SI Unit of Force : The SI unit of force is the newton (N), which is defined as the amount of force required to accelerate an object with a mass of one kilogram at a rate of one meter per second squared. The newton is named after Sir Isaac Newton, the famous physicist who developed the laws of motion.
The newton is a small unit of force, so larger forces are often measured in units such as the kilonewton (kN) or the meganewton (MN). The newton is used to measure the force of gravity, the force of friction, and many other types of forces. The newton is an essential unit in physics, engineering, and other fields that deal with the study of forces and their effects on matter.
Here is a table showing the SI unit of force and its definition:
| SI unit of force | Definition |
|---|---|
| Newton (N) | The force required to accelerate a mass of one kilogram at a rate of one meter per second squared |
What is the SI Unit of Force ?
The SI unit of force is the newton (N). A force is a measure of how much an object’s motion is being influenced by a push or a pull. It is defined as the amount of force required to accelerate an object with a mass of one kilogram at a rate of one meter per second squared.
The newton is named after Sir Isaac Newton, the famous physicist who developed the laws of motion. One newton is equal to the force required to accelerate a mass of one kilogram at a rate of one meter per second squared.
For example, if you push a box across a floor with a force of 10 newtons, the box will accelerate at a rate of 10 meters per second squared. Similarly, if you pull on a rope with a force of 5 newtons, the rope will accelerate at a rate of 5 meters per second squared.
The newton is a small unit of force, so larger forces are often measured in units such as the kilonewton (kN), which is equal to 1,000 newtons, or the meganewton (MN), which is equal to 1,000,000 newtons.
History
The concept of force has been studied by scientists and philosophers for centuries, and many different units of force have been used over time. The modern concept of force as we understand it today was first developed by Sir Isaac Newton, who formulated the three laws of motion in the late 17th century.
In the early 19th century, the British scientist and inventor Sir William Thomson, also known as Lord Kelvin, proposed the absolute system of units, which included the newton as the unit of force. The newton was officially adopted as the SI unit of force in 1960, when the International System of Units (SI) was established.
Before the adoption of the newton, the pound-force (lbf) was commonly used as a unit of force in the United States and other countries. The pound-force is still used in some countries today, but it is not an official SI unit. One pound-force is approximately equal to 4.45 newtons.
Exmple
Here are a few examples of how the newton can be used to measure force:
- The force of gravity: The force of gravity between two objects is directly proportional to the mass of each object and inversely proportional to the distance between them. For example, the force of gravity between the Earth and the Moon is about 1.6 newtons per kilogram (N/kg).
- The force of friction: The force of friction is the force that opposes the motion of an object moving across a surface. For example, if you try to push a box across a floor, you will feel a force of friction opposing your push. The magnitude of the force of friction depends on the properties of the surfaces in contact and the normal force (the force perpendicular to the surface).
- The force of a spring: A spring exerts a force when it is stretched or compressed. The force exerted by a spring is proportional to the displacement of the spring from its equilibrium position. For example, if you stretch a spring by one meter, it may exert a force of 10 newtons.
- The force of a car braking: The force of a car braking is the force required to bring the car to a stop. The magnitude of the force depends on the mass of the car and the deceleration (the rate at which the car slows down). For example, if a car with a mass of 1,000 kilograms is braking at a rate of 10 meters per second squared, the braking force will be 10,000 newtons.
other Units of Force
Throughout history, there have been many different units of force used in different parts of the world. Some of the most common units of force include the pound-force (lbf), the dyne, and the kilogram-force (kgf).
The pound-force (lbf) is a unit of force commonly used in the United States and other countries. It is defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of one pound at a rate of one foot per second squared. One pound-force is approximately equal to 4.45 newtons.
The dyne is a unit of force in the centimeter-gram-second (CGS) system of units. It is defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of one gram at a rate of one centimeter per second squared. One dyne is equal to 10^-5 newtons.
The kilogram-force (kgf) is a unit of force defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of one kilogram at a rate of one meter per second squared. One kilogram-force is equal to 9.80665 newtons.
Here is a table showing some common units of force and their equivalent values in newtons:
| Unit of force | Equivalent value in newtons |
|---|---|
| Pound-force (lbf) | 4.45 N |
| Dyne | 10^-5 N |
| Kilogram-force (kgf) | 9.80665 N |
| Ton-force (tonf) | 8896.44 N |
| Kilopound-force (kipf) | 4448.22 N |
It’s important to note that these units are not part of the International System of Units (SI) and should not be used in scientific or technical contexts. The newton (N) is the official SI unit of force.
The base units relevant to force
The base units relevant to force are the kilogram (kg), the meter (m), and the second (s). These units are part of the International System of Units (SI), which is the international standard for scientific and technical measurements.
The kilogram is the base unit of mass in the SI system. It is defined as the mass of a platinum-iridium cylinder kept at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in France.
The meter is the base unit of length in the SI system. It is defined as the distance traveled by light in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second.
The second is the base unit of time in the SI system. It is defined as the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the cesium 133 atom.
The newton (N), the SI unit of force, is derived from these base units. It is defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of one kilogram at a rate of one meter per second squared. The newton can be used to measure the force of gravity, the force of friction, and many other types of forces.
Here is a table showing the base units relevant to force and their definitions:
| Base unit | Definition |
|---|---|
| Kilogram (kg) | The mass of a platinum-iridium cylinder kept at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in France |
| Meter (m) | The distance traveled by light in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second |
| Second (s) | The duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the cesium 133 atom |
‘SI unit of force’ Formula with Example
The formula for calculating the force acting on an object is given by Newton’s second law of motion:
F = ma
Where:
- F is the force (in newtons)
- m is the mass (in kilograms)
- a is the acceleration (in meters per second squared)
For example, suppose you have a box with a mass of 10 kilograms, and you apply a force of 50 newtons to it. The acceleration of the box will be:
a = F/m = 50 N / 10 kg = 5 m/s^2
This means that if you apply a force of 50 newtons to the box, it will accelerate at a rate of 5 meters per second squared.
It’s important to note that the formula is only valid when the mass of the object is constant. If the mass of the object changes (for example, if the object is burning fuel), the formula may not be accurate. In these cases, more complex models may be needed to accurately predict the motion of the object.
FAQs (Question & Answer) Related to ‘SI Unit of Force’
Here are a few frequently asked questions about the SI unit of force:
The SI unit of force is the newton (N). It is defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of one kilogram at a rate of one meter per second squared.
The newton is a relatively small unit of force, so larger forces are often measured in units such as the kilonewton (kN) or the meganewton (MN). One kilonewton is equal to 1,000 newtons, and one meganewton is equal to 1,000,000 newtons.
The formula for calculating the force acting on an object is given by Newton’s second law of motion: F = ma, where F is the force, m is the mass, and a is the acceleration.
The newton is used to measure a wide variety of forces in everyday life. For example, the force of gravity that keeps you on the ground is about 9.8 newtons per kilogram (N/kg). The force of friction that allows you to walk and drive is also measured in newtons. Engineers and scientists use the newton to design and build structures, machines, and other systems that are subjected to various forces.
Yes, there are many other units of force that are not part of the International System of Units (SI). Some examples include the pound-force (lbf), the dyne, and the kilogram-force (kgf). These units should not be used in scientific or technical contexts, and they should be converted to newtons when necessary.
True / False Question for ‘Force SI Unit’
Here are some true-false statements about the SI unit of force:
- The SI unit of force is the newton.
- TRUE
- The newton is defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of one pound at a rate of one foot per second squared.
- FALSE (The pound-force (lbf) is defined this way, but it is not an SI unit. The newton is defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of one kilogram at a rate of one meter per second squared.)
- The newton is named after Sir Isaac Newton, the famous physicist who developed the laws of motion.
- TRUE
- The newton is a small unit of force, so larger forces are often measured in units such as the kilogram-force (kgf).
- FALSE (The kilogram-force (kgf) is not an SI unit. Larger forces are often measured in units such as the kilonewton (kN) or the meganewton (MN).)
- The force of friction is measured in newtons.
- TRUE
- The newton is the only unit of force used in the SI system.
- FALSE (There are other units of force that are not part of the SI system, such as the pound-force (lbf) and the dyne.)
- SI Unit of Force is kgm/s2.
- FALSE (The SI unit of force is the newton (N), which is defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of one kilogram at a rate of one meter per second squared. The formula for calculating force is given by Newton’s second law of motion: F = ma, where F is the force, m is the mass, and a is the acceleration. The unit “kgm/s^2” is not a unit of force. It is a unit of energy, specifically work or kinetic energy.)