eli5 What does it mean to multiple to multiple units

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**Title: What does it mean to multiply units?**

I can’t grasp what it represents in the real world

Addition/Subtraction: only makes sense in same units and increases/decreases the value like moving forwards/backwards or inreasing/decreasing the amount of force on an object etc…

Division: a ratio, how much of x per y: how many meters you move in one second, how much force is put on an area etc….

Multiplication: no idea. The unit of force: kg / m×s^(2,) mass per whatever m×s^(2) means or F = m×g what does m*g represent? Obviously there is a mathematical proof for this equation but what is the actual reason beyond: the math works out

Or imagine I am in the process of figuring out a brand new equation (in Physics/Chemistry/Geometry/…) how do I know that I need a multiplication right here beyond it’s the math?

**EDIT:** An Attempt to clarify the problem I have

At some point in school we learn that multiplication can describe areas: 7*5 = 35 is the number of pieces in a rectangle if said rectangle is divisible into 7 rows with 5 pieces each or 7 columns with 5 pieces each or the opposite.
Multiplication can also describe an event occuring multiple times if I run 5 km in 7 hours then I ran 35 km total
in probability multiplication can also describe the number of possible uniqe iteration
and I definitly forgot a few things.

But what does Multiplication describe in nature sciences or physics especially? Perhaps in the example of F = m*g but also in general

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5 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Do not look at basements directly look at them in steps via other units.

force in newtorn = kg m /s^2 not kg / m×s2,

A force is coming that can accelerate a mass. You ned more force to accelerate a larger mass at the same rate as a smaller mass. If on the other hand, the force is constant a larger mass will get accelerated slower then a small mass

Force = mass x acceleration.

Mass is in kg and acceleration is m/s^2

Distance will be in meter

Speed is how distance changes with time or meter/second.

Acceleration is how speed changes with time so speed/second = meter/second/second = m/second^2

Another way to say it is speed is the first derivate of distance in regard to time and acceleration is the second derivate

So a force is something that can accelerate a mass and the units will be kg m /s^2

F=m x g is the weight of an object. m is the mass and g is the acceleration du to gravity on a mass

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