Which of the following situation requires the least average force?
A) Accelerating a 1.0-kg mass from 0 m/s to 10 m/s in 6.0 s
B) Accelerating a 2.0-kg mass from 10 m/s to 20 m/s in 6.0 s
C) Accelerating a 3.0-kg mass from 10 m/s to 30 m/s in 1.0 s
D) Accelerating a 4.0-kg mass from 0 m/s to 20 m/s in 1.0 s
E) Accelerating a 5.0-kg mass from 20 m/s to 30 m/s in 1.0 s

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The force required for acceleration can be calculated using Newton's second law, $F = ma$, where $F$ is the force, $m$ is the mass, and $a$ is the acceleration. The acceleration can be found using the formula $a = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$, where $\Delta v$ is the change in velocity and $\Delta t$ is the change in time. For option A, the acceleration is $\frac{10\,m/s}{6\,s} = 1.67\,m/s^2$, and thus the force is $1.0\,kg \times 1.67\,m/s^2 = 1.67\,N$, which is the smallest force required among the options given.

Which of the Following Situation Requires the Least Average Force