- #1
ian_dsouza
- 48
- 3
So I was revising elementary classical physics and Newton's equations of motion.
When you apply a force on an object in free space, far from gravitational fields, you find that the object accelerates. By conducting experiments where you vary the force or the mass and look at the acceleration, you find that
Force, F α Mass, m * Acceleration, a
Introduction the constant k of the equation,
F = kma
Now, accelration is well-defined if you know how to define length (through a unit metre stick) and time (through an atomic clock - cesium i believe is used to standardize it).
You can standardize a unit mass as well. Any other mass is equal to the unit mass if it balances out on a see-saw type of balance.
Now, we define 'k' as the force required to accelerate a mass of 1 kg by 1m/s^2
If we choose the units of force such that this particular quantity of force is one unit, the k=1.
My question is wouldn't we just be better off by setting the constant in all the relations in physics to be 1 in a similar manner.
My initial guess is that we are allowed to do this only once. Whenever we have any equation even remotely relating to a force, we can't set the constant equal to one. If we attempted to do so, we would first have to modify our unit of force, by making k≠1.
I would love to hear from the members of the Forum regarding your views on this.
When you apply a force on an object in free space, far from gravitational fields, you find that the object accelerates. By conducting experiments where you vary the force or the mass and look at the acceleration, you find that
Force, F α Mass, m * Acceleration, a
Introduction the constant k of the equation,
F = kma
Now, accelration is well-defined if you know how to define length (through a unit metre stick) and time (through an atomic clock - cesium i believe is used to standardize it).
You can standardize a unit mass as well. Any other mass is equal to the unit mass if it balances out on a see-saw type of balance.
Now, we define 'k' as the force required to accelerate a mass of 1 kg by 1m/s^2
If we choose the units of force such that this particular quantity of force is one unit, the k=1.
My question is wouldn't we just be better off by setting the constant in all the relations in physics to be 1 in a similar manner.
My initial guess is that we are allowed to do this only once. Whenever we have any equation even remotely relating to a force, we can't set the constant equal to one. If we attempted to do so, we would first have to modify our unit of force, by making k≠1.
I would love to hear from the members of the Forum regarding your views on this.