Question

A constant force applied to A causes it to accelerate at 5 ms-2. The same force applied to B causes it to accelerate at 3 ms-2. What is the ratio of their masses mA :mB?

Answer 1

From Newton's second law of motion, the applied force is directly proportional to the acceleration produced or F=ma

The unit of force is newton in SI denoted by the symbol N.

Forces acting on a mass m1

with acceleration a1

and mass m2

with acceleration a2 are as given below.

m1 = a1/F =85kg.m2

=a2/F = 245 kg.

M=( 85+245)kg=(65)kg

Acceleration produced in M (when the two masses are tied together),

a=MF =655

=6 ms −2