Question

A person pushes a 10 kg box from rest and accelerates it to a speed of 4 m/s with a constant force. If the box is pushed for a time of 2.5 s, what is the force exerted by the person?

Answer 1

The box is accelerated from rest to 4 m/s in a matter of 2.5 s, so its acceleration a is such that

4 m/s = a (2.5 s)   →   a = (4 m/s) / (2.5 s) = 1.6 m/s²

Then the force applied to the box has a magnitude F such that

F = (10 kg) (1.6 m/s²) = 16 N