Answer to Question #5390 in Mechanics | Relativity for Rebecca

Question

4 students are pulling on the same object in 4 different directions.One student pulls with a force of 5.5N to the west, the second student oulls with a force 8.75N to the north, the third student pulls with a force of 10.15 to the south and the fourth student pulls with a force of 4.0 to the east. IF the objext has a mass of 0.kg find:
A) Fnet x
B)Fnext y
C)Fnet
D) Acceleration

Answer 1

8.75N North
& & & & & |
& & |
& & & & & |
& & & & & & |
west& ___|____ & 4.0N
5.5N & | & & & & East
& & & & & |
& & & & & |
& & & & & |
& & |
& 10.15N South


A) Fnet x
As we see from the flowchart,
Fnetx = 4.0N - 5.5N = -1.5N

B)Fnext y
Fnexty = 8.75N - 10.15N = -1.40N

C)Fnet
Fnet = sqrt(Fnetx² + Fnety²) = sqrt(1.5²+1.40²) = sqrt(4.21) ≈ 2,0518N

D) Acceleration
Let's use the second Newton's law:
Fnet = ma ==> a = Fnet/m = 2,0518N/0.
As the object has zero mass by definition, the acceleration is unlimited.