How does doubling the net force affect the acceleration of a moving cart?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Stargate
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Figure
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between net force and acceleration as described by Newton's second law of motion. Participants are exploring how doubling the net force applied to a moving cart affects its acceleration, while considering the mass of the cart remains constant.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are analyzing the implications of Newton's second law, questioning how changes in force relate to changes in acceleration. Some are attempting to derive relationships between initial and new accelerations based on force changes.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes various interpretations of how acceleration is affected by changes in force. Some participants express confusion and seek clarification, while others provide mathematical reasoning to support their views. There is no explicit consensus, but productive dialogue is occurring around the concepts involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the framework of Newton's second law and are considering the implications of force changes on acceleration without altering the mass of the cart. There are indications of differing understandings of the relationship between force and acceleration.

Stargate
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
Can you figure this out!?

Suppose that a cart is being moved by a certain net force. If the net force is doubled, by how much does the acceleration change? Why does this happen? For what reason?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Stargate said:
Suppose that a cart is being moved by a certain net force. If the net force is doubled, by how much does the acceleration change? Why does this happen? For what reason?

Given the second law
[tex]F=ma[/tex]
and taking into account that mass wouldn't change,what do you think it will happen to the acceleration?

Daniel.
 
The "rigorous" proof should follow from an analysis of the equations [itex]F_1=ma_1[/itex] and [itex]F_2=ma_2[/itex]. What is [itex]a_2[/itex] in terms of [itex]a_1[/itex] if you set [itex]F_2=2F_1[/itex]?
 
The acceleration slows, right? Why does this happen?
 
Stargate said:
The acceleration slows, right? Why does this happen?

Because the two forces are applied on the same body (which means the same mass) and the second force is twice as big as the first,i'd say the acceleration doubles...
Wouldn't u agree??

Daniel.
 
I have no idea what you are talking about quasar! Could you explain?
 
I do agree thanks! Any you explain quasar987 reply?
 
Let's say u have a body of mass "m".U apply a force on it.Call it "F".The second law of dynamics says that the acceleration imprimed by this force (call it "a") is nothing but
[tex]a=\frac{F}{m}[/tex]

Now apply the force doubled.Which means the force 2F.Call the new acceleration "a'" ("a" prime)?Again,the second law says that the acceleration is the ratio between force and mass
[tex]a'=\frac{2F}{m}=2\frac{F}{m}=2a[/tex]
,where u made use of the first formula to express the new acceleration in terms of the old one.
Therefore,the acceleration doubles.

Daniel.
 
I get it now! thank you for your help!
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
2K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
31
Views
2K
Replies
15
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
Replies
30
Views
5K