Question

An overnight rainstorm has caused a major roadblock. Three massive rocks of mass m1=514 kg,m1=514 kg, m2=792 kg,m2=792 kg, and m3=322 kgm3=322 kg have blocked a busy road. The rocks are lined up from left to right in the order m1,m1, m2,m2, and m3.m3. The city calls a local contractor to use a bulldozer to clear the road. The bulldozer applies a constant force to m1m1 in order to slide the rocks off the road. Assuming the road is a flat, frictionless surface and the rocks are all in contact, what force, FA,FA, must be applied to m1m1 to slowly accelerate the group of rocks from the road at 0.250 m/s2?

Answer 1

278.5 N

Step-by-step explanation:

First, let us find the total mass to be moved. We add up all the given masses together.

The total mass to be moved, M

M = 514 + 792 + 322 = 1628 kg.

Next, we find the force that is applied to the blocks. Remember that F = ma, so

Force applied to all the blocks, F =

F = 1628 * 0.25 = 407 N

Now we find the force that was applied to only the first rock

F = 514 * 0.25 = 128.5 N

From this, we can get the remaining force that was applied to the last two rocks, by subtracting them from each other

F' = 407 - 128.5 = 278.5 N