Exploring Negative Mass: What Would Happen?

[Just_enough]

I'm in Physics 1 and this is an extra credit I need
1. Homework Statement
From time to time, it is amusing to consider extending physics to unusual circumstances or values of parameters. Consider an object with a negative mass. How would it behave? How would we be able to detect it if it exists?
Let’s start with Newton’s second law. If a force F is applied to an object with mass –m, what would be the acceleration, including direction?
a =
So, in order to accelerate the negative mass object forward, you should apply a force in what direction? How would the object behave if released in a gravity field, such as that near the Earth’s surface? Keep 2 things in mind:
1) For objects with positive mass, how does the gravitational acceleration depend on the mass?
2) Using Newton’s law of gravitation, determine the gravitational force the negative mass object.
3) Now determine the acceleration of the negative mass caused by the force in 2.

Homework Equations

f=ma

The Attempt at a Solution

if mass is -m, then acceleration would still be positive, right? or does force always have to be a positive?
1. wouldn't it be the same as normal mass, but the force would be in the opposite direction?
2.It'll be the same as normal, but the force would be negative since the mass in negative, right?
3. since the force is going to be negative, the acceleration would be positive, so it's normal acceleration

 

[jedishrfu]

Think about F=ma with respect to gravity, for a positive mass the object accelerates downward in the same direction as the force of gravity.

So what would happen if the mass were negative?

 

[mfb]

(1) is about positive masses only.

(2) Where did you use Newton's law of gravity? I don't see it written down.

 

[Just_enough]

Think about F=ma with respect to gravity, for a positive mass the object accelerates downward in the same direction as the force of gravity.

So what would happen if the mass were negative?

oh, so it would be pushed up since gravity accel is negative, right?

(1) is about positive masses only.

(2) Where did you use Newton's law of gravity? I don't see it written down.

2. I just think about it, since all the variable in the equation is positive, and the negative mass is the only negative, so the force would end up being negative, right?

 

[mfb]

oh, so it would be pushed up since gravity accel is negative, right?

Start with (2) before going to (3). Jumping to conclusions before looking at the equations doesn't work.

2. I just think about it, since all the variable in the equation is positive, and the negative mass is the only negative, so the force would end up being negative, right?

Correct.

Going to (3), what does F=ma predict if mass and force are both negative?