Question

Suppose you are holding a basketball while standing still on a skateboard. You and the skateboard have a mass of 50kg. You throw the basketball with a force of 10N. What is your acceleration before and after you throw the ball?

Answer 1

Your acceleration before you throw the ball is zero. After the throw, you use the equation

F = m * a

To solve for acceleration

a = F/m

a = (10 N) / (50 kg)

a = 0.2 m/s^2

Answer 2

Acceleration after throwing is 0.2m/s²

Acceleration before throwing is 0 m/s² since the force is zero

Step-by-step explanation:

By Newtons third law we have force applied by ball on person = 10 N

Mass of person plus skateboard = 50 kg

We also know the equation

Force, F = mass x acceleration

F = ma

Here F = 10 N

m = 50 kg

Substituting,

10 = 50 x a

`a=(10)/(50)=(1)/(5)=0.2m/s^2`

Acceleration after throwing is 0.2m/s²

Acceleration before throwing is 0 m/s² since the force is zero