A 6840 N wrecking ball hangs from the end of a steel cable.
What is the net force acting on the wrecking ball if the cable snaps? equation please and explain
If the cable snaps, the net force acting on the wrecking ball will be equal to its weight, which is given as 6840 N. The equation that represents this situation is:
Net force (F_net) = Weight (W)
F_net = W
F_net = 6840 N
In this case, since the cable has snapped, there are no other forces counteracting the weight of the wrecking ball. Therefore, the net force is simply equal to the weight of the wrecking ball.
To determine the net force acting on the wrecking ball if the cable snaps, we need to consider the forces acting on the ball.
When the cable snaps, the only force acting on the ball will be gravity. According to Newton's second law of motion, the net force can be calculated by multiplying the mass of the object (in this case, the wrecking ball) by its acceleration.
The equation for force is given by:
F = m * a
Where:
- F is the force
- m is the mass of the object
- a is the acceleration
In this case, we need to find the force acting on the ball when the cable snaps. The force acting on the ball is its weight, which is equal to the gravitational force acting on it.
The gravitational force is given by:
Fg = m * g
Where:
- Fg is the gravitational force
- m is the mass of the object
- g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s^2 on Earth)
In this case, we're given the weight of the wrecking ball, which is the force of gravity acting on it. The weight (W) is related to the mass (m) through the equation:
W = m * g
Rearranging the equation, we can solve for the mass:
m = W / g
Now, we can substitute the value of the weight (W) of the wrecking ball into the equation and calculate its mass (m).
Given:
- Weight (W) = 6840 N
Calculating the mass (m):
m = W / g
m = 6840 N / 9.8 m/s^2
Now, we have the mass of the wrecking ball. Substituting this value into the equation for force:
F = m * a
When the cable snaps, the acceleration (a) of the wrecking ball will be equal to the acceleration due to gravity (g). Thus, the equation becomes:
F = m * g
Substituting the values of mass (m) and acceleration due to gravity (g):
F = (6840 N / 9.8 m/s^2) * 9.8 m/s^2
Simplifying the equation:
F = 6840 N
Therefore, the net force acting on the wrecking ball when the cable snaps will be 6840 N.