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.
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Weight is the easiest way to conceptualize it. Your mass is the same no matter where you are in the universe. But the force your mass applies on the ground would be different on the Earth, the Moon, Mars, etc. due to the differences in mass of those bodies. Thus, if the force you apply in leaping from each body stays the same, your jumping height will change because the force keeping you “grounded” is different.
If I threw a brick at you, that shit would hurt. If I threw a bigger brick at you chucking it just as hard, it would hurt more. If I shot a bigger brick out a freaking potato cannon. I reckon that would knock you back a few meters more.
Mass is the size of the brick. Meters per second squares is how hard I throw it at you. How bad it hurts is force.
Just think of using a hammer. It takes a certain amount of force to drive the nail. How many swings it takes will depend on 2 things: the weight of the hammer (kilograms) and how fast you accelerate it (meters per second ^2).
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