Linear mass density is measured in kilograms per meter (kg/m) in the International System of Units (SI).
Here's a breakdown:
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Definition: Linear mass density refers to the mass per unit length of a one-dimensional object. It essentially tells you how much mass is packed into each meter of the object.
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Units:
- The standard SI unit is kilograms per meter (kg/m).
- Other units, while less common, could include grams per centimeter (g/cm), pounds per foot (lb/ft), or slugs per foot (slug/ft).
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Formula: If an object of length L has a mass M, its linear mass density (λ) is calculated as:
λ = M / L
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Example: A 2-meter long rope has a mass of 1 kilogram. Its linear mass density is 0.5 kg/m (1 kg / 2 m = 0.5 kg/m). This means that, on average, each meter of the rope has a mass of 0.5 kilograms.
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Importance: Linear mass density is crucial in various physics calculations, such as determining the speed of waves on a string or analyzing the behavior of flexible objects.
In summary, the SI unit for linear mass density is kilograms per meter (kg/m), representing the mass contained within each unit of length of a one-dimensional object.
