- #1
celtchic
- 4
- 0
Hi everyone,
It's been a while since I've had physics. I can catch on quickly once pushed in the right direction but a friend is in a college level physics class that I once had and she needs help. I've tried to answer some questions but I don't know if my logic is right, or if I'm even close. Please help me figure out how to help her with this problem:
A car that weighs 3200 lbs is traveling at a constant 68mph down a piece of straight, flat interstate highway. Use Newton's 1st Law to calculate the net force on the car. Use Newton's 2nd Law to calculate the car's acceleration.
My thinking is this: The net force is 0 because there is no force acting against the car. Am I wrong in thinking this? Should the net force be 3200 lbs because of gravity? For the second question, I'm assuming the car's acceleration is also 0 because it's moving at a constant speed. Please help correct my thinking. I have the formula acceleration = force/mass.
Second question: In the above problem, the force of air drag on the car is 300lbs. What is the forward force produced by the action of the car's engine and drive train?
My thinking is this: the forward force is -300lbs. I know I'm totally wrong I just want to start somewhere.
Please help. I made an A in Physics two years ago but now I need a refresher course and I'd like to be able to help my friend with these questions.
It's been a while since I've had physics. I can catch on quickly once pushed in the right direction but a friend is in a college level physics class that I once had and she needs help. I've tried to answer some questions but I don't know if my logic is right, or if I'm even close. Please help me figure out how to help her with this problem:
A car that weighs 3200 lbs is traveling at a constant 68mph down a piece of straight, flat interstate highway. Use Newton's 1st Law to calculate the net force on the car. Use Newton's 2nd Law to calculate the car's acceleration.
My thinking is this: The net force is 0 because there is no force acting against the car. Am I wrong in thinking this? Should the net force be 3200 lbs because of gravity? For the second question, I'm assuming the car's acceleration is also 0 because it's moving at a constant speed. Please help correct my thinking. I have the formula acceleration = force/mass.
Second question: In the above problem, the force of air drag on the car is 300lbs. What is the forward force produced by the action of the car's engine and drive train?
My thinking is this: the forward force is -300lbs. I know I'm totally wrong I just want to start somewhere.
Please help. I made an A in Physics two years ago but now I need a refresher course and I'd like to be able to help my friend with these questions.