a 21.2 kg mass attached to a spring scale rests on a smooth, horizontal surface. the spring scale, attached to the front end of a boxcar, reads T=35.6N when the car is in motion. If the spring scale reads zero when the car is at rest, determine the acceleration of the car, when it is in motion as indicated above
a=F/m = 35.6/21.2=1.68 m/s²
To determine the acceleration of the car, we need to apply Newton's Second Law of Motion, which states that the force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration.
The force measured by the spring scale (T) is the force being exerted on the mass attached to it (21.2 kg). Therefore, we can set up the equation as follows:
T = m * a
Where T is the force measured by the spring scale (35.6 N), m is the mass (21.2 kg), and a is the acceleration we are trying to find.
Plugging in the given values into the equation, we have:
35.6 N = 21.2 kg * a
To isolate the acceleration (a), we need to divide both sides of the equation by the mass (21.2 kg):
a = 35.6 N / 21.2 kg
Calculating this value, we get:
a ≈ 1.68 m/s²
Therefore, the acceleration of the car when it is in motion, as indicated above, is approximately 1.68 m/s².
To determine the acceleration of the car, we need to use Newton's second law of motion, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration (F = m * a).
In this case, the spring scale measures the tension (force) applied to it by the mass. When the car is at rest, the reading on the spring scale is zero, which means there is no force acting on the mass.
When the car is in motion, the reading on the spring scale is T = 35.6N, which means there is a force of 35.6N acting on the mass in the forward direction.
By equating the net force to the mass times acceleration, we can solve for the acceleration (a) of the car:
F = m * a
35.6N = 21.2kg * a
Now, we can solve for 'a'.
a = 35.6N / 21.2kg
a ≈ 1.68 m/s^2
Therefore, the acceleration of the car, when it is in motion as indicated above, is approximately 1.68 m/s^2.