Newton's Second Law
Help Questions
AP Physics 1 › Newton's Second Law
In the lab frame, a $2.0,\text{kg}$ cart on a level track is pulled right by a string with tension $8,\text{N}$. Kinetic friction on the cart is $3,\text{N}$ left. The cart accelerates right. If the same forces act on a $4.0,\text{kg}$ cart, what is the new acceleration?
$0.80,\text{m/s}^2$ right
$1.25,\text{m/s}^2$ right
$2.5,\text{m/s}^2$ right
$4.0,\text{m/s}^2$ right
Explanation
This question assesses understanding of Newton's second law, which states that the net force on an object equals its mass times its acceleration (F_net = ma). The relationship F_net = ma implies that for a constant net force, acceleration is inversely proportional to mass, meaning doubling the mass halves the acceleration. In the original scenario, the net force is 8 N right minus 3 N left, resulting in 5 N right, so the 2.0 kg cart accelerates at 5/2 = 2.5 m/s² right. For the 4.0 kg cart with the same forces, the net force remains 5 N right, leading to an acceleration of 5/4 = 1.25 m/s² right as the increased mass resists change in motion more. A common distractor is 2.5 m/s² right, which might occur if one incorrectly assumes acceleration is independent of mass when forces are constant. A transferable strategy is to always calculate the net force as the vector sum of all individual forces before dividing by mass to find acceleration.
In the ground frame, a cart is pushed right by $15,\text{N}$ while friction is $9,\text{N}$ left, producing a rightward acceleration of $1.5,\text{m/s}^2$. What is the cart’s mass?
$6.0,\text{kg}$
$4.0,\text{kg}$
$10,\text{kg}$
$2.0,\text{kg}$
Explanation
This question examines Newton's second law, F_net = ma, to determine mass from forces and acceleration. F_net = ma allows solving for m = F_net / a when net force and acceleration are known. Net force is 15 N right minus 9 N left = 6 N right. Given a = 1.5 m/s² right, mass m = 6 / 1.5 = 4.0 kg. The distractor 6.0 kg might arise from using gross force (15/1.5=10) minus something incorrectly. A transferable strategy is to compute F_net first, then use m = F_net / a for unknown mass.
In an inertial frame, a hockey puck of mass $0.20,\text{kg}$ experiences a constant net force of $0.60,\text{N}$ to the north and accelerates north. What net force would be required for the same puck to accelerate north at twice the rate?
$0.30,\text{N}$ north
$1.2,\text{N}$ north
$2.4,\text{N}$ north
$0.60,\text{N}$ north
Explanation
This question evaluates Newton's second law, F_net = ma, to find required force for desired acceleration. The law F_net = ma shows force proportional to acceleration for constant mass, so doubling acceleration requires doubling net force. Originally, a = 0.60 N / 0.20 kg = 3 m/s² north. For twice the rate (6 m/s²), needed F_net = 0.20 kg * 6 m/s² = 1.2 N north. The distractor 0.60 N north might come from thinking force unchanged for same direction. A transferable strategy is to rearrange F_net = m * desired a when scaling acceleration.
In an inertial frame, a cart of mass $m$ experiences a constant net horizontal force $F_\text{net}$ to the left and accelerates left at $2,\text{m/s}^2$. If the cart’s mass is tripled while $F_\text{net}$ remains the same, what is the new acceleration?
$\tfrac{2}{3},\text{m/s}^2$ left
$\tfrac{1}{3},\text{m/s}^2$ left
$6,\text{m/s}^2$ left
$2,\text{m/s}^2$ left
Explanation
This question examines Newton's second law, F_net = ma, focusing on how acceleration varies with mass under constant net force. The law F_net = ma shows acceleration inversely proportional to mass, so tripling mass reduces acceleration to one-third if F_net is unchanged. Originally, F_net = m * 2 m/s² left. With mass 3m, new acceleration is F_net / 3m = (m*2)/(3m) = 2/3 m/s² left, illustrating increased inertia. The distractor 2 m/s² left might come from assuming acceleration remains constant regardless of mass. A transferable strategy is to solve for unknown quantities by rearranging F_net = ma after identifying constants.
In the ground frame, a $5.0,\text{kg}$ object is acted on by $\vec F_1=12,\text{N}$ east and $\vec F_2=5,\text{N}$ west, and it accelerates east. What is the magnitude of its acceleration?
