Assignment 10

course Phy 231

???????}??assignment #010

010. Note that there are 10 questions in this set.

Force and Acceleration

Physics I

10-03-2007

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19:17:04

`q001. If a block of mass 10 kg accelerates at 2 m/s^2, then what net force is acting on the block?

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RESPONSE -->

The net force is the mass of the object multiplied by the acceleration that 10 kg * 2m/s^2 = 20kgm/s^2 = 20N

confidence assessment: 3

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19:17:23

The net force on the block is the product F = m * a of its 10 kg mass and its 2 m/s^2 acceleration. The net force is therefore F = 10 kg * 2 m/s^2 = 20 kg * m / s^2. The unit of force, which is the product of a quantity in kg and another quantity in m/s^2, is just the algebraic product kg * m/s^2 of these two units. This unit, the kg * m / s^2, is called a Newton. So the net force is 20 Newtons.

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RESPONSE -->

self critique assessment: 3

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19:20:06

`q002. How much force must be exerted by someone pulling on it to accelerate a 10 kg object at 2 m/s^2?

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RESPONSE -->

Again, the amount of force is equal to the mass times the acceleration.

10kg * 2m/s^2 = 20kgm/s^2 = 20 N

confidence assessment: 3

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19:22:48

This depends on what forces might be resisting the acceleration of the object. If the object is accelerating on a surface of some type, then there is a good chance that a frictional force is opposing the motion. If the object is being pulled upward against the force of gravity, then more force is required then if it is sliding along a low-friction horizontal surface. If it is being pulled downhill, the force exerted by gravity has a component in the direction of motion and perhaps even less force is required. However, in every case the net force, which is the sum of all the forces acting on the object, must be 20 Newtons. The person pulling on the object must exert exactly enough force that the net force will be 20 Newtons.

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RESPONSE -->

I forgot to mention potential frictional forces that may be acting opposite the force being applied to by the person pulling the object. The net force, the sum of all forces will be 20N.

self critique assessment: 2

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19:26:11

`q003. If friction exerts a force of 10 Newtons in the direction opposite the motion of a 10 kg object, then how much force must be exerted by someone pulling on it to accelerate the 10 kg object at 2 m/s^2, with the acceleration in the same direction as the motion?

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RESPONSE -->

Since there is a 10N force acting on the system, this must be taken into account. It will take 10kg * 2m/s^2 = 20N to accelerate the object at 2m/s^2, however, to overcome the frictional force of 10N, 30N of force will be needed to accelerate the object at 2m/s^2.

confidence assessment: 3

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19:26:28

Since the 10 Newton frictional force is in the direction opposite to motion, and since the acceleration is in the same direction as the motion, the frictional force is opposed to the accelerating force. If the direction of motion is taken as positive, then the frictional force will be in the negative direction and can be denoted fFrict = - 10 Newtons.

To achieve the given acceleration the net force on the object must be

net force = 10 kg * (+2 m/s^2) = +20 kg * m/s^2 = +20 Newtons.

In order to achieve the +20 Newton net force when there is already a frictional force of -10 Newtons, it should be clear that a force of +30 Newtons is required. This can be thought of as 10 Newtons to overcome friction and another 20 Newtons to achieve the required net force.

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RESPONSE -->

self critique assessment: 3

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19:28:46

`q004. How can we write an equation to solve this problem? Hint: What equation would relate the net force Fnet, the force F exerted by the person and the force fFrict of friction?

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RESPONSE -->

Applying the calculations that were done in the last problem, Fnet = F - fFrict.

confidence assessment: 3

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19:30:39

If Fnet is the net force and F the force actually exerted by the person, then

Fnet = F + fFrict.

That is, the net force is the sum of the force exerted by the person and the frictional force.

We know that Fnet is +20 Newtons and fFrict is -10 Newtons, so we have the equation

20 Newtons = F + (-10 Newtons).

Solving for F we see that F = 20 Newtons + 10 Newtons = 30 Newtons.

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RESPONSE -->

Yes, my mistake. The sign of the frictional force is negative and should not be part of the equation. It should be a sum. My equation would have only worked in that specific case. Fnet = F + fFrict would be more general.

self critique assessment: 2

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19:34:38

`q005. If a constant net force of 12 Newtons acts on a cart of mass 6 kg, then at what rate does the velocity of the cart change?

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RESPONSE -->

It is important here to recognize the units of N what that represents.

12N = 12kg * m/s^2, so:

12kg*m/s^2/6kg = 2m/s^2

confidence assessment: 3

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19:35:00

The velocity of the cart will change at a rate a which is related to the net force and the mass by Fnet = m * a. Thus

a = Fnet / m

= 12 Newtons / (6 kg)

= 12 kg * m/s^2 / (6 kg)

= 2 m/s^2.

We note that the force unit Newtons is broken down to its fundamental units of kg * m / s^2 in order to perform the unit calculation. Dividing kg * m / s^2 by kg we have

(kg / kg) * m/s^2 = m/s^2.

It is important to always do the unit calculations. This habit avoids a large number of errors and also can be used to reinforce our understanding of the relationships in a problem or situation.

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RESPONSE -->

self critique assessment: 3

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19:39:42

`q006. If a force of 50 Newtons is exerted in the direction of the object's motion by a person, on a 20 kg object, and if friction exerts a force of 10 Newtons opposed to the direction of motion, then what will be the acceleration of the object?

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RESPONSE -->

First, the net force must be calculated. We have a positive (in the direction of motion) force of 50N and an opposing frictional force of 10N.

The net force is 50N + -10N = 40N.

