Final answer:
The force of friction acting on the bow is 11.05 N, calculated using Newton's second law by finding the net force with the given mass and acceleration, and subtracting it from the applied force.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the force of friction acting on the bow, we use Newton's second law of motion, which states that the force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma). We know the mass (m) is 5.5 kg and the acceleration (a) is 4.9 m/s2. First, calculate the net force (Fnet) that produces this acceleration:
Fnet = m × a = 5.5 kg × 4.9 m/s2 = 26.95 N
Since the net force is the difference between the applied force and the force of friction, we can write:
Fapplied - Ffriction = Fnet
Substitute the given applied force (38 N) and solve for the friction force:
Ffriction = Fapplied - Fnet
= 38 N - 26.95 N
= 11.05 N
Therefore, the force of friction acting on the bow is 11.05 N.