Question

An object with a mass of `4 kg` is acted on by two forces. The first is `F_1= < 6 N , -2 N>` and the second is `F_2 = < -5 N, 3 N>`. What is the object's rate and direction of acceleration?

Answer 1

`0.354` `m/s^2` at an angle of `45^o` to `x`-axis

Explanation:

As `F_1=<6N,-2N>` and `F_2=<-5N,3N>`,

net force is `F_1+F_2=<6N-5N,-2N+3N>`

or `< 1N.1N >`

as the two components of net force are equal,

its direction will be `45^o` to `x`-axis and

quantum is `sqrt(1^2+1^2)=sqrt2N`

and acceleration is `sqrt2/4` `m/s^2` or `1.4142/4` `m/s^2`

i.e. `0.354` `m/s^2`