Question

A 3.00 kg cart on a frictionless track is pulled by a string so that it accelerates at 2.00 m/s/s. what is the tension in the string

Answer 1

Maybe the picture helps. The blue block represents the cart with a mass of 3 kg. The person(black block) is pulling the cart to the right with a force F so that the acceleration a is 2 m/s². According to Newton's 2nd law: F = m*a.

Answer 2

Answer: The tension in the string is 6 N

Explanation:

Tension is defined as the pulling force that is applied on a string, chain etc.. Force is also defined as the mass multiplied by the acceleration of the object.

Mathematically,

$F=ma$

where,

F = tension or force exerted in the string

m = mass of the cart pulling the string = 3.00 kg

a = acceleration of the string = $2.00m/s^2$

Putting values in above equation, we get:

$F=3.00kg\times 2.00m/s^2\\\\F=6N$

Hence, the tension in the string is 6 N