Question

A 1 kg object can be accelerated at 10 m/s^2. If you apply this same force to a 4kg object, what will its acceleration be?

Answer 1

`a2 = 2.5~m/s^2`

Step-by-step explanation:

Mechanical Force

According to the second Newton's law, the net force F exerted by an external agent on an object of mass m is:

F = m.a

Where a is the acceleration of the object.

Assume we apply some given force F to an object of m1=1 Kg that produces an acceleration
`a1=10 m/s^2`, then:

F = m1.a1

The same force F is now applied to a second object m2=4 Kg that produces an acceleration a2, then:

F = m2.a2

Dividing both equations:

`\displaystyle 1=(m1.a1)/(m2.a2)`

Solving for a2:

`\displaystyle a2=(m1.a1)/(m2)`

Substituting values:

`\displaystyle a2=(1*10)/(4)`

`a2 = 2.5~m/s^2`