Question

Gary, an online physics student, has a mass of 80.5 kg. His new bicycle has a mass of 13.7 kg. Gary is pedaling so that a net (unbalanced) force of 9.86 N accelerates him and his bicycle. What is the value of the acceleration?

Notice the two masses are added together because the 9.86 N force accelerates the system of masses.
m = 13.7 kg + 80.5 kg = 94.2 kg
F = 9.86 N
a = ?
F = ma
a = F/m = 9.86 N/94.2 kg
F = 0.10467 m/s2
F = 0.105 m/s2

Answer 1

Acceleration,
`a=0.105\ m/s^2`

Step-by-step explanation:

It is given that,

Mass of Gary, m = 80.5 kg

Mass of his bicycle, m' = 13.7 kg

Net unbalanced force acting on him, F = 9.86 N

Let a is the value of acceleration. Both cycle and Gary will move with same acceleration. Using the second law of motion to find it as :

`F=ma`

`F=(m+m')a`

`a=(F)/(m+m')`

`a=(9.86)/(80.5+13.7)`

`a=0.10467\ m/s^2`

or

`a=0.105\ m/s^2`

So, the value of acceleration of the Gary and bicycle is
`0.105\ m/s^2`. Hence, this is the required solution.