Question

Two forces act on a moving object that has a mass of 27 kg. One has a magnitude of 12 N and points due south, while the other has a magnitude of 17 N and points due west. What is the acceleration of the object

Answer 1

0.77 m/s2 directed 35° south of west

net force = (-17,-12)

net force = mass * acceleration

(-17,-12) = 27 * (x-acceleration,y-acceleration)

(x-acceleration,y-acceleration) = (-17/27,-12/27) = (-0.629629629..., -0.444...)

angle of acceleration = tan^-1 (-0.444.../-0.629629...) = 35.21759 degrees below negative x-axis.

magnitude of acceleration = sqrt((-0.629629...)^2 + (-0.444...)^2) = 0.77069 (5dp)