How to find acceleration of object without mass?

In summary, the ship is launched down a ramp at an angle of 8 degrees with a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.06. The acceleration of the ship down the ramp can be calculated using the equation a = gsin(theta) - μkgcos(theta), which gives a value of 0.8 m/s^2. To derive this equation, one can draw a free body diagram and use a variable, such as mass, to write the necessary equations. The mass will ultimately cancel out in the solution.
  • #1
grbd920
1
0
1. A ship is launched into the water down a ramp making an angle of 8 degrees with the horizontal. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the bottom of the ship and the ramp is μk=0.06. What is the acceleration of the ship down the ramp?2. I know that the equation to solve this is
a = gsin(theta) - μkgcos(theta)
Which gives you 0.8 m/s^23. So, I have the equation to solve it and the correct answer but I'm just not sure how to derive that equation in the first place?
 
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  • #2
Hi grbd920, Welcome to Physics Forums!

Please retain the formatting template headers when you create your homework help requests.

Draw the FBD for the problem and assign a variable, say M, to the mass. Write the equations. You should find that the M cancels out along the way to the solution.
 
  • #3
gneill said:
Hi grbd920, Welcome to Physics Forums!

Please retain the formatting template headers when you create your homework help requests.

Draw the FBD for the problem and assign a variable, say M, to the mass. Write the equations. You should find that the M cancels out along the way to the solution.
Got it! Thank you! :)
 

Related to How to find acceleration of object without mass?

1. What is acceleration and how is it calculated?

Acceleration is a measure of how quickly the velocity of an object changes. It is calculated by dividing the change in velocity by the change in time. The formula for acceleration is a = (vf - vi) / t, where a is acceleration, vf is final velocity, vi is initial velocity, and t is the change in time.

2. Can an object have acceleration without mass?

Yes, an object can have acceleration without mass. According to Newton's second law of motion, an object's acceleration is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. This means that if an object has no mass, it can still have acceleration if a force is applied to it.

3. How can we find the acceleration of an object without knowing its mass?

To find the acceleration of an object without knowing its mass, we need to know the net force acting on the object and the change in velocity over a certain period of time. Using the formula for acceleration, we can calculate the acceleration of the object without needing to know its mass.

4. Can an object have a constant acceleration without mass?

Yes, an object can have a constant acceleration without mass. The acceleration of an object is determined by the net force acting on it, not its mass. As long as there is a net force acting on the object, it will experience a constant acceleration regardless of its mass.

5. Can we measure the acceleration of an object without mass?

Yes, we can measure the acceleration of an object without mass by using a device called an accelerometer. This device measures the acceleration of an object by detecting changes in velocity. It does not require knowledge of the object's mass to measure its acceleration.

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