Does Mg Stand for Newton in Scientific Contexts?

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In summary, "Mg" stands for "magnesium" in physics and is often used as an abbreviation for the unit of force known as "megagrams" or "milligrams". It is a unit of measurement for force in the metric system and is not directly related to Newton. The use of Mg as an abbreviation for force is derived from the metric system and it should not be confused with "mg", which represents "milligrams" of mass.
  • #1
Femme_physics
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I'm reading this question that says "The 5.5-Mg humpback whale is stuck on the shore
due to changes in the tide..."

Does Mg mean Newton?
 
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  • #2
Nope.

Newton is [N], but Mg doesn't look like N does it? :confused:

But Mega is [M] and gram is [g]... :smile:
 
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  • #3
You're so smart :smile: thanks!
 
  • #4
So according to my conversation the whale weighs

5.5 x 1000000 = 5500000grams
5500000 / 1000 = 5500 kg

5500 x 9.81 = 53955 [N]

Yes?
 
  • #5
Yes.
 

FAQ: Does Mg Stand for Newton in Scientific Contexts?

What does "Mg" stand for in the context of physics?

In physics, "Mg" stands for "magnesium", which is a chemical element with the atomic number 12. It is often used as an abbreviation for the unit of force known as "megagrams" or "milligrams".

Is Mg a unit of measurement for force?

Yes, Mg is a unit of measurement for force. It is commonly used in the metric system to represent "megagrams" or "milligrams" of force.

3. How does Mg relate to Newton in physics?

Mg is not directly related to Newton in physics. While Mg is a unit of measurement for force, Newton is a unit of measurement for weight or mass. However, Mg can be converted to Newton by using the conversion factor of 1 Mg = 9.807 Newtons.

4. Why is Mg used as an abbreviation for force?

The use of Mg as an abbreviation for force is derived from the metric system. In the metric system, "mega" is the prefix for one million, and "gram" is a unit of mass. Therefore, Mg represents one million grams of force, or "megagrams". It is also commonly used as an abbreviation for "milligrams".

5. Is Mg the same as "mg" in physics?

No, Mg and "mg" are not the same in physics. Mg stands for "megagrams" or "milligrams" of force, while "mg" represents "milligrams" of mass. They are two different units of measurement and should not be confused with each other.

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