Question

Consider this situation: A father uses a rope to pull a child on a sled at a constant speed. Of the forces listed, identify which act upon the sled.

Answer 1

The forces that act upon the sled in this situation are:

1. Gravity: Gravity is a force that pulls objects towards the center of the Earth. It acts vertically downwards and affects all objects, including the sled. Gravity keeps the sled on the ground and determines its weight.

2. Friction: Friction is a force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact. In this case, there will be friction between the sled and the ground. Friction helps the sled move forward and prevents it from sliding uncontrollably.

3. Tension: Tension is a pulling force that occurs when an object is being stretched or pulled. In this situation, the tension force is exerted by the rope that the father uses to pull the sled. The tension force acts in the direction of the rope, pulling the sled forward.

These are the main forces acting upon the sled in this situation. It's important to note that the other forces listed (Normal, Applied, and Air Resistance) do not directly act upon the sled in this particular scenario. The normal force is the force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object, but it is balanced by the force of gravity. The applied force is the force exerted on an object by another object, but in this case, it is the father exerting the force on the rope, not directly on the sled. Air resistance is a force that opposes the motion of an object through air, but it is usually negligible in this context unless the sled is moving at high speeds.

Answer 2

Normal

Friction

Gravity

Air resistance

Explanation:

• Normal force: The normal force is the upward force exerted by the ground on the sled. It is equal to the weight of the sled and its rider, minus any other downward forces acting on the sled, such as the force of the rope pulling the sled forward.
• Gravity: Gravity is the downward force exerted by the Earth on the sled and its rider.
• Friction: Friction is the force that opposes the motion of the sled as it slides across the ground.
• Air resistance: Air resistance is the force that opposes the motion of the sled as it moves through the air.
• The applied force, which is the force of the rope pulling the sled forward, is not acting on the sled. The applied force is acting on the rope, not the sled.
• The tension force is not acting on the sled, but rather on the father. The tension force is the force that the father is applying to the sled through the rope. It acts in the direction of motion of the sled.

The correct answer is:

Normal, gravity, friction, and air resistance.