How do you know the factors of the acceleration and the distance?

1. Jun 14, 2007

apope

1 Joule = 1N x 1m

which means

1 Joule = 1kg x 1m/s^2 x 1m

but can it also mean that the object accelerates at 0.5m/s^2 and travels 2m? The mass is constant, so if it is given 1J of energy how do you know the factors of the acceleration and the distance?

2. Jun 14, 2007

Office_Shredder

Staff Emeritus
Given work, you don't know how far it's traveled vs. how fast it's accelerating, correct. You need additional information to sort that out.

3. Jun 14, 2007

apope

so it's like.. you need to know the force being applied.. just like you can't know how fast a certain force can accelerate something without knowing its mass?

4. Jun 14, 2007

Office_Shredder

Staff Emeritus
Exactly. Work is calculated by the formula F*d where F is the force along the path of motion, d is the distance travelled. So if you know what F*d is, you don't know either F or d, just like knowing m*a (mass times acceleration) gives you neither m nor a