Question about significant digits

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    Significant digits
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the acceleration of a railroad car with a hanging mass and determining the correct significant digits for the answer. The user solved the problem and found the acceleration to be approximately 1.5 m/s², but faced issues with the significant digits required by the webassign.net platform. Initially, they assumed two significant digits based on the given values, leading to multiple incorrect submissions. After several attempts, they discovered that entering 1.465 provided the correct answer without error messages. This highlights the importance of precision in significant digits when using online homework systems.
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Homework Statement


A 2.6 kg mass hangs at one end of a rope that is attached to a support on a railroad car. When the car accelerates to the right, the rope makes an angle of 8.5° with the vertical, as shown in Figure P4.68. Find the acceleration of the car.

Homework Equations


(Fnet)x=max
(Fnet)y=may

The Attempt at a Solution



(Fnet)y=may
Tcos8.5-mg=0
T=(2.6 x 9.8)/cos 8.5
T=25.76(Fnet)x=max
Tsin8.5=max
Tsin8.5/2.6=ax
ax=25.76 sin 8.5/2.6
ax=1.5NOW HERE'S MY PROBLEM:

I am doing homework on webassign.net and it is very picky about the significant digits in your answer. So far I've put in: 1.5, 1.4, 1.46, and 1.47.

I get 6 tries, which is frusturating because I know I solved it correctly, I just don't know how many significant digits. I assumed I would have 2 significant digits and the answer would be 1.5 because all the given values have 2 significant digits. If someone could help me figure it out, I would appreciate it.

Also (reason for edit): When I put in 1.5 and 1.4 I got this response:
Your answer is within 10% of the correct value. This may be due to roundoff error, or you could have a mistake in your calculation. Carry out all intermediate results to at least four-digit accuracy to minimize roundoff error. m/s2

However, when I bring it out to 1.46 or 1.47 I don't get that message.
 
Last edited:
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Nevermind! I put in 1.465 and it worked.

How frusturating though.
 
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