Question

A 80 kg bobsled is pushed along a horizontal surface by two athletes. After the bobsled is pushed a distance of 5 meters starting from rest, its speed is 6.0 m/s. Find the magnitude of the net force on the bobsled.

How do you solve this question?

Answer 1

F = 288 [N]

Step-by-step explanation:

To solve this problem we must use the following equation of kinematics and find the value of acceleration.

`v_(f)^(2) =v_(o)^(2) +2*a*x`

where:

Vf = final velocity = 6 [m/s]

Vo = initial velocity = 0 (starting from rest)

a = acceleration [m/s²]

x = distance = 5 [m]

Now replacing, we have:

`(6)^(2)=0+(2*a*5)\\36=10*a\\a = 3.6 [m/s^(2)]`

Since we already have the value of acceleration, we can use Newton's second law, which tells us that the sum of forces on a body is equal to the product of mass by acceleration.

ΣF = m*a

`F =80*3.6\\F = 288 [N]`