Question

Naoki's bicycle has a mass of 10 kg. If Naoki sits on her bicycle and starts pedaling with a force of 176.9 N, causing an acceleration of 2.9 m/s2, what is Naoki's mass?

Answer 1

The mass of Naoki is 51 kg.

Explanation:

According to second law of motions from Newton, external unbalanced force applied on an object will be equal to the product of mass and acceleration of the object.

As Naoki is sitting on a bicycle, the combined mass will be acting on the acceleration leading to the force of 176.9 N. So, the total mass of Naoki and bicycle can be determined from the mathematical representation of Newton’s second law of motion as below:

`\text {Force}=\text {Mass} * \text {Acceleration}`

Thus,

`\text { Total Mass }=\frac{\text { Force }}{\text { Acceleration }}`

`\text { Total Mass }=(176.9)/(2.9)=61 \mathrm{kg}`

As the mass of the bicycle is given as 10 kg, so subtract the mass of the bicycle from the total mass to obtain the mass of Naoki.

Thus, mass of Naoki is

Total Mass-Mass of bicycle = Mass of Naoki

61-10 = 51 kg

So, the mass of Naoki is 51 kg.

Answer 2

Answer: 51kg

Step-by-step explanation:

Mass of the bicycle = 10 kg

Total force exerted = 176.9N

acceleration = 2.9 m/s2

Naoki's mass = ?

Total mass = mass of the bicycle + Naoki's mass

Recall : Force = mass x acceleration

Total force exerted = Total mass x acceleration

Let the Total mass be y , that is

176.9 = y x 2.9

176.9/2.9 = y

Therefore :

y = 61

Therefore , the total mass is 61kg , but the mass of the bicycle is 10kg , therefore , Naoki's mass = 61 - 10

= 51kg