- #1
Mangoes
- 96
- 1
Hey there,
I'm in a math class and we're covering some applications to physics and although I completely understand the math behind it and am getting the correct answers, I'm a little iffy on how some of the units work.
Would anyone be kind enough to tell me whether or not my thought process here is correct? Since my book covers the theory behind the math, it doesn't really cover how the units work.
Work = Force*Distance
Force = Mass*Acceleration
Let's say that we measured mass in kg and acceleration in m/s^2.
F = (kg)(m/s^2) = Newton
Plugging this into work and taking distance to be measured in meters:
W = [(kg)(m/s^2)]*(m) = (kg)(m^2/s^2) = Joules
Is the above correct?
Also, my book uses notation I'm unfamiliar with (ft - lb) and calls it foot-pounds.
Would it be dimensionally equal to Joules but using feet and pounds instead?
That is, would it be equal to (lb)(ft^2/s^2)?
Thanks for any help.
I'm just concerned I'm not understanding this correctly and on a test I'll write units that don't mean what I actually mean to say.
I'm in a math class and we're covering some applications to physics and although I completely understand the math behind it and am getting the correct answers, I'm a little iffy on how some of the units work.
Would anyone be kind enough to tell me whether or not my thought process here is correct? Since my book covers the theory behind the math, it doesn't really cover how the units work.
Work = Force*Distance
Force = Mass*Acceleration
Let's say that we measured mass in kg and acceleration in m/s^2.
F = (kg)(m/s^2) = Newton
Plugging this into work and taking distance to be measured in meters:
W = [(kg)(m/s^2)]*(m) = (kg)(m^2/s^2) = Joules
Is the above correct?
Also, my book uses notation I'm unfamiliar with (ft - lb) and calls it foot-pounds.
Would it be dimensionally equal to Joules but using feet and pounds instead?
That is, would it be equal to (lb)(ft^2/s^2)?
Thanks for any help.
I'm just concerned I'm not understanding this correctly and on a test I'll write units that don't mean what I actually mean to say.