnitude, unit)
+    except Exception as exc:  # pint raises several unrelated types here
+        raise CliError(f"cannot read {name!r} as a quantity: {exc}") from exc
+
+
+def constant_quantities(registry: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Return the physical constants every expression may use."""
+
+    try:
+        from scipy import constants
+    except ImportError as exc:
+        raise CliError(
+            f"SciPy is unavailable; install with `{_common.PINNED_INSTALL}`"
+        ) from exc
+    resolved: dict[str, Any] = {}
+    for name, attribute, unit in CONSTANT_UNITS:
+        resolved[name] = registry.Quantity(float(getattr(constants, attribute)), unit)
+    return resolved
+
+
+def check_dimensionality(name: str, quantity: Any, expected: str) -> None:
+    """Reject an input whose dimensionality is not the one the formula needs."""
+
+    if not expected:
+        if not quantity.dimensionless:
+            raise CliError(
+                f"{name} must be dimensionless, but carries {quantity.units:~P}"
+            )
+        return
+    if not quantity.check(expected):
+        raise CliError(
+            f"{name} must have dimensionality {expected}, but {quantity.units:~P} "
+            f"is {quantity.dimensionality}"
+        )
+
+
+def evaluate(
+    entry: dict[str, Any], supplied: dict[str, Any], constants: dict[str, Any]
+) -> Any:
+    """Reduce one catalogue expression against the supplied quantities."""
+
+    tree = _common.parse_expression(entry["expression"])
+    needed = set(_common.expression_variables(tree))
+    required = sorted(needed - set(constants))
+    missing = [name for name in required if name not in supplied]
+    if missing:
+        wanted = ", ".join(
+            f"{name} [{entry['inputs'].get(name) or 'dimensionless'}]"
+            for name in missing
+        )
+        raise CliError(f"{entry['name']} needs: {wanted}")
+    for name in required:
+        check_dimensionality(name, supplied[name], entry["inputs"].get(name, ""))
+    values = {name: supplied[name] for name in required}
+    values.update({name: constants[name] for name in needed & set(constants)})
+    return _common.reduce_expression(tree, values, {"sqrt": lambda q: q**0.5})
+
+
+def classify(value: float, regimes: list[list[Any]]) -> str:
+    """Return the label of the regime a dimensionless value falls in."""
+
+    for lower, upper, label in regimes:
+        if (lower is None or value >= lower) and (upper is None or value < upper):
+            return label
+    return "outside every tabulated regime"
+
+
+def orders_of_magnitude(value: float, reference: float) -> float | None:
+    """Return log10 of the ratio between a value and a reference.
+
+    None when the ratio has no logarithm, which keeps the report strict JSON
+    rather than emitting an infinity.
+    """
+
+    if value <= 0 or reference <= 0:
+        return None
+    return math.log10(value / reference)
+
+
+def _describe(quantity: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Report a quantity as a magnitude paired with its explicit unit string."""
+
+    # audit-units: ignore UNIT003 -- the unit travels with the magnitude below
+    value = float(quantity.magnitude)
+    return {"value": value, "unit": f"{quantity.units:~P}"}
+
+
+def evaluate_group(
+    entry: dict[str, Any], supplied: dict[str, Any], constants: dict[str, Any]
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Compute one dimensionless group and place it in a regime."""
+
+    result = evaluate(entry, supplied, constants)
+    if not getattr(result, "dimensionless", False):
+        raise CliError(
+            f"{entry['name']} evaluated to {result.units:~P}, which is not "
+            "dimensionless; an input carries the wrong quantity"
+        )
+    value = float(result.m_as("dimensionless"))
+    return {
+        "name": entry["name"],
+        "symbol": entry["symbol"],
+        "expression": entry["expression"],
+        "value": value,
+        "regime": classify(value, entry["regimes"]),
+        "note": entry["note"],
+        "source": entry["source"],
+    }
+
+
+def evaluate_scale(
+    entry: dict[str, Any], supplied: dict[str, Any], constants: dict[str, Any]
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Compute one characteristic scale in its tabulated unit."""
+
+    result = evaluate(entry, supplied, constants)
+    try:
+        magnitude = float(result.m_as(entry["unit"]))
+    except Exception as exc:  # pint raises DimensionalityError and friends
+        raise CliError(
+            f"{entry['name']} evaluated to {result.units:~P}, which cannot be "
+            f"expressed in {entry['unit']}: {exc}"
+        ) from exc
+    return {
+        "name": entry["name"],
+        "expression": entry["expression"],
+        "value": magnitude,
+        "unit": entry["unit"],
+        "note": entry["note"],
+        "source": entry["source"],
+    }
+
+
+def evaluate_band(
+    entry: dict[str, Any], name: str, quantity: Any
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Compare a supplied quantity against a curated plausible range."""
