Calculating Velocity After 2s of Force on 10kg Mass

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the velocity of a 10kg mass subjected to a time-varying force defined by F=10 + 2t. The mass starts from rest, and the discussion centers on determining its velocity after 2 seconds.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration, with some suggesting the use of kinematics equations. There is uncertainty about how to handle the varying force and its implications for acceleration and velocity calculations.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on potential approaches, including finding average acceleration due to the linear increase of force and considering integration to solve for velocity. Multiple methods are being explored, but there is no explicit consensus on the best approach yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the challenge posed by the variable nature of the force and the implications for applying standard equations of motion. There is also mention of starting from rest, which influences the calculations.

watsup91749
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Homework Statement


The force exerted on a 10kg mass is given by F=10 + 2t where the units are SI. If the mass starts from rest, its velocity after 2s is:
A) 14 m/s
B) 2 m/s
C) 2.4 m/s
D) .2 m/s
E) .24 KM/S

Homework Equations


F=ma
thats it?

The Attempt at a Solution


At 2 secs the force would be 14 N so..well, I am not sure on what to do. i could probably figure it out if i knew what i was supposed to do though. I am not sure how a varying force could be ...i have no idea what I am talking about :(. Any help would be greatly appriciated.
 
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Well, you know the mass, so you can find the acceleration of the object. You can probably use a kinematics equation that will tell you it's velocity after 2 seconds. (remember it starts at rest.
 
if you mean like v(f)=v(i) + at, then i can't use that because i don't have the acceleration or the final velocity, the force that acts on it is external so...am i confusing my self here?
 
Well you found the force at t=2 which is F=14...and F=ma...you can find acceleration now...
 
OK, the probelm with this question is the variable force.

The way I see this there are two ways to solve it. One is easy, one is harder.

The easy way is to notice that the force increases linearly with time, therefore you can find the average acceleration and simply use that in the F = ma equation. As you are looking at a period of 2 seconds, and the average occurs mid-way between 0 seconds and 2 seconds, I'll let you take it from here.

The harder way is to integrate F = 10 + 2t with respect to t. For which you get Ft = 10t + t^2, since Ft (Force * time) is an impulse, you can then use Ft = mv to come to your answer. 10t + t^2 = m * v, and solve for v where m = 10 and t = 2.
 
you guys are awesome, thanks a ton :D
 
Ah, I did my integration a bit hurridly, what I should have said was:
[tex]Ft = 10t + t^{2} + c[/tex]

Then when t = 0:
[tex]0 = 0 + 0 + c[/tex]
Therefore:
[tex]c = 0[/tex]
Therefore:
[tex]Ft = 10t + t^{2}[/tex]
 

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