Final answer:
The mass of the car plus its occupants is calculated using Newton's second law of motion. After determining the net force by subtracting the force of friction from the force exerted by the wheels, it is divided by the given acceleration to find the mass, which is approximately 1027.78 kg.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the application of Newton's laws of motion and forces to determine the mass of a vehicle, given the acceleration, force exerted, and the opposing forces of friction. The calculation is based on Newton's second law, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object times its acceleration (F = ma). To find the mass of the car plus its occupants, we start with calculating the net force (Fnet) which is the difference between the force the wheels exert backward on the road and the force of friction. By applying Newton's second law (Fnet = m × a), we rearrange it to solve for mass (m = Fnet / a).
Net Force Equation: Fnet = Force exerted - Friction
= 2100 N - 250 N
= 1850 N
Now, we can determine the mass using the net force and the given acceleration.
Mass (m) = Fnet / a
= 1850 N / 1.80 m/s2
= 1027.78 kg
Therefore, the mass of the car plus its occupants is approximately 1027.78 kg.