A 2 kg otter starts from rest at the top of a muddy incline 85 cm long ans slides down to the bottom in 0.5 s. What net external force acts on the otter along the incline?
I know which equation I need to use. But how can I use the cm and s to get the acceleration?
I come up with 13.6 N as my net force. Is this correct?
netforce= 2*distance/time=2*.85/time^2=13.6N
Here's what you know, m=2.0 kg, vi=0m/s,Dx=.85 m, Dt=5 s, to find a, use the formula Dx = vi(Dt) + 1/2a(Dt)2,0.85=0(.5)+1/2a(.50)^2, solve for a, a=6.8 m/s^2. Now use the formula F = ma, F=2.0*6.8, solve for F, F=14 N.
NetForce=ma or
a= netforce/m