Newton's 2nd Law: Calculate Mass of Cart

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the mass of a cart influenced by a force, with specific distances covered under different conditions. Participants explore the relationship between displacement, velocity, and acceleration, emphasizing the need to determine acceleration to apply Newton's second law effectively. They clarify that the cart experiences a force, leading to non-constant velocity, which complicates the calculations. The conversation includes attempts to derive acceleration from known displacements and weights, ultimately leading to a mass calculation of 0.4 kg for the cart. The importance of understanding the equations for constant acceleration versus constant velocity is highlighted throughout the discussion.
Igniuxx6
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Homework Statement


Influenced by certain force, cart moved from place and driven 0.5 meters distance. When 200grams weight was placed on cart it moved 0.3 meters during the same period of time. Calculate the mass of the cart.
 
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So, how did you tried?
 
Tried to get acceleration by converting grams to kilos, then dividing 0,3 meters with 0,2 kilos. Got 1,5, but I doubt its right. If 1,5 would be correct, I would just use ΣF⃗=ma⃗
 
Then, why do you need the acceleration? I know you want to use the Newton's second law, but there are many missing parameters to use this.
 
I want acceleration to get force and with Force + Acceleration I would get mass. So what I should use instead? Pretty lost,
 
Igniuxx6 said:
cart moved from place and driven 0.5 meters distance. When 200grams weight was placed on cart it moved 0.3 meters during the same period of time.
In this statement, I can get the velocity of cart and cart + 200grams weight, roughly. But I don't know how to get the acceleration.
 
How about a1=V1-V01/t a2=V2-V02/t that leads to (V1-V01)*t/t*(V2-V02), we cancel out t and we get (V1-V01)/(V2-V02), now I need to know how you get velocity of cart and cart + 200grams.
 
Igniuxx6 said:
Tried to get acceleration by converting grams to kilos, then dividing 0,3 meters with 0,2 kilos. Got 1,5, but I doubt its right. If 1,5 would be correct, I would just use ΣF⃗=ma⃗
You know the displacements. Assuming uniform acceleration, how is the displacement related to time and the acceleration?
 
Displacement moves same distance each time interval
 
  • #10
Igniuxx6 said:
Displacement moves same distance each time interval
What you means is the constant velocity. Is this problem settle down with constant acceleration or constant velocity?
 
  • #11
You mentioned you are abble to get velocity, if you would tell me how, I (maybe) would be abble to get acceleration from there and use it to get mass.
 
  • #12
I supposed the cart moves without acceleration, that is constant velocity. Since we know the displacement within unknown time interval ##T##, I can only tell you that the velocity is in a form ## 0.5 m / T ##.
 
  • #13
Daeho Ro said:
I supposed the cart moves without acceleration, that is constant velocity.

The problem statement is:
Influenced by certain force, cart moved from place and driven 0.5 meters distance.
If a certain force takes place, the velocity is not constant.
 
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  • #14
Igniuxx6 said:
Influenced by certain force, cart moved from place and driven 0.5 meters distance.
ehild said:
If a certain force takes place, the velocity is not constant.
I thought the certain force only acted at the initial and the cart moves freely. But, it seems you are right. My poor English sometimes confuse me.
 
  • #15
Ok, then now I am clear.

The cart with mass ## M ## and cart + weight with mass ## M + m## moved by a fixed certain force ## F## and the displacements are ## d_1 ## and ## d_2 ##, respectively.
 
  • #16
That is true now.
But this is Igniuxx6's thread. Do not confuse him, and do not try to solve his problem. Both are against the rules of these Forums.
 
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  • #17
So
m2=0,2kg
m=m1+m2
F=d1+d2/m2=0,5+0,3/0,2=4N
a=F/m2=20
m1=F/a=4/20=0,2kg
m=0,2+0,2=0,4kg
 
  • #18
In constant acceleration, the displacement is well known and because we know the displacement, you can get the acceleration.

Igniuxx6 said:
F=d1+d2/m2=0,5+0,3/0,2=4N
This part is really strange. Why don't you check the relevant equations?
 
  • #19
So its like a=9,8?
So it would be :
F=m*a=0,2*9,8=1,96N
m1=F/a=1,96/9,8=0,2kg
m=0,2+0,2=0,4kg?
 
  • #20
For example, the displacement with constant velocity is given by ## d = v t. ## What about the displacement with constant acceleration?
 
  • #21
d = at? or d = 1/2at^2
 
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