+
+    try:
+        magnitude = float(quantity.m_as(entry["unit"]))
+    except Exception as exc:  # pint raises DimensionalityError and friends
+        raise CliError(
+            f"{name} is {quantity.units:~P}, which cannot be compared with the "
+            f"{entry['name']} band in {entry['unit']}: {exc}"
+        ) from exc
+    if entry["low"] <= magnitude <= entry["high"]:
+        verdict, decades = "plausible", 0.0
+    else:
+        edge = entry["low"] if magnitude < entry["low"] else entry["high"]
+        decades = orders_of_magnitude(magnitude, edge)
+        # A non-positive magnitude has no ratio to the band, and no physical
+        # quantity in this table can take one.
+        verdict = (
+            "implausible" if decades is None or abs(decades) >= 1 else "questionable"
+        )
+    return {
+        "quantity": name,
+        "band": entry["name"],
+        "value": magnitude,
+        "unit": entry["unit"],
+        "range": [entry["low"], entry["high"]],
+        "verdict": verdict,
+        "orders_of_magnitude_outside": decades,
+        "source": entry["source"],
+    }
+
+
+def overall_verdict(bands: list[dict[str, Any]]) -> str:
+    """Reduce the band results to a single word."""
+
+    verdicts = {item["verdict"] for item in bands}
+    if "implausible" in verdicts:
+        return "implausible"
+    if "questionable" in verdicts:
+        return "questionable"
+    return "plausible"
+
+
+def exit_code(document: dict[str, Any], threshold: str) -> int:
+    """Return 1 when the verdict meets the configured failure threshold."""
+
+    order = {"plausible": 0, "questionable": 1, "implausible": 2}
+    if threshold == "none":
+        return 0
+    return 1 if order[document["verdict"]] >= order[threshold] else 0
+
+
+def build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description=(
+            "Evaluate dimensionless groups and characteristic scales from "
+            "unit-bearing quantities, and compare quantities against curated "
+            "physical ranges."
+        )
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--quantity",
+        action="append",
+        default=[],
+        metavar="NAME=VALUE UNIT",
+        help="input quantity, e.g. 'velocity=1.2 m/s'; repeatable",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--group",
+        action="append",
+        default=[],
+        help="dimensionless group to evaluate; repeatable",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--scale",
+        action="append",
+        default=[],
+        help="characteristic scale to compute; repeatable",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--band",
+        action="append",
+        default=[],
+        metavar="BAND=NAME",
+        help="compare a supplied quantity against a curated range, e.g. "
+        "'eukaryotic_cell_diameter=diameter'; repeatable",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--list",
+        action="store_true",
+        dest="list_catalogue",
+        help="list the available groups, scales, and bands, then exit",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--fail-on",
+        choices=("none", "questionable", "implausible"),
+        default="implausible",
+        help="verdict at which the exit status becomes 1 (default implausible)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument("--format", choices=("json", "markdown"), default="json")
+    parser.add_argument("--output", help="write the report to this file")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--force", action="store_true", help="overwrite an existing output file"
+    )
+    return parser
+
+
+def _catalogue_document() -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Describe everything this tool knows how to compute."""
+
+    return {
+        "groups": [
+            {
+                "name": entry["name"],
+                "symbol": entry["symbol"],
+                "expression": entry["expression"],
+                "inputs": entry["inputs"],
+            }
+            for entry in GROUPS
+        ],
+        "scales": [
+            {
+                "name": entry["name"],
+                "expression": entry["expression"],
+                "inputs": entry["inputs"],
+                "unit": entry["unit"],
+            }
+            for entry in SCALES
+        ],
+        "bands": [
+            {
+                "name": entry["name"],
+                "range": [entry["low"], entry["high"]],
+                "unit": entry["unit"],
+            }
+            for entry in BANDS
+        ],
+    }
+
+
+def _lookup(kind: str, name: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Fetch a catalogue entry or explain what is available."""
+
+    entry = CATALOGUE[kind].get(name)
+    if entry is None:
+        available = ", ".join(sorted(CATALOGUE[kind]))
+        raise CliError(f"unknown {kind[:-1]} {name!r}; available: {available}")
+    return entry
+
+
+def run(arguments: argparse.Namespace) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Evaluate every requested group, scale, and band."""
