Question

Two horizontal forces, 230 N and 120 N, are exerted in opposite direction on a crate. What is the horizontal acceleration of the crate if the mass of the crate is 20 kg?

5.5 m/s2
20 m/s2
17.5 m/s2
72 m/s2

Answer 1

a = 5.5 [m/s²]

Step-by-step explanation:

To solve this problem we must use Newton's second law, which tells us that the force is equal to the product of mass by acceleration.

ΣF =m*a

where:

F = Force [N] (units of Newtons)

m = mass = 20 [kg]

a = acceleration [m/s²]

Let's take the force of 230 [N] as positive, in this way the other force will be negative, by pointing in the opposite direction.

`230 - 120 = 20*a\\110 = 20*a\\a=5.5 [m/s^(2) ]`