Two construction workers are attempting to pull a slab of concrete off of the ground. Each of the workers are pulling up with a force of 225 N, while the slab of concrete applies a gravitational force of 400 N in the opposite direction, remaining stationary.
If the pulling forces applied to the slab of concrete are assigned a positive value, what is the net force of the scenario, and in which direction will the slab of concrete move?
(1 point)
Responses
-50 N; the slab will remain stationary
-50 N; the slab will remain stationary
50 N; the slab will move upward
50 N; the slab will move upward
175 N; the slab will move upward
175 N; the slab will move upward
-175 N; the slab will remain stationary
175 N; the slab will move upward
To find the net force in this scenario, we need to consider the forces acting on the slab of concrete. Both construction workers are pulling up with a force of 225 N each, and the slab applies a gravitational force of 400 N downwards. Since the forces acting in opposite directions have the same magnitude, we can subtract the gravitational force from the sum of the pulling forces to find the net force.
225 N + 225 N - 400 N = 50 N
The net force is 50 N, and since it is positive, we assign the direction as upward. Therefore, the slab of concrete will move upward.
So, the correct response is:
50 N; the slab will move upward
To find the net force acting on the slab of concrete, we need to consider the direction and magnitude of the forces involved.
The force applied by each worker is 225 N, and since there are two workers pulling in the same direction, we can add their forces together:
225 N + 225 N = 450 N
However, the gravity force exerted by the slab in the opposite direction is 400 N. Since the forces are opposite in direction, we subtract the force exerted by the concrete slab from the combined force of the workers:
450 N - 400 N = 50 N
The net force is therefore 50 N in the upward direction.
Given that the net force is positive and in the upward direction, the slab of concrete will move upward.
Therefore, the correct response is:
50 N; the slab will move upward