+
+    if arguments.list_catalogue:
+        return _catalogue_document()
+
+    requested = len(arguments.group) + len(arguments.scale) + len(arguments.band)
+    if requested == 0:
+        raise CliError("supply at least one of --group, --scale, or --band")
+    if max(requested, len(arguments.quantity)) > MAX_ENTRIES:
+        raise CliError(f"at most {MAX_ENTRIES} entries are supported per run")
+
+    registry = build_registry()
+    supplied: dict[str, Any] = {}
+    for item in arguments.quantity:
+        name, quantity = parse_quantity(item, registry)
+        if name in supplied:
+            raise CliError(f"quantity {name!r} is supplied more than once")
+        supplied[name] = quantity
+    constants = constant_quantities(registry)
+    shadowed = sorted(set(supplied) & set(constants))
+    if shadowed:
+        raise CliError(
+            f"these names are reserved for physical constants: {', '.join(shadowed)}"
+        )
+
+    groups = [
+        evaluate_group(_lookup("groups", name), supplied, constants)
+        for name in arguments.group
+    ]
+    scales = [
+        evaluate_scale(_lookup("scales", name), supplied, constants)
+        for name in arguments.scale
+    ]
+
+    bands: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
+    for item in arguments.band:
+        band_name, separator, quantity_name = item.partition("=")
+        quantity_name = quantity_name.strip()
+        if not separator or not quantity_name:
+            raise CliError(
+                f"band {item!r} must look like eukaryotic_cell_diameter=diameter"
+            )
+        if quantity_name not in supplied:
+            raise CliError(f"band {item!r} references unsupplied quantity "
+                           f"{quantity_name!r}")
+        entry = _lookup("bands", band_name.strip())
+        bands.append(evaluate_band(entry, quantity_name, supplied[quantity_name]))
+
+    warnings: list[str] = []
+    for item in bands:
+        if item["verdict"] == "plausible":
+            continue
+        decades = item["orders_of_magnitude_outside"]
+        distance = (
+            "outside" if decades is None else f"{abs(decades):.1f} decades outside"
+        )
+        warnings.append(
+            f"{item['quantity']} = {item['value']:.4g} {item['unit']} sits "
+            f"{distance} the {item['band']} range "
+            f"{item['range'][0]:.4g}-{item['range'][1]:.4g} {item['unit']}"
+        )
+    for item in groups:
+        if item["value"] <= 0:
+            warnings.append(
+                f"{item['symbol']} is not positive, which no physical "
+                "configuration produces; check the sign of an input"
+            )
+
+    return {
+        "quantities": {
+            name: _describe(quantity) for name, quantity in supplied.items()
+        },
+        "groups": groups,
+        "scales": scales,
+        "bands": bands,
+        "verdict": overall_verdict(bands),
+        "warnings": warnings,
+    }
+
+
+def render_markdown(document: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    """Render a human-readable plausibility report."""
+
+    lines = ["# Plausibility check", ""]
+    if document.get("groups"):
+        lines += [
+            "## Dimensionless groups",
+            "",
+            "| Group | Symbol | Value | Regime |",
+            "| --- | --- | --- | --- |",
+        ]
+        for item in document["groups"]:
+            lines.append(
+                f"| {item['name']} | {item['symbol']} | {item['value']:.4g} | "
+                f"{item['regime']} |"
+            )
+        lines.append("")
+    if document.get("scales"):
+        lines += ["## Characteristic scales", "", "| Scale | Value |", "| --- | --- |"]
+        for item in document["scales"]:
+            lines.append(f"| {item['name']} | {item['value']:.4g} {item['unit']} |")
+        lines.append("")
+    if document.get("bands"):
+        lines += [
+            "## Magnitude bands",
+            "",
+            "| Quantity | Band | Value | Range | Verdict |",
+            "| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |",
+        ]
+        for item in document["bands"]:
+            lines.append(
+                f"| {item['quantity']} | {item['band']} | "
+                f"{item['value']:.4g} {item['unit']} | "
+                f"{item['range'][0]:.4g}-{item['range'][1]:.4g} {item['unit']} | "
+                f"{item['verdict']} |"
+            )
+        lines.append("")
+    lines.append(f"**Verdict: {document['verdict']}**")
+    if document.get("warnings"):
+        lines += ["", "## Warnings", ""]
+        lines += [f"- {message}" for message in document["warnings"]]
+    return "\n".join(lines) + "\n"
+
+
+def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
+    arguments = build_parser().parse_args(argv)
+    try:
+        document = run(arguments)
+        if arguments.format == "markdown" and not arguments.list_catalogue:
+            _common.emit_text(
+                render_markdown(document),
+                output=arguments.output,
+                force=arguments.force,
+            )
+        else:
+            _common.emit_json(document, output=arguments.output, force=arguments.force)
+    except CliError as error:
+        print(f"error: {error}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 2
+    if arguments.list_catalogue:
+        return 0
+    return exit_code(document, arguments.fail_on)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(main())