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Forces of 4.0 N and 6.5 N act on the 25 kg mass shown below. Find its acceleration.

Forces of 4.0 N and 6.5 N act on the 25 kg mass shown below. Find its acceleration-example-1

2 Answers

3 votes

Answer:

0.116 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

F (Net force)/25 = a

Net force =
4.0 x cos(30) = 3.5N

3.5 = 25 x a
3.5/25 = a
a = 0.116

User Dannyadam
by
3.7k points
5 votes

Answer:

about 0.1133 m/s 66.4° below horizontal, to the left

Step-by-step explanation:

You want the acceleration of a 25 kg mass with forces of 4.0 N and 6.5 N acting in the directions shown.

Resultant

The sum of the two forces is about 2.832 N in the direction to the left 66.4° below horizontal. The diagram of forces is the first attachment.

The acceleration is given by ...

a = F/m = (2.832 N)/(25 kg) ≈ 0.1133 m/s

The acceleration of the mass is about 0.1133 m/s to the left at an angle 66.4° below horizontal.

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Additional comment

We like a vector calculator for doing this sort of math. If you're doing this "by hand" without making use of the vector capabilities of your calculator, you can do it several ways. One way is to add the horizontal and vertical components of the forces:

  • horizontal force = 2√3 -3.25√2 ≈ -1.1321
  • vertical force = 2 -3.25√2 ≈ -2.5962

Then the acceleration is the Pythagorean sum, divided by the mass:

a = √(1.1321² +2.5962²)/25 ≈ (√8.0219)/25 ≈ 0.1133 m/s

Another way to find the resultant force is to solve the triangle of forces using the law of cosines.

r = √(6.5² +4.0² -2·6.5·4.0·cos(15°)) ≈ √8.0219 N

Either way, you need a calculator, so you may as well make full use of its capability.

Forces of 4.0 N and 6.5 N act on the 25 kg mass shown below. Find its acceleration-example-1
Forces of 4.0 N and 6.5 N act on the 25 kg mass shown below. Find its acceleration-example-2
User DerZyklop
by
4.3k points