Question

A force of a 19 newtons is applied on a cart of 2 kilograms and experiences of frictional force of 1.7 newtons. What is the acceleration of the cart

Answer 1

Resultant force = mass × acceleration, therefore acceleration = resultant force ÷ mass
Resultant force = 19 - 1.7 = 17.3 N
acceleration = 17.3÷2= 8.65 ms-2

Answer 2

a = 8.65 m/s²

Step-by-step explanation:

Conceptual analysis

We apply Newton's second law

∑F = m×a Formula (1)

∑F: algebraic sum of forces in Newton (N)

m: mass in kg

a: acceleration in m/s²

Known data

F = 19 N

`F_f = 1.7 N`

m = 2 kg

Problem development

We can see in the attached figure the free body diagram of the cart and we replace the data in formula (1), considering that positive forces are the ones that go in the same direction of acceleration:

19 - 1.7 = 2 × a

17.3 = 2 × a

a = 17.3 ÷ 2

a = 8.65 m/s²