Question

The net external force on a golf cart is 390 N north. If the cart has a total mass of 270 kg.what are the magnitude and direction of its acceleration?

Answer 1

The acceleration of the cart can be expressed as,

$a=\frac{F}{m}$

Plug in the known values,

$\begin{gathered} a=\frac{390\text{ N}}{270\text{ kg}}(\frac{1kgm/s^2}{1\text{ N}}) \\ \approx1.44m/s^2 \end{gathered}$

Thus, the magnitude of acceleration is 1.44 m/s^2. Since the force is applied in the north direction, therefore the direction of acceleration is in the north direction.