I understand that F=ma, mass is in kilograms and acceleration is metres per second squared so Newtons are just kilograms metres per second squared, but what does that mean? I can’t seem to comprehend it/really understand it intuitively. Why are we adding kilograms, metres per second squared times (or vice-versa)? I understand stuff with division, like density, because it makes sense, like with density, you’re dividing the mass over the volume occupied to see how many kilograms you have per cubic metre of the substance in question, so kg/m^3 , but I seem to have trouble understanding the multiplied quantities, like Newtons.
In: 6
The kilogram is being accelerated at a rate of one meter per second each second.
So, every second, that kilogram’s velocity is increasing by one meter per second.
It’s all multiplied together, so if you have twice the mass, you’d have half the acceleration. If the mass is the same, but the velocity increases by twice as much then it will take twice as long.
If you want to convert to different units… say tons kilometers per square hour. then you have to convert each individual element (kg to ton, meters to kilometers, seconds to hours (twice)).
Latest Answers