Answer:
a) 57.0 kg b) 24.2 m
Explanation:
a) According Newton's second law, the applied force is equal to the product of the mass times the acceleration.
As the force is constant, the acceleration is constant too.
In this case, as we have as givens the distance and the time, and also we know that the block is starting form rest, we can get the acceleration as follows:
d = 1/2 * a * t² ⇒ a = 2d / t² ⇒ a= 2* 13.0 m / (4.5)² s² = 1.28 m/s²
Replacing in the Newton's 2nd Law equation:
F = m*a ⇒ m = F/a = 73.0 N / 1.28 m/s = 57.0 Kg
b) At t=4.5 s, applying the definition of acceleration, we can get the value of the velocity at that time, as follows:
v= a* t = 1.28 m/s * 4.5 s = 5.76 m/s
If the worker stops pushing at the end of the 4. 5 s, this means (neglecting friction) that from that time onwards, no net force acts on the block, so it continues moving at constant speed.
In order to get the distance moved in the next 4.20 sec, as it is moving at constant speed, we need just to apply the definition of velocity:
v= Δx / Δt ⇒ Δx = v* Δt = 5.76 m/s * 4.2 m = 24.2 m
So, the total distance traveled during all the time (9.1 s) is just the sum of the 13.0 m advanced during the time when there was a constant force applied, and the last 24.2 m at constant speed, as follows:
d = 13.0 + 24.2 = 37.2 m
