Force, Acceleration, mass and time

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between force, mass, acceleration, and time, specifically regarding a 1kg object moving at 10m/s. To stop this object, a force of 10N must be applied in the opposite direction for one second. Applying a force of 10N for half a second results in a deceleration to 5m/s, while a force of 20N would stop the object in the same half-second. It is established that when an object collides with a wall, the forces involved can be significantly greater than 10N due to the rapid deceleration required.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's Second Law of Motion
  • Basic knowledge of force, mass, and acceleration
  • Familiarity with the concept of momentum
  • Knowledge of units of measurement (N, kg, m/s)
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Newton's Second Law of Motion in detail
  • Explore the concept of impulse and its relation to force and time
  • Learn about momentum conservation in collisions
  • Investigate the effects of rapid deceleration in automotive safety
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of motion and forces in real-world scenarios, particularly in relation to collisions and safety measures.

V0ODO0CH1LD
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If I have a 1kg object moving on a straight path at 10m/s, I have to apply a force of 10N in the opposite direction to its trajectory to stop it completely, right? Does that mean I have to apply a force of 10N for one second to stop it completely? In that case, would a force of 10N for half a second only decelerate it to 5m/s and a force of 20N take half a second to stop it? And if that is the case wouldn't a wall have to apply a force much greater than 10m/s to stop the object, as it does, in fractions of a second?
 
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V0ODO0CH1LD said:
If I have a 1kg object moving on a straight path at 10m/s, I have to apply a force of 10N in the opposite direction to its trajectory to stop it completely, right?
Not necessarily. It all depends on how quickly you want to stop it.
Does that mean I have to apply a force of 10N for one second to stop it completely?
If you do apply such a force for such a time, then you will stop it completely.
In that case, would a force of 10N for half a second only decelerate it to 5m/s and a force of 20N take half a second to stop it?
Exactly.
And if that is the case wouldn't a wall have to apply a force much greater than 10m/s to stop the object, as it does, in fractions of a second?
Yes.
 
Thank you! That really helped!
 
V0ODO0CH1LD said:
And if that is the case wouldn't a wall have to apply a force much greater than 10 N (you used the wrong units) to stop the object, as it does, in fractions of a second?

Yes, the forces when hitting a wall can easily be orders of magnitude greater than "regular" forces, which is exactly why you don't want to run your car into a wall.
 
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