What is a newton?

Short Answer

Expert verified
A Newton is the force required to accelerate a one-kilogram mass by one meter per second squared.

Step by step solution

01

Law of Motion

Recall that Newton is the unit derived from Newton's second law of motion. The second law states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration - \( F = ma \).
02

Define Newton

The Newton is therefore defined as the force required to accelerate a one-kilogram mass by one meter per second squared. This can be written mathematically as: \( 1 \,N = 1 \,kg \cdot m/s^{2}\).
03

Explanation

So, when saying that a force of '1 Newton' is applied to an object, it means that a force is being exerted that can accelerate a one-kilogram mass by one meter per second every second. In other words, after one second, the velocity of the object will have increased by one meter per second.

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