Question

An object accelerates 6.0 m/s2 when a force of 3.0 newtons is applied to it. What is the mass of the object?

Answer 1

Answer:

$\boxed {\boxed {\sf \frac{1}{2} \ or \ 0.5 \ kg}}}$

Explanation:

Force is the product of mass and acceleration.

$F=ma$

We know the force is 3.0 Newtons and the acceleration is 6.0 meters per square second.

Let's convert the Newtons to make the problem easier later.

• 1 Newton is equal to 1 kilogram meter per square second.
• The force of 3.0 N is equal to 3.0 kg*m/s²

$F= 3.0 \ kg*m/s^2 \\a= 6.0 \ m/s^2$

$3.0 \ kg *m/s^2= m (6.0 \ m/s^2)$

Since we are solving for mass, we must isolate the variable. It is being multiplied and the inverse is division. Divide both sides by 6.0 meters per square second.

$\frac {3.0 \ kg *m/s^2}{6.0 \ m/s^2}= \frac{m (6.0 \ m/s^2)}{6.0 \ m/s^2}$

$\frac {3.0 \ kg *m/s^2}{6.0 \ m/s^2}=m$

The meters per square second cancel, hence our earlier unit conversion.$\frac{1 }{2} \ kg =m$

The mass of the object is 1/2 or 0.5 kilograms