15 Aug, 2024
· Physics

Which statement describes a newton

  1. It exists only for objects on Earth.
  2. It measures the mass of an object.
  3. It reflects the amount of force an object exerts.
  4. It states that every object attracts another object.
Short Answer
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Long Explanation

Explanation

The newton (N) is the SI unit of force. It quantifies the amount of force needed to impart an acceleration of 1m/s21 \, \text{m/s}^2 to a mass of 1kg1 \, \text{kg}.

Mathematical Representation

F=ma\textbf{F} = m \cdot \textbf{a}

Where:

  • F\textbf{F} is the force in newtons (N)
  • mm is the mass in kilograms (kg)
  • a\textbf{a} is the acceleration in meters per second squared (m/s²)

Important Notes

  • The newton is named after Sir Isaac Newton for his work in classical mechanics, specifically his second law of motion.
  • Other statements related to mass, gravity, and universal attraction do not define a newton directly but involve it in various ways.
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Richard Hamilton

Physics Content Writer at Math AI

Richard Hamilton holds a Master’s in Physics from McGill University and works as a high school physics teacher and part-time contract writer. Using real-world examples and hands-on activities, he explains difficult concepts in physics effectively.

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Concept

Force

Force of Gravity

The force of gravity is an attractive force that exists between any two masses. This force is what keeps planets in orbit around stars and causes objects to fall to the ground when dropped.

Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation

Isaac Newton formulated the Universal Law of Gravitation which states:

"Every point mass attracts every other point mass by a force acting along the line intersecting both points. The force is proportional to the product of the two masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them."

This can be mathematically expressed as:

F=Gm1m2r2F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}

Where:

  • FF is the gravitational force between two masses
  • GG is the gravitational constant, approximately 6.674×1011N(m2/kg2)6.674 \times 10^{-11} \, \text{N} \cdot (\text{m}^2/\text{kg}^2)
  • m1m_1 and m2m_2 are the masses of the two objects
  • rr is the distance between the centers of the two masses

Characteristics of Gravitational Force

  • Universality: It acts between any two masses anywhere in the universe.
  • Attractiveness: It always attracts and never repels.
  • Inverse-square Law: The force decreases with the square of the distance between the masses; if the distance is doubled, the force is quartered.

Gravitational Force on Earth

On Earth's surface, the gravitational force acting on an object (weight) can be simplified using the equation:

F=mgF = m \cdot g

Where:

  • mm is the mass of the object
  • gg is the acceleration due to gravity, approximately 9.8m/s29.8 \, \text{m/s}^2

Importance

Gravitational force is fundamental in:

  • Keeping planets, moons, and satellites in their orbits
  • Forming stars, planets, and galaxies by pulling matter together
  • Causing ocean tides due to the gravitational pull of the moon.

Understanding gravity helps in fields like astronomy, physics, and engineering, making it a critical concept in science.

Concept

Si Unit

The SI Unit for Measuring Electric Current

The SI unit for measuring electric current is the ampere, symbolized by A. The ampere is one of the seven base units in the International System of Units (SI). It is named after the French physicist André-Marie Ampère, who is one of the main discoverers of electromagnetism.

Definition of the Ampere

The ampere is officially defined based on the elementary charge ee, which is approximately equal to 1.602×10191.602 \times 10^{-19} coulombs. The definition can be stated as follows:

"One ampere is the current that flows when 11 coulomb of charge passes through a given point in a circuit in one second."

Mathematically, this can be represented as:

1A=1C1s1 \, \text{A} = \frac{1 \, \text{C}}{1 \, \text{s}}

Where:

  • A\text{A} stands for ampere
  • C\text{C} stands for coulomb
  • s\text{s} stands for second

Practical Understanding

In practical terms, if you have an electrical circuit and a current of one ampere is flowing through it, it means that one coulomb of electric charge is moving past a specific point in the circuit every second.

Importance in Electrical and Electronic Systems

Electric current is a fundamental concept in both electrical and electronic systems. The amount of current flowing through a circuit determines how much work can be performed by electronic devices, from simple light bulbs to complex computer systems. Measuring electric current accurately is essential for designing, analyzing, and troubleshooting electrical circuits and devices.

In summary, the ampere (A) is the SI unit used to quantify electric current, and it is a basic measure that has profound implications in various fields such as physics, engineering, and technology.