$0.58,\text{m/s}^2$
$1.4,\text{m/s}^2$
$3.4,\text{m/s}^2$
$2.4,\text{m/s}^2$
Explanation
This question probes Newton's second law, F_net = ma, with opposing forces in one dimension. F_net = ma involves calculating the vector sum of forces to find net force, which divided by mass gives acceleration. Here, net force is 12 N east minus 5 N west = 7 N east for the 5.0 kg object. Acceleration magnitude is 7/5 = 1.4 m/s² east, linking the law to the object's eastward motion. The distractor 2.4 m/s² might result from adding forces without considering directions (12+5)/5. A transferable strategy is to assign positive/negative signs based on direction, sum for F_net, then compute a = F_net / m.
A $1.5,\text{kg}$ cart in the lab frame has a fan pushing it right with $6,\text{N}$ while friction is $3,\text{N}$ left; vertical forces cancel. The cart accelerates right. What is the cart’s acceleration?
$6,\text{m/s}^2$ right
$4,\text{m/s}^2$ right
$2,\text{m/s}^2$ right
$3,\text{m/s}^2$ right
Explanation
This problem tests Newton's second law application with a fan-powered cart. The cart experiences 6 N right from the fan and 3 N left from friction, giving net force F_net = 6 N - 3 N = 3 N right. Applying F_net = ma: 3 N = (1.5 kg)(a), solving gives a = 2.0 m/s² right. Choice C (3 m/s²) incorrectly uses just the net force value without considering the mass. Remember that Newton's second law relates three quantities: net force, mass, and acceleration through F = ma.
In the ground frame, a $3.0,\text{kg}$ crate is pulled right by a rope with $18,\text{N}$. Kinetic friction is $6,\text{N}$ left; vertical forces cancel. The crate accelerates right. What is the net force on the crate?
$24,\text{N}$ right
$12,\text{N}$ right
$18,\text{N}$ right
$6,\text{N}$ left
Explanation
This problem requires applying Newton's second law to find net force. The crate experiences an 18 N pull to the right and 6 N friction to the left. The net force is the vector sum: 18 N - 6 N = 12 N to the right. Since vertical forces cancel, this horizontal net force is the total net force on the crate. Choice A (24 N) incorrectly adds the forces instead of subtracting, while choice C gives the friction force with wrong direction. When finding net force, remember to subtract opposing forces and add forces in the same direction.
A $8.0,\text{kg}$ crate in the lab frame is pushed right with $28,\text{N}$. Kinetic friction is $12,\text{N}$ left; weight and normal cancel. The crate accelerates right. What is the net force magnitude on the crate?
$12,\text{N}$
$40,\text{N}$
$28,\text{N}$
$16,\text{N}$
Explanation
This problem tests finding net force magnitude using Newton's second law. The crate experiences 28 N right and 12 N friction left, giving net force F_net = 28 N - 12 N = 16 N right. The magnitude of this net force is 16 N. Choice A (40 N) incorrectly adds the forces instead of finding their vector sum, while choice B just gives the applied force. When finding net force, remember to subtract opposing forces, not add them.
In an inertial frame, a $3.0,\text{kg}$ cart is pulled right with $9,\text{N}$ while a resistive force of $3,\text{N}$ acts left, so it accelerates right. If the resistive force increases to $6,\text{N}$ while the pull stays $9,\text{N}$, what is the new acceleration?
$1.0,\text{m/s}^2$ left
$3.0,\text{m/s}^2$ right
$1.0,\text{m/s}^2$ right
$2.0,\text{m/s}^2$ right
Explanation
This question assesses Newton's second law, F_net = ma, when one force changes while others remain constant. The relationship F_net = ma means acceleration changes proportionally with net force if mass is fixed. Originally, net force is 9 N right minus 3 N left = 6 N right, so a = 6/3 = 2 m/s² right for 3.0 kg. With resistive force now 6 N left, new net is 9-6 = 3 N right, giving a = 3/3 = 1.0 m/s² right. The distractor 3.0 m/s² right might occur if one subtracts incorrectly or ignores the change. A transferable strategy is to recalculate F_net whenever forces change, then find new a with a = F_net / m.
In the ground frame, a $2.5,\text{kg}$ block on a table is pulled right by $9,\text{N}$. Kinetic friction is $4,\text{N}$ left; weight and normal cancel. The block accelerates right. What is the block’s acceleration?
$5.0,\text{m/s}^2$ right
$3.6,\text{m/s}^2$ right
$2.0,\text{m/s}^2$ right
$1.0,\text{m/s}^2$ right
Explanation
This problem applies Newton's second law to find acceleration from forces. The block experiences 9 N right and 4 N friction left, so net force F_net = 9 N - 4 N = 5 N right. Using Newton's second law F_net = ma: 5 N = (2.5 kg)(a), which gives a = 2.0 m/s² right. Choice D (3.6 m/s²) might result from incorrectly using individual forces rather than net force. To solve these problems systematically, always find net force first by vector addition, then divide by mass.