How Much Force Did Josie and Charlotte Apply to the Sandbag?

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SUMMARY

Josie and Charlotte applied a force to a 12-kg sandbag on a frictionless surface, resulting in a final speed of 0.5 m/s after pushing it for 6 meters. The correct approach to find the force involves using the work-energy principle, where the work done (W) equals the change in kinetic energy. The equation F*d = 1/2*m*v^2 leads to the conclusion that the force applied is not simply calculated by F = 12 * 0.5, as this confuses acceleration with velocity. The accurate calculation of force requires determining the acceleration first.

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Homework Statement



Josie and Charlotte push a 12-kg bag of playground sand for a sandbox on a frictionless, horizontal, wet polyvinyl surface with a constant, horizontal force for a distance of 6 m, starting from rest. If the final speed of the sand bag is 0.5 m/s, what is the magnitude of the force with which they pushed

Homework Equations




F=MA
W=Fdelta(r)cos(theta)

The Attempt at a Solution


since cos0= 1 I thought it was 36 because W/6=F so w/6=12(.5) so how is W not 36. I'm obnviously forgetting a crucial step but don't understand where. Any help would be great, Thanks a lot.
 
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Looks like you are using the idea that the work done equals the kinetic energy acquired.
That would be F*d = 1/2*m*v^2 and it should work well!

In writing F = 12(.5), you are confusing acceleration (unknown) with velocity (.5).
 
Alright thanks a lot that makes sense! :)
 

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