http://www.ck12.org Chapter 4. Motion and Forces
accelerate at 0.8 m/s^2?
A: It would take only 32 N of force (40 kg×0.8 m/s^2 ).
At the URL below, you can review how to calculate net force from mass and acceleration and try some practice
problems. If you want to try more challenging problems, click on the relevant links at the bottom of the Web page.
http://www2.franciscan.edu/academic/mathsci/mathscienceintegation/MathScienceIntegation-856.htm
Summary
- According to Newton’s second law of motion, the acceleration of an object equals the net force acting on it
divided by its mass, or a=Fm. - This equation for acceleration can be used to calculate the acceleration of an object when its mass and the net
force acting on it are known. - The equation for acceleration can be rewritten as F = m×a to calculate the net force acting on an object when
its mass and acceleration are known.
Vocabulary
- acceleration: Measure of the change in velocity of a moving object.
Explore More
At the following URL, solve the six problems on page 2.
http://www2.fcsconline.org/staff/ferrisa/Kinesiology/Force%20WS.pdf
Review
- What is the equation for calculating the acceleration of an object when its mass and the net force acting on it
are known? - Xander’s friend Corey has a skateboard that he rides at Newton’s Skate Park. That’s Corey doing a jump in
theFigure4.48. The combined mass of Corey and his skateboard is 60 kg. At the top of his jump, the net
force acting on him is 30 Newtons. What is his acceleration at that moment? - What net force would have to act on Cory for him to have an acceleration of 1 m/s^2?