Given the equation , which answer provides the best description of a possible physical situation?
A)A 3.00-kg mass is suspended from the ceiling.
B)A 2.00-kg mass hanging over a pulley drags a 3.00-kg mass along a frictionless horizontal surface.
C)A 3.00-kg mass hanging over a pulley drags a 2.00-kg mass along a frictionless horizontal surface.
D)A 3.00-kg mass hanging over a pulley drags a 5.00-kg mass along a frictionless horizontal surface.
E)A 5.00-kg mass hanging over a pulley drags a 3.00-kg mass along a frictionless horizontal surface.

Question

Given the equation  , which answer provides the best description of a possible physical situation?
A)A 3.00-kg mass is suspended from the ceiling. 
B)A 2.00-kg mass hanging over a pulley drags a 3.00-kg mass along a frictionless horizontal surface. 
C)A 3.00-kg mass hanging over a pulley drags a 2.00-kg mass along a frictionless horizontal surface. 
D)A 3.00-kg mass hanging over a pulley drags a 5.00-kg mass along a frictionless horizontal surface. 
E)A 5.00-kg mass hanging over a pulley drags a 3.00-kg mass along a frictionless horizontal surface.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The equation provided is the format of Newton's Second Law, F = ma. In this case, the acceleration is due to a mass being pulled along a surface by a mass hanging over a pulley. Choice C describes this situation, with a 3.00-kg mass hanging over a pulley and dragging a 2.00-kg mass along a frictionless horizontal surface. Therefore, C is the only possible physical situation described by the given equation.

Given the Equation , Which Answer Provides the Best