Question

What does N m represent in (the joule) 1J=N m?

Answer 1

One Joule is, by definition, equal to exactly One Newton-Meter. :D

Joules are a unit of work or energy and can be defined as:
\[Work = Force*distance\]
By analysing the units we see that:
\[Joules = Newtons * Meters\]
So there is absolutely no difference between Joules and Newton-meters, they are two names for the same thing.

Answer 2

Sorry, I misread your question. You weren't asking how many Joules is a Newton-meter, but rather what are Newton-meters. Well, my answer above still (kind of) applies. The Newton-meter arises from the conventional equation for work (i.e. Work=Force*distance). By doing some unit analysis you will see that this holds true for other equations of energy:
\[KE=\frac{ 1 }{ 2 }mv ^{2}\]
\[KE=\frac{ 1 }{ 2 }mv(\frac{ d }{ t })\]
\[KE=\frac{ 1 }{ 2 }m(\frac{ v }{ t })d\]
\[KE=\frac{ 1 }{ 2 }ma*d\]
\[KE=\frac{ 1 }{ 2 }F*d\]
And by looking at the units:
\[Joules = Newtons * Meters\]
I hope this helps. (And sorry for misreading your question...)

Answer 3

Absolutely this helps! it all helped lol thank you very much. I just have a hard time knowing what some of the acronyms mean in some of the equations.

Answer 4

Sure thing! My HS physics "formula packet" had a list of what each variable meant in each area of physics (lambda is wavenlength in harmonic motion, but half-life in nuclear physics). You could get something like that to help you remember, because there are a lot of formulas. If you do these problems enough, though, they will eventually stick. : )