Question

An object with a mass of 2.6 kg experiences an applied force of 6.9 N and a frictional force of 1.8 N. What is it the resulting acceleration?

Answer 1

ANSWER

$\begin{equation*} 1.96\text{ }m\/s^2 \end{equation*}$

EXPLANATION

We want to find the resulting acceleration of the object.

To do this, we apply the formula for the net force acting on the object:

$F_{net}=ma$

where Fnet = net/total force acting on the object

m = mass

a = acceleration

The net force is the sum of the applied force and the frictional force (which is negative):

$\begin{gathered} F_{net}=F+(-F_r) \\ \\ F_{net}=F-F_r \end{gathered}$

Substitute that into the equation for net force and solve for a:

$\begin{gathered} F-F_r=ma \\ \\ a=\frac{F-F_r}{m} \\ \\ a=\frac{6.9-1.8}{2.6} \\ \\ a=1.96\text{ }m\/s^2 \end{gathered}$

That is the acceleration.