Question

A loaded Costco shopping cart has a weight of 167 pounds (lb). You have to push the cart with a force of 15 pounds (lb) to keep it moving with a constant velocity of 1.0 m/s. What must be the magnitude (absolute value) of the force of friction on the cart?

A) 182 lb
B) 152 lb
C) 15 lb
D) 167 lb

Answer 1

The magnitude of the force of friction on the cart must match the applied force to maintain constant velocity, making it 15 lb.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question relates to the concept of frictional force in Newton's laws of motion, specifically the idea that when an object moves with constant velocity, the net force acting on it is zero (Newton's first law). If you have to apply a force of 15 lb to keep the shopping cart moving at a constant velocity, this means that the frictional force opposing the motion also must be 15 lb. This is because the forces must balance each other out for the velocity to remain constant. So, the absolute value of the force of friction on the cart is 15 lb, which corresponds to option C).