A six kilogram object undergoes an acceleration of 2.0 meters per second squared. Part a. What is magnitude of the net force acting on the object? Part B. If the same force is applied to a 4 kilogram object what acceleration is produced?
Trot out the well-worn formula:
F = ma
F = 6*2 = 12
______
12 = 4a
3 = a
To answer part a, we can use Newton's second law of motion, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to the product of its mass and acceleration. The formula for calculating force is:
Force (F) = mass (m) * acceleration (a)
Given that the mass (m) of the object is 6 kilograms and the acceleration (a) is 2.0 meters per second squared, we can substitute these values into the formula:
F = 6 kg * 2.0 m/s^2
F = 12 newtons
Therefore, the magnitude of the net force acting on the object is 12 newtons.
To answer part b, we can use the same formula, Newton's second law, to find the acceleration when the force is applied to a 4 kilogram object. We can rearrange the formula to solve for acceleration:
F = m * a
Divide both sides of the equation by mass (m):
a = F / m
Given a force (F) of 12 newtons and a mass (m) of 4 kilograms, we can substitute these values into the formula:
a = 12 N / 4 kg
a = 3 meters per second squared
Therefore, when the same force is applied to a 4 kilogram object, it will produce an acceleration of 3 meters per second squared.