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A rocket sled accelerates at a rate of 49.0 m/s². Its passenger has a mass of 75.0 kg. (a) Calculate the horizontal component of the force the seat exerts against his body. Compare this with his weight using a ratio. (b) Calculate the direction and magnitude of the total force the seat exerts against his body.

a) What is the horizontal component of the force exerted by the seat against the passenger's body?
a) 3675 N
b) 3675 N in the opposite direction
c) 3675 N in the same direction
d) 375 N

b) What is the direction and magnitude of the total force exerted by the seat against the passenger?
a) 3675 N downward
b) 3675 N upward
c) 3675 N in the direction of motion
d) 375 N downward

User Mpaton
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The horizontal component of the force exerted by the seat against the passenger's body is 3675 N, which is 5 times larger than the passenger's weight. The total force exerted by the seat against the passenger's body is 3675 N in the opposite direction.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the horizontal component of the force the seat exerts against the passenger's body, we need to use Newton's second law of motion which states that force (F) is equal to mass (m) times acceleration (a). The mass of the passenger is given as 75.0 kg and the acceleration is 49.0 m/s². So, F = m*a = 75.0 kg * 49.0 m/s² = 3675 N.

To compare this with the passenger's weight, we can use the ratio of the horizontal force to the weight force. The weight force is equal to the mass (m) times the gravitational acceleration (g). The gravitational acceleration on Earth is approximately 9.8 m/s². So, weight = m*g = 75.0 kg * 9.8 m/s² = 735 N.

The ratio of the horizontal force to the weight force is given by F(weight) / F(horizontal) = 3675 N / 735 N = 5. Therefore, the horizontal component of the force exerted by the seat against the passenger's body is 3675 N and it is 5 times larger than the passenger's weight.

The direction of the total force exerted by the seat against the passenger's body is opposite to the direction of the acceleration, which is horizontal. So, the total force is 3675 N in the opposite direction.

User Houssein Zouari
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