Question

A compact car has a maximum acceleration of 4.0 m/s2 when it carries only the driver and has a total mass of 1200 kg . you may want to review ( pages 108 - 109) . part a what is its maximum acceleration after picking up four passengers and their luggage, adding an additional 400 kg of mass?

Answer 1

Answer : The maximum acceleration will be 3.0
`m/sec^(2)`.

Explanation : We can calculate the force using the formula given below;

F = m . a ;

(F - Force; m - mass and a - acceleration);

given in the problem; mass (1) - 1200 kg; acceleration (1) - 4
`m/sec^(2)`

So, on substituting we get,

F =
`m_(1) a_(1)` = 1200 X 4 = 4800 N; we get F = 4800 N

Now, when mass 400 kg is added then mass (2) will be 1600 kg and acceleration has to be found;

Here, the force remains the same; so it can be equated;

`m_(1) a_(1)` =
`m_(2) a_(2)`;

So, 1200 X 4 = (1200 + 400) x
`a_(2)`

Therefore, the answer will be
`a_(2)` = 3.0
`m/sec^(2)`