Final answer:
The mass of the boat is calculated using Newton's second law, with the combined force of Moe, Larry, and Curly amounting to 255.0 N and an acceleration of 0.530 m/s^2, yielding a boat mass of 481.13 kg.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves the application of Newton's second law of motion to determine the mass of a boat being pushed. If Moe, Larry, and Curly all push to the right with 85.0-N forces, and the boat has an acceleration of 0.530 m/s2, we can calculate the mass as follows:
F = ma
Where F is the total force applied, m is the mass of the boat, and a is the acceleration. The total force (F) exerted by Moe, Larry, and Curly is the sum of all three forces:
F = 3 × 85.0 N = 255.0 N
Using the acceleration (a) provided, we can rearrange the equation to solve for the mass:
m = √(F / a)
m = √(255.0 N / 0.530 m/s2)
m = 481.13 kg
Therefore, the mass of the boat is 481.13 kg.