Question

If the only forces acting on a 2.0-kg mass are 8N and 4N, what is the magnitude of the acceleration of the particle?

A) 2.0m/s 2
B) 3.0m/s 2
C) 4.0m/s2
D) 6.0m/s 2

Answer 1

The magnitude of the acceleration of a 2.0-kg mass acted upon by forces of 8N and 4N is 6.0 m/s^2, according to Newton's second law of motion.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the only forces acting on a 2.0-kg mass are 8N and 4N, we can find the magnitude of the acceleration by using Newton's second law of motion, which states that the acceleration of an object is equal to the net force acting on it divided by its mass (a = F/m).

To solve for acceleration, first we must determine if these forces are acting in the same or opposite directions. If they're in the same direction, we would add them to find the net force. If they are opposite, we would subtract the smaller force from the larger to find the net force. Assuming these forces are in the same direction (the problem does not specify otherwise), the net force acting on the mass is 8N + 4N = 12N.

Now, using the formula:

a = F/m

We get:

a = 12N / 2.0kg = 6.0 m/s2

Therefore, the magnitude of the acceleration of the particle is 6.0 m/s2.

Answer 2

To find the magnitude of the acceleration of the particle, we can use Newton's second law of motion, which states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.

The net force acting on the particle is the vector sum of the forces acting on it. In this case, the forces are given as 8N and 4N.

Net force = 8N + 4N = 12N

Using Newton's second law, we can calculate the acceleration:

acceleration = net force / mass

acceleration = 12N / 2.0kg

acceleration = 6.0 m/s^2

Therefore, the magnitude of the acceleration of the particle is 6.0 m/s^2.

The correct answer is D) 6.0 m/s^2.