Velocity squared

[jackmac]

When I square velocity, do I square the quantity or include the numbers too?

Example:

I have a velocity of 7.34 m s^-1, and wish to square it

(7.34 m s^-1)²

Do i just multiply each of the values by itself twice?

7.34 * 7.34
m * m
s^-1 * s^-1

which equals

53.8756 m² s^-2

or is it just 53.8756 m s^-1, as it's still a velocity

^{many thanks}

 

[Deleted member 4993]

When I square velocity, do I square the quantity or include the numbers too?

Example:

I have a velocity of 7.34 m s^-1, and wish to square it

(7.34 m s^-1)²

Do i just multiply each of the values by itself twice?

7.34 * 7.34
m * m
s^-1 * s^-1

which equals

53.8756 m² s^-2 .............. Correct

or is it just 53.8756 m s^-1, as it's still a velocity (Incorrect)
^{many thanks}

.

 

[Steven G]

When I square velocity, do I square the quantity or include the numbers too?

Example:

I have a velocity of 7.34 m s^-1, and wish to square it

(7.34 m s^-1)²

Do i just multiply each of the values by itself twice?

7.34 * 7.34
m * m
s^-1 * s^-1

which equals

53.8756 m² s^-2

or is it just 53.8756 m s^-1, as it's still a velocity

^{many thanks}

53.8756 m² s-2 is correct. You treat units just like numbers, you treat numbers just like you treat units.

Just consider you driving at the constant rate of 50 miles per hour for 2 hours. The distance traveled is (50 miles/hr)*(2 hrs)=100 miles. Note that the hrs cancel out!

 

[jackmac]

thanks for the reassurance