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

Answer:

$a2 = 2.5~m/s^2$

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:

$\displaystyle 1=\frac{m1.a1}{m2.a2}$

Solving for a2:

$\displaystyle a2=\frac{m1.a1}{m2}$

Substituting values:

$\displaystyle a2=\frac{1*10}{4}$

$a2 = 2.5~m/s^2$