Question

A Ford Mustang weighs about 3500 pounds, and can accelerate from 0-60 MPH in about 5 seconds. What force is responsible for this acceleration? What is its approximate magnitude?

Answer 1

We will apply the concepts related to Newton's second law. At the same time we will convert everything to the system of international units.

$m = 3500lb = 1587.57kg$

The values of the velocities are,

$\text{Initial Velocity} = V_i = 0$

$\text{Final Velocity} = V_f = 60mph = 26.822m/s$

We know that the acceleration is equivalent to the change of the speed in a certain time therefore

$a = \frac{v_f-v_i}{t}$

$a = \frac{26.822-0}{5}$

$a = 5.36m/s^2$

Now applying the Newton's second law we have,

$F= ma$

$F = (1587.57)(5.36)$

$F = 8516.36N$

Therefore the approximate magnitude is 8516.36N