Question

A 500 kg cannon exerts a force of 600 N on a 10 kg cannon ball. Find (a) the acceleration of the cannon and (b) the acceleration of the cannon ball.

Answer 1

A 500 kg cannon exerts 600 N force on 10 kg cannon ball

Now here we can say that as per Newton's III law every action has equal and opposite reaction force

So here when cannon exert a force of 600 N on the ball then equal and opposite magnitude force will act on cannon itself

Part a)

Okay now we will find the acceleration of cannon using the same force

so as per Newton's formula

`F = ma`

`600 = 500 * a`

`a = 1.2 m/s^2`

Part b)

Okay now we will find the acceleration of cannon ball using the given force

so as per Newton's formula

`F = ma`

`600 = 10 * a`

`a = 60 m/s^2`