Newton's Laws of Motion (Is my theory correct?)

In summary, two carts with equal mass are pushed apart by a spring mounted on cart #1 with a force of 14 N. Each cart receives a force of 7 N, resulting in an acceleration of 3.5 m/s^2 in the direction of the push. This is due to the Newtons being distributed between the two carts in a center of mass coordinate system.
  • #1
math989
5
0

Homework Statement


If two cars of equal mass are pushed apart by a spring mounted on cart #1 with a force of 14 N what will be the resulting acceleration of the carts.

Mass of carts 1 and 2= 2.0Kg
f=14N
A?

Homework Equations


F=ma

The Attempt at a Solution


My theory is that the Newtons will be distributed between the two carts so that each cart will receive 7N of force. Then i can apply f=ma to solve for the A so 7/2= 3.5m/s^2
 
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  • #2
I think you've discovered the center of mass coordinate system for this problem.

Since both carts have the same mass and the spring is pushing the, apart then you
Insight is correct.

Remember that acceleration is a vector so to be absolutely correct you must specify a direction too for each carts acceleration.
 
  • #3
"Pushed apart with a force of 14 N" means that each cart experiences a force of 14 N.
If they were pushed each by 7 N, there would be no reason to add the 7 by 7 and give a value of 14. The two forces are opposite so their sum is zero and not 14.
 

What are the three laws of motion proposed by Newton?

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

How do Newton's laws of motion apply to everyday life?

Newton's laws of motion can be observed in many everyday situations. For example, when you push a shopping cart, it will continue to move in a straight line until an external force (such as friction or hitting a wall) stops it. This relates to Newton's first law. Newton's second law can be seen when you throw a ball - the harder you throw it (increase the force), the farther it will go (increase the acceleration). And Newton's third law is demonstrated when you jump off a diving board - you push down on the board, and the board pushes back with an equal force, propelling you upwards.

Are Newton's laws of motion still relevant and accurate today?

Yes, Newton's laws of motion are still relevant and accurate today. They have been tested and proven countless times through experiments and observations, and they form the basis of classical mechanics, which is used to describe the motion of objects in our everyday world.

Can Newton's laws of motion be applied to objects in space?

Yes, Newton's laws of motion can be applied to objects in space. In fact, these laws were originally developed to explain the motion of planets and other celestial bodies in our solar system. They continue to be used in modern space exploration and satellite technology.

What is the difference between Newton's first law and Newton's second law?

Newton's first law, also known as the law of inertia, states that an object will remain at rest or in motion with a constant velocity unless acted upon by a force. In contrast, Newton's second law, also known as the law of acceleration, describes the relationship between the force applied to an object, its mass, and its resulting acceleration. In simple terms, the first law explains why objects don't spontaneously start moving, while the second law explains how objects move when a force is applied to them.

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