Laws of Motion-magnitude/accel-Gerry has mass issues

In summary, the wind exerts a force of 420 N towards the south and the water exerts a force of 160 N towards the west on Gerry's sailboat. With a combined mass of 320 kg, the magnitude of the net force on the boat is 449.44 N. To find the acceleration, Newton's second law (F=ma) can be applied. To determine the direction of the force and acceleration, a resultant vector of the two force vectors can be drawn.
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Homework Statement


The wind exerts a force of 420 N toward the south on the sails of Gerry’s sailboat, while the water exerts a force on the sailboat of 160 N west.The boat and Gerry have a combined mass of 320 kg, what are the magnitude and direction of the sailboat’s acceleration?

Homework Equations


f= sqrt(Force 1^2+Force 2^2)

The Attempt at a Solution


I need to find the total force of the boat.

F=sqrt((420)^2+(160)^2))

F=sqrt(202000)

F=449.44 N

I would appreciate some guidance.
 
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  • #2
Since you found the magnitude of the net force on the boat, to get the magnitude of the acceleration now you can apply Newton's second law, F=ma.

To find the direction of the force and the acceleration try drawing the resultant vector of the two force vectors.
 

FAQ: Laws of Motion-magnitude/accel-Gerry has mass issues

1. What are the three laws of motion proposed by Sir Isaac Newton?

The three laws of motion are:
1. An object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue in motion in a straight line at a constant speed, unless acted upon by an external force.
2. The force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration.
3. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

2. What is meant by the term "magnitude" in the context of laws of motion?

Magnitude refers to the size or amount of a force. In the second law of motion, the magnitude of the force is equal to the mass of an object multiplied by its acceleration.

3. How do laws of motion explain Gerry's mass issues?

The laws of motion do not specifically address Gerry's mass issues. Instead, they provide a general framework for understanding the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration for any object. In Gerry's case, the second law of motion can be used to calculate the force needed to accelerate his body and address his mass issues.

4. What is the significance of acceleration in laws of motion?

Acceleration is a key factor in the laws of motion as it indicates the rate at which an object's velocity is changing. The second law of motion states that the force acting on an object is directly proportional to its acceleration. This means that a larger force will cause a greater change in an object's acceleration.

5. Can the laws of motion be applied to any object or situation?

Yes, the laws of motion can be applied to any object or situation, as long as there is a force acting on the object. They are fundamental principles in physics and are used to describe and predict the motion of objects in various scenarios, from simple everyday movements to complex systems.

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