Question

A 5 kg block is pulled across a table by a horizontal force of 40 N with a frictional force of 8 N opposing the motion. Calculate the acceleration of the object. Also, discuss, how you calculate the resultant force and which Newton law you used to solve this problem and why?

Answer 1

The acceleration of the block is 6.4 m/s² to the right, calculated by applying Newton's second law of motion, which states that acceleration is the net force divided by the mass.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the acceleration of the block, we need to determine the net force acting on it and then apply Newton's second law of motion. The net force can be found by subtracting the frictional force from the applied horizontal force:

• Net force = Applied force - Frictional force
• Net force = 40 N - 8 N = 32 N

Now we use Newton's second law of motion, which states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on the object and inversely proportional to its mass (F = ma):

• Acceleration = Net force / Mass
• Acceleration = 32 N / 5 kg
• Acceleration = 6.4 m/s²

Therefore, the acceleration of the object is 6.4 m/s² to the right.