I figured out the slope for a force vs mass graph but does a slope have units?

AI Thread Summary
The slope of a force versus mass graph has units of N/kg, which can also be expressed as m/s². This is derived from the relationship where slope equals rise over run, with rise being the change in force and run the change in mass. In the SI system, force is measured in Newtons and mass in kilograms, leading to the conclusion that the slope represents acceleration. The formula F = m*a supports this, as dividing force by mass yields acceleration. Understanding this relationship clarifies the units of the slope and its significance in physics.
Meganktn
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Need to know how to figure out the units on a slope
ty.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes the slope has units!

Slope = rise/run

Since you are plotting force against mass, the rise in the graph is the change in force while the run is the change in mass.

Therefore, slope= Force/Mass

I am assuming that you are dealing with the SI system, which means force is measured in Newtons (N) and mass in kilograms (kg).

This means that the units of the slope are N/kg. However a Newton is also equal to one kg*m/s2, so if we divide this by one kg we are left with a slope with units m/s2, which acceleration is measured in!

This makes perfect sense considering that F=m*a. If we divide force by a certain mass we have F/m=(m*a)/m. In other words F/m=a. And since the slope of this graph was calculated by dividing F/m we know that it represents acceleration. That's proof that the unit for the slope is m/s2.
 
TY TY TY I APPRECIATE THIS VERY VERY MUCH! your answer was awesome! i hate sites where ppl just tell the answer and not explain it :) tyy
 

Thread 'Rolling without slipping on a curved surface'

Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
View full post »

Thread 'Struggling to understand the concept of this question (ice cube in water optics question)'

TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
View full post »
Thread 'A bead-mass oscillatory system problem'

Thread 'A bead-mass oscillatory system problem'

I can't figure out how to find the velocity of the particle at 37 degrees. Basically the bead moves with velocity towards right let's call it v1. The particle moves with some velocity v2. In frame of the bead, the particle is performing circular motion. So v of particle wrt bead would be perpendicular to the string. But how would I find the velocity of particle in ground frame? I tried using vectors to figure it out and the angle is coming out to be extremely long. One equation is by work...
View full post »

Similar threads

Slope of N - t graph of radioactive decay
Replies
2
Views
761
What would the slope of the force between 2 charged particles vs 1/r^2 give me?
Replies
1
Views
569
Slope of Force vs Frequency^2 and Radius vs Period^2 Graphs
Replies
6
Views
8K
What does the slope of an Fapplied vs Fnormal graph represent?
Replies
9
Views
2K
What are the units for the slope in an Acceleration vs Mass Graph?
Replies
3
Views
3K
Calculating acceleration of a prism and block connected to a wall through a rope and pulley
Replies
4
Views
410
Experimentally calculating the acceleration due to gravity
Replies
13
Views
3K
Capacitance vs. Inverse Distance Graph's Slope
Replies
2
Views
5K
Experimental Design: Pulley and Mass Hangers
Replies
30
Views
3K
Slope of position vs time squared graph?
Replies
2
Views
13K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top