Question

1. Popeye is lifting Olive Oyl off the ground by pulling her upward with a force of 108.1 N. She is pretty thin so she only weighs 10 kg. What is Olive Oyl’s acceleration as a result of this force?

Answer 1

1.01 m/s²

Explanation:

From Newton's law of motion,

ma = F-W................ Equation 1

Where m = mass of Olive Oyl, a = acceleration, F = Upward force, W = weight of Olive Oyl.

Also,

W = mg .................. Equation 2

Where g = acceleration due to gravity.

Substitute equation 2 into equation 1

ma = F-mg

make a the subject of the equation

a = (F-mg)/m............. Equation 3

Given: F = 108.1 N, m = 10 kg

Constant: g = 9.8 m/s²

Substitute into equation 3

a = [108.1-(10×9.8)]/10

a = (108.1-98)/10

a = 10.1/10

a = 1.01 m/s²

Hence, Olive Oyl's acceleration = 1.01 m/s²

Answer 2

1 m/s2

Explanation:

Olive Oyl's weight = 10 × 9.81 = 98.1 N

This weight is a force acting downward because it is due to gravity.

Popeye pulls Olive Oyl up with a force of 108.1 N. Both forces act vertically but in opposite directions. Hence their resultant, R, is their difference and is in the direction of the larger force.

R = 108.1 N - 98.1 N = 10 N

This force causes an acceleration, a, on the mass, m, of Popeye.

R = ma

a = R/m = 10 N/10 kg = 1 m/s2