What is the meaning of negative exponents in SI units?












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Please could someone explain the reason for using negative superscripts in SI units, and more precisely when to use negative versus positive?



I do not understand, for example, why the volume of a fuel would be given in m3 but heat of combustion would be given in J m-3.










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    1












    $begingroup$


    Please could someone explain the reason for using negative superscripts in SI units, and more precisely when to use negative versus positive?



    I do not understand, for example, why the volume of a fuel would be given in m3 but heat of combustion would be given in J m-3.










    share|improve this question









    $endgroup$















      1












      1








      1





      $begingroup$


      Please could someone explain the reason for using negative superscripts in SI units, and more precisely when to use negative versus positive?



      I do not understand, for example, why the volume of a fuel would be given in m3 but heat of combustion would be given in J m-3.










      share|improve this question









      $endgroup$




      Please could someone explain the reason for using negative superscripts in SI units, and more precisely when to use negative versus positive?



      I do not understand, for example, why the volume of a fuel would be given in m3 but heat of combustion would be given in J m-3.







      mechanical-engineering






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      asked Dec 28 '18 at 11:58









      tsvallendertsvallender

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          $begingroup$

          Negative exponents means per. In countries that were heavily influenced by the British, units such as meters per second would most likely be written $m/s$. In Europe and elsewhere it could be written with negative exponents as $m.s^{-1}$.



          In your example $J m^{-3}$ means joules per cubic meter.






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            $begingroup$

            Negative exponents means per. In countries that were heavily influenced by the British, units such as meters per second would most likely be written $m/s$. In Europe and elsewhere it could be written with negative exponents as $m.s^{-1}$.



            In your example $J m^{-3}$ means joules per cubic meter.






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$


















              5












              $begingroup$

              Negative exponents means per. In countries that were heavily influenced by the British, units such as meters per second would most likely be written $m/s$. In Europe and elsewhere it could be written with negative exponents as $m.s^{-1}$.



              In your example $J m^{-3}$ means joules per cubic meter.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$
















                5












                5








                5





                $begingroup$

                Negative exponents means per. In countries that were heavily influenced by the British, units such as meters per second would most likely be written $m/s$. In Europe and elsewhere it could be written with negative exponents as $m.s^{-1}$.



                In your example $J m^{-3}$ means joules per cubic meter.






                share|improve this answer









                $endgroup$



                Negative exponents means per. In countries that were heavily influenced by the British, units such as meters per second would most likely be written $m/s$. In Europe and elsewhere it could be written with negative exponents as $m.s^{-1}$.



                In your example $J m^{-3}$ means joules per cubic meter.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered Dec 28 '18 at 12:25









                FredFred

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