Question

How fast will an object with a mass of `16 kg` accelerate if a force of `4 N` is constantly applied to it?

Answer 1

`a=0.25m/s^2`

Explanation:

We can use the equation:

Force `=` mass `*` acceleration

Or:

`F=ma`

Here, `F=4N`
Here, `m=16kg`

Thus, we can input the values:

`4=16a`

Solve for `a`:

`16a=4`

`(16a)/16=4/16`

`a=4/16`

`a=0.25m/s^2`

Thus, solved.

Answer 2

I get `0.25 \ "m/s"^2`.

Explanation:

We use Newton's second law of motion, which states that

`F=ma`

where `m` is the mass of the object in kilograms, `a` is the acceleration in `"m/s"^2`.

We need to solve for acceleration, so we arrange the equation into:

`a=F/m`

Plugging in the values, we get

`a=(4 \ "N")/(16 \ "kg")`

Recall that `1 \ "N"=1 \ "kg"*"m/s"^2`. So, we got

`a=(4color(red)cancelcolor(black)"kg"*"m/s"^2)/(16color(red)cancelcolor(black)"kg")`

`=0.25 \ "m/s"^2`

So, the object will accelerate at `0.25 \ "m/s"^2`.