Question

A force of 8,480 N is applied to a cart to decelerate it at a rate of 32.0 m/s2. What is the mass of the cart?

Answer 1

F = M a

Divide each side by 'a' : M = F / a

M = (8,480 newtons) / (32 m/s²) = 265 kg

Answer 2

The realtionship between force in Newtons, mass in kilograms and acceleration in metres per second squared is described by Newton's second law of motion which is Force = mass times acceleration, or F=ma. You need to know the mass, so rearrange the formula to solve for m, giving m=F/a
In your example, the mass is therefore 8480 divided by 32, which is equal to 265kg.