What the heck is measured in m2 / s2?

  • Thread starter Thread starter johann1301
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the meaning of the unit m²/s², which is often associated with energy per unit mass, specifically in contexts like hydrodynamics and aerodynamics. It is derived from the relationship between joules and newtons, where 1 joule equals 1 kg m²/s², indicating kinetic energy and potential energy calculations. Participants clarify that m²/s² can represent energy loss due to friction, particularly in fluid dynamics. Additionally, it is noted that this unit can also relate to gravitational potential energy near Earth's surface. Overall, m²/s² serves as a versatile measurement in various physics equations.
johann1301
Messages
216
Reaction score
1
What the heck is measured in m2 / s2??

Can somebody tell me what m2 / s2 measures?? A square meter per squared second??
 
Physics news on Phys.org


The rate of change in the growth of an area?
 


energy per unit mass!
 


what ever.
I ain't even important.
 


Measured? Nothing. But I suspect the question is really asking about what an energy equation means.
 


My guess is that it's the velocity component for 1 Joule of energy, 1 Joule = 1 kg m2 / s 2, or kinetic energy of an object = 1/2 mass v2 (with v2 stated as m2 / s2 ). ... or it could be related to centripetal acceleration, a = v2 / r.
 
Last edited:


russ_watters said:
Measured? Nothing. But I suspect the question is really asking about what an energy equation means.
Well, it could be a measure of energy per unit mass (above post #3): J/kg = Nm/kg = kg m sec^-2 m kg^-1 = m^2/sec^2

AM
 


Andrew Mason said:
Well, it could be a measure of energy per unit mass: J/kg = Nm/kg = kg m sec^-2 m kg^-1 = m^2/sec^2

AM

dacruick said:
energy per unit mass!

mwahahaha:biggrin:
 


i'm sorry for necrobumping this old tread, but AM is actually right.

Using bernoulli's equations you can find out the loss of energy due to friction in joule/kg, which is the same as m2/s2.

A joule is the same as a Newton times meter, while a Newton is the force required to accelerate a mass of 1 kg by 1 meter per second squared. so if you write it out it becomes:

\frac{J}{kg} = \frac{N*m}{kg} = \frac{kg*m*m}{s²*kg} =\frac{m²}{s²}

so m2/s2 could refer to the loss of energy per kg due to friction. It's used mostly in hydrodynamics and aerodynamics. Probably also in thermodynamics.
 
  • #10


johann1301 said:
Can somebody tell me what m2 / s2 measures?? A square meter per squared second?

dacruick said:
energy per unit mass

Which would make m^2 / s^2 an optional unit form for potential, such as gravitational potential. For example, for object close enough to Earth's surface that gravitational force can be considered constant, then gravitational potential = g h = (9.8 m / s^2) (h m) = 9.8 h m^2 / s^2.
 
Back
Top