A force of 5 N accelerates an object. The object's mass is 50 g. What is the acceleration of the object? (Formula: F=ma)
A. $0.01 m / s ^2$
B. $0.1 m / s ^2$
C. $10 m / s ^2$
D. $100 m / s ^2$
Answer (1)
Convert the mass from grams to kilograms: m = 50 g = 0.05 k g .
Use the formula F = ma and rearrange to solve for acceleration: a = m F .
Substitute the values F = 5 N and m = 0.05 k g into the equation.
Calculate the acceleration: a = 0.05 5 = 100 m / s 2 , so the final answer is 100 m / s 2 .
Explanation
Problem Analysis We are given a force F of 5 N acting on an object with a mass m of 50 g. We need to find the acceleration a of the object using the formula F = ma .
Mass Conversion First, we need to convert the mass from grams to kilograms since the force is given in Newtons (which is kg * m/s^2). To convert grams to kilograms, we divide by 1000: m ( k g ) = 1000 50 g = 0.05 k g
Formula Rearrangement Now we can use the formula F = ma to find the acceleration. Rearranging the formula to solve for a , we get: a = m F
Acceleration Calculation Substitute the given values of F = 5 N and the converted mass m = 0.05 k g into the formula: a = 0.05 k g 5 N = 100 m / s 2
Final Answer Therefore, the acceleration of the object is 100 m / s 2 .
Examples
Understanding the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration is crucial in many real-world scenarios. For instance, consider designing a car. If you know the force the engine can produce and the mass of the car, you can calculate the car's acceleration. This helps engineers determine how quickly the car can reach a certain speed, which is important for safety and performance. Similarly, in sports, understanding these concepts helps athletes optimize their movements to generate maximum force and achieve better results.