Remember that 40N = 40kg*m/s^2. So:

40kg*m/s^2/20kg = 20m/s^2 will be the acceleration of the object.

confidence assessment: 3

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19:40:29

The object will accelerate at a rate determined by Newton's Second Law, Fnet = m * a. The acceleration will therefore be

a = Fnet / m.

The net force on the object will be the sum of the 50 Newton force in the direction of motion and the 10 Newton force opposed to the direction of motion. If we take the direction of motion as positive, then the net force is

Fnet = 50 N - 10 N = 40 N.

It follows that the acceleration is

a = Fnet / m

= 40 N / (20 kg)

= 40 kg m/s^2 / (20 kg)

= 2 m/s^2.

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RESPONSE -->

Wow, what a mess up. Basic math error. 40/20 = 2, not 20.

self critique assessment: 2

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19:45:43

`q007. If a force of 50 Newtons is exerted opposite to the direction of the object's motion by a person, on a 20 kg object, and if friction exerts a force of 10 Newtons opposed to the direction of motion, then what will be the acceleration of the object?

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RESPONSE -->

First, the net force must be calculated:

Fnet = -50N + -10N = -60N

Fnet = m * a

-60N = 20kg * a

-60N/20kg = -3m/s^2

confidence assessment: 3

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19:45:58

If we take the direction of motion to be positive, then since both the 50 Newton force and the 10 Newton force are opposed to the direction of motion the net force must be

net force = -50 Newtons - 10 Newtons = -60 Newtons.

The acceleration of the object will therefore be

a = Fnet / m

= -60 Newtons / (10 kg)

= -60 kg * m/s^2 / (20 kg)

= -3 m/s^2.

The fact that the acceleration is opposed to the direction of motion indicates that the object will be slowing down. The force exerted by the person, being in the direction opposite to that of the motion, is seen to be a retarding force, as is friction. So in this case the person is aided by friction in her apparent goal of stopping or at least slowing the object.

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RESPONSE -->

self critique assessment: 3

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19:55:07

`q008. If a 40 kg object is moving at 20 m/s, then how long will a take a net force of 20 Newtons directed opposite to the motion of the object to bring the object to rest?

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RESPONSE -->

The net force will be:

Fnet = m * a

-20N = 40kg * a

a = -20N/40kg = -.5m/s^2

The change in velocity will be 20m/s to 0 m/s, so the total change will be -20m/s.

a = `dv/`dt

`dt*a = `dv

`dt = `dv/a

`dt = -20m/s/-.5m/s^2 = 40s

confidence assessment: 3

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19:55:31

The force on the object is in the direction opposite its motion, so if the direction of motion is taken to be positive the force is in the negative direction. We therefore write the net force as

Fnet = -20 Newtons.

The acceleration of the object is therefore a = Fnet / m = -20 Newtons / 40 kg

= -20 kg * m/s^2 / (40 kg)

= -.5 m/s^2.

We can therefore describe uniformly accelerated motion of the object as v0 = 20 m/s, vf = 0 (the object comes to rest, which means its velocity ends up at 0), a = -.5 m/s^2. We can then reason out the time required from the -20 m/s change in velocity and the -.5 m/s^2 acceleration, obtaining `dt = 40 seconds.

We can confirm this using the equation vf = v0 + a `dt: Solving for `dt we obtain

`dt = (vf - v0) / a

= (0 m/s - 20 m/s) / (-.5 m/s^2)

= -20 m/s / (-.5 m/s^2)

= 40 m/s * s^2 / m = 40 s.

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RESPONSE -->

self critique assessment: 3

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20:05:27

`q009. If we wish to bring an object with mass 50 kg from velocity 10 m/s to velocity 40 m/s in 5 seconds, what constant net force would be required?

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RESPONSE -->

The change in velocity in this situation is:

40m/s - 10m/s = 30m/s

With the change in velocity and the change in time, acceleration can be found:

a = `dv/`dt

a = 30m/s/5s

a = 6m/s^2

With this information, the net force can be calculated:

Fnet = m * a

Fnet = 50kg * 6m/s^2

Fnet = 300N

confidence assessment: 3

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20:05:41

The net force would be Fnet = m * a. The acceleration of the object would be the rate which its velocity changes. From 10 m/s to 40 m/s the change in velocity is +30 m/s; to accomplish this in 5 seconds requires average acceleration 30 m/s / (5 s) = 6 m/s^2.

Thus the net force required is

Fnet = 50 kg * 6 m/s^2

= 300 kg m/s^2

= 300 Newtons.

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RESPONSE -->

self critique assessment: 3

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20:09:56

`q010. If a constant net force of 50 Newtons brings an object to rest in four seconds from an initial velocity of 8 meters/second, then what must be the mass of the object?

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RESPONSE -->

The change in velocity is -8m/s. This change in velocity divided by the time interval 4s is -2m/s^2. The force being applied to the object is opposite in direction that it is moving because it is slowing the object down. So that force is -50N. With an acceleration of -2m/s^2:

Fnet = m * a

Fnet/a = m

-50N/-2m/s^2 = 25kg

confidence assessment: 3

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20:10:12

We know the net force and we have the information required to calculate the acceleration. We will therefore be able to find the mass using Newton's Second Law Fnet = m * a.

We first find the acceleration. The change in velocity from 8 m/s to rest is -8 m/s, and this occurs in 4 seconds. The acceleration is therefore -8 m/s / (4 s) = -2 m/s^2.

The 50 Newton net force must be in the same direction as the acceleration, so we have Fnet = -50 Newtons.

We obtain the mass by solving Newton's Second Law for m:

m = Fnet / a

= -50 N / (-2 m/s^2)

= -50 kg m/s^2 / (-2 m/s^2)

= 25 kg.

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RESPONSE -->

self critique assessment: 3

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