How Can You Calculate Mass Using Force and Acceleration?

[Balsam]

Homework Statement

This is not a specific problem, I was just wondering how you would calculate the mass of an object. If given the net force and acceleration, how would you calculate it if the net force is 0N or the acceleration is 0m/s^2? Isn't the equation just m=f/a?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[gneill]

Homework Statement

This is not a specific problem, I was just wondering how you would calculate the mass of an object. If given the net force and acceleration, how would you calculate it if the net force is 0N or the acceleration is 0m/s^2? Isn't the equation just m=f/a?

The equation m = f/a works fine as a way to determine mass. However...

0/0 is mathematically indeterminate. You can't say anything about the mass if you don't actually do anything to it (apply a force to observe a result).

 

[SteamKing]

Homework Statement

This is not a specific problem, I was just wondering how you would calculate the mass of an object. If given the net force and acceleration, how would you calculate it if the net force is 0N or the acceleration is 0m/s^2? Isn't the equation just m=f/a?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Most people measure mass in a static situation, by comparing it with either a known mass or by doing what is called a mass take-off, where the mass of a complex assembly is estimated by adding up the masses of individual components.

Measuring the mass of a moving body is tricky. Accelerometers can tell you if the body is accelerating and in what direction, but how can you evaluate accurately the different forces acting on the body?