Person's acceleration and object's acceleration

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a man exerting a force on an object, with a focus on calculating the accelerations of both the man and the object. The context is rooted in Newton's laws of motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of acceleration using the formula a=f/m, with attempts to clarify the application to both the man and the object. Questions arise regarding the direction of acceleration and the implications of Newton's third law.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on drawing free body diagrams and considering action-reaction pairs. There is an exploration of how to represent forces and accelerations, but no consensus has been reached on the final calculations or interpretations.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of direction in the calculations and the need for a clear coordinate system in the free body diagram. There is an acknowledgment of the assumption of no external forces acting on the system.

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Homework Statement



A man with mass 80 kg exerts force of 150 N on 500 kg object. What is his acceleration and what is the acceleration of the object? (assume no external forces)

Homework Equations


a=f/m


The Attempt at a Solution



not sure how to calculate the acceleration of object, but would i calculate the acceleration of the man like this--> a=150 N/80 kg...?
 
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Draw a Free body diagram. Mass of man, force horizontal on the 500kg object. With every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the forces have been solved and equal to each other. Solve the acceleration using a = 150 N/500kg for the acceleration of the object. The acceleration of the man is right what you put down. Just make sure you have it in the right direction

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accel. for object, would i put a negative sign in front of the answer since it's a problem dealing with Newton's third law..?
 
Well yea.. but draw your coordinate system in your Free body diagram. so that your teacher knows.
 

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