Question

A 10 kg block is pushed with a constant horizontal force of 20 n against a constant horizontal frictional force of 10 n. What is the acceleration of the block?

Answer 1

Answer:

The acceleration would be a=1 m/s^2. Let's explain why.

Explanation:

Let's say the block is □

20N→□    Block is pushed with a constant horizontal force of 20N

□←10N     It is known that frictional force is the opposite way of the movement

So it is safe to say that there is 10 N force trying to stop the block.

In this case our net force is $F_{net} = 20-10=10N$

According to Newton's second motion law

$F=m.a$ (m=mass, F=force, a=acceleration

$F_{net} =10=10.a$ → $a=1\frac{m^{2} }{s}$

As an extra information the block also applies gravitational m.g force down but since there is no other force applies in the vertical way, ground compansate the force.