Question

A ball experiences forces of 14 N [N] and 9.2 N [W]. A Free Body diagram is required. What is the acceleration of the ball if its mass is 225 g?

Answer 1

First, we can define the North as the positive y-axis, and the East as the positive x-axis.

Here we have two forces:

F₁ = 14N to north

F₂ = 9.2 N to west.

Then the free body diagram will be the one that can be seen below:

Now we want to find the acceleration that the ball experiences if the mass is 225g

Knowing that 1k = 1000g, we can rewrite the mass as:

M = 0.225g

Here we also need to remember the second Newton's law:

F = M*a

Net force equals mass times acceleration.

First, let's find the net force:

F = F₁ + F₂ = 14N*(0, 1) + 9.2N*(-1, 0 )

F = (-9.2N, 14N)

The module of the force is then:

I F I = √( (-9.2N)^2 + (14N)^2) = 16.75 N

Then the acceleration is given by

16.75 N = 0.225kg*a

(16.75 N)/(0.225 kg) = a = 74 m/s^2