# Question 1125a

Feb 9, 2017

$0.5 \textcolor{w h i t e}{x} m {s}^{- 2}$

#### Explanation:

$\text{Newton's second law can be written as: } F = m a$

$\text{where "F="the force applied}$

$m = \text{The mass of the object}$

$a = \text{ the acceleration produced.}$

so we have

$F = 5 N , m = 10 k g$

$F = m a \implies 5 = 10 a$

$\therefore a = \frac{5}{10} = = 0.5 \textcolor{w h i t e}{x} m {s}^{- 2}$

Feb 9, 2017

${\text{0.5 m s}}^{- 2}$

#### Explanation:

You have the right equation down

$\textcolor{b l u e}{\underline{\textcolor{b l a c k}{F = m \cdot a}}}$

Here

• $F$ is the force that acts on the object
• $m$ is the mass of the object
• $a$ is the acceleration of the object

What this equation tells you is that a net force $F$ that acts on an object of mass $m$ causes the object to have an acceleration of $a$.

In other words, the only way an object can have an acceleration is if an unbalanced force acts on it.

If all the forces that act on an object cancel out or if no force acts on the object, then the object's acceleration will be equal to ${\text{0 m s}}^{- 2}$, which means that it is either at rest, i.e. not moving at all, or it is moving with constant velocity.

In your case, the unbalanced force is equal to $\text{5 N}$ and the mass of the object is equal to $\text{10 kg}$. To find the value of $a$, rearrange this equation

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

Now, you need to be aware of the fact that

$\textcolor{b l u e}{\underline{\textcolor{b l a c k}{{\text{1 N" = 1color(white)(.)"kg m s}}^{- 2}}}}$

This means that your force is equal to

${\text{5 N" = 5color(white)(.)"kg m s}}^{- 2}$

a = (5 color(red)(cancel(color(black)("kg"))) "m s"^(-2))/(10color(red)(cancel(color(black)("kg")))) = color(darkgreen)(ul(color(black)("0.5 m s"^(-2))))#
This means that for every passing second that you act with a force of $\text{5 N}$ on an object that has a mass of $\text{10 kg}$, you will increase its velocity by ${\text{0.5 m s}}^{- 1}$.