Object's Speed: Does Force Double Speed?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between force and the speed of an object, specifically whether applying an additional force will double the object's speed. Participants explore this concept through hypothetical scenarios and personal experiences, including a rocket launch example. The scope includes theoretical considerations, practical experimentation, and clarification of physics principles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • Person A pushes an object with one pound of force, resulting in a speed of 3 miles per hour, leading to the question of whether an additional pound of force from Person B would double the speed to 6 miles per hour.
  • Some participants express that the problem is poorly worded and emphasize the importance of time in the context of force and speed.
  • One participant initially believed the speed would double but later confirmed through experimentation that it remains at 3 miles per hour.
  • Newton's Second Law is referenced, suggesting a need to consider the relationship between force, acceleration, and velocity.
  • A participant shares an experience with launching a rocket, detailing the forces involved and expressing confusion over why the rocket did not lift off despite the calculated force being sufficient.
  • Concerns are raised about the validity of the original question and the need for clarity in the variables involved in the experiment.
  • Some participants challenge the request for confirmation of results without sufficient context or explanation of the underlying physics principles.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the relationship between force and speed, with multiple competing views and unresolved questions about the physics involved. There is disagreement on the interpretation of the original problem and the validity of the experimental results presented.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include unclear definitions of terms, potential misunderstandings of physics concepts, and unresolved mathematical steps related to the rocket launch scenario.

Max CR
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An object is pushed with one pound of force by person A. This causes the object to move 3 miles per hour.

Person B then pushes the object with one pound of force also. Will the object move at 6 miles per hour?
 
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What are your thoughts on the matter? :)

This problem is poorly worded, just so you know.
 


I originally thought that it would move at 6 miles per hour, but through trial and error I can see that it will move only 3 miles per hour. I just wanted to get a confirmation.
 


Does Newton's Second Law ring a bell?
 


I suggest you calculate something. To answer your question: You're wrong.
 


What is the relationship between force and acceleration and velocity?

Again, this problem is poorly worded as time is important in this question.
 


Well, I just launched a rocket. Each rocket engine put out six pounds of force. There were four rocket engines. The rocket weighed 5 pounds. If four lit off at the same time, then there should have been 24 pounds of upward force. All four went off at the same time. The only problem is that the rocket did not get off of the launch pad.

When i did the math I added the amount of impulse. Each rocket produced 20 n/s of force. Since i had four going off at the same time, I did 4 x 20 = 80 n/s of force. However, thsi amount of force was not enoguh. It seems as if even though four rocket engiens went off at the same time, only one rocket engine would have gotten the job done in the same way.
 


Max CR said:
Well, I just launched a rocket. Each rocket engine put out six pounds of force. There were four rocket engines. The rocket weighed 5 pounds. If four lit off at the same time, then there should have been 24 pounds of upward force. All four went off at the same time. The only problem is that the rocket did not get off of the launch pad.

When i did the math I added the amount of impulse. Each rocket produced 20 n/s of force. Since i had four going off at the same time, I did 4 x 20 = 80 n/s of force. However, thsi amount of force was not enoguh. It seems as if even though four rocket engiens went off at the same time, only one rocket engine would have gotten the job done in the same way.

By your post, I take it your in high school. I would advise you to record your experiments and report them and we can help you. I think you will learn more by trial and error than us showing you equations right now. Just don't blow your fingers off.
 


I HAVE ALREADY LEARNED FROM TRIAL AND ERROR. I am just here to confirm my results! Please answer my question!
 
  • #10


Cyrus said:
I suggest you calculate something. To answer your question: You're wrong.

What exactly is wrong?
 
  • #11


Why would you ask us to confirm the results of your experiment? That doesn't make any sense. You should spend more time recording down the variables of what's involved in what you're doing.

Do you have any background in physics?
 
  • #12


If anybody can confirm my results for the sake of CONFIRMATION please let me know.
 
  • #13


How can we confirm your results when you don't answer our questions?

For one, Force isn't in N/s so what you told us was meaningless. How does your original question have anything to do with your experiment? Velocity and force are two different things.
 

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