A student pushes a 67.2 kilogram bookshelf across a smooth floor with a net force of 52 N.
What is the approximate acceleration of the bookshelf in m/s2, to the nearest hundredth?
To calculate the acceleration of the bookshelf, we can use Newton's second law of motion:
F = ma
Where:
F = Net force applied (52 N)
m = Mass of the bookshelf (67.2 kg)
a = Acceleration
Rearranging the formula to solve for acceleration:
a = F / m
a = 52 N / 67.2 kg
a ≈ 0.77 m/s^2
Therefore, the approximate acceleration of the bookshelf is 0.77 m/s^2.