Question

When you lift a bowling ball with a force of 61.1 N, the ball accelerates upward with an acceleration a. If you lift with a force of 70.9 N, the ball's acceleration is 2.07a. Calculate the weight of the bowling ball.

Answer 1

the weight of the ball is w = 51.94 N ( mass = 5.3 kg)

Step-by-step explanation:

Following Newton's second law:

net force = mass * acceleration = weight/gravity * acceleration

then denoting 1 and 2 as the first and second lift

F₁ - w= w/g *a₁

F₂ -w = w/g *a₂ = w/g * 2.07a

dividing both equations

(F₂- w)/(F₁ -w)= 2.07

(F₂- w) = 2.07 * (F₁ -w)

1.07*w = 2.07*F₁ - F₂

w = (2.07*F₁ - F₂ )/ 1.07

replacing values

w = (2.07*61.1 N - 70.9 N )/ 1.07 = 51.94 N

then the weight of the ball is w = 51.94 N ( mass = 5.3 kg)