Please Explain what N is in this equation

Foundations of physics and/or philosophy of physics, and in particular, posts on unresolved or controversial issues

Please Explain what N is in this equation

Postby RArvay » Wed Jul 01, 2015 10:25 am

.
G = 6.673×10-11 N m2 kg-2

Where G is the gravitational constant.
I have searched this for on several websites and
none of them states what N is.
Is it the number of gravitating bodies ???

Thanks.
.
RArvay
 
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Re: Please Explain what N is in this equation

Postby Joy Christian » Wed Jul 01, 2015 10:42 am

RArvay wrote:.
G = 6.673×10-11 N m2 kg-2

Where G is the gravitational constant.
I have searched this for on several websites and
none of them states what N is.
Is it the number of gravitating bodies ???

Thanks.
.

N stands for Newton. It is a unit of force: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton_(unit).
Joy Christian
Research Physicist
 
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Location: Oxford, United Kingdom

Re: Please Explain what N is in this equation

Postby RArvay » Wed Jul 01, 2015 1:44 pm

Many thanks!
I find it amazing that all the sites I looked at
did not even mention what N was.
RArvay
 
Posts: 85
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 11:14 am

Re: Please Explain what N is in this equation

Postby Mikko » Sat Jul 04, 2015 12:53 am

RArvay wrote:I find it amazing that all the sites I looked at did not even mention what N was.

SI units and their symbols are considered well known so they needn't be explained. An explanation is required when a similar symbol is used for some other purpose. Usually unit symbols are written in a straight type and other symbols in italics (or sometimes slanted), but that depends on the medium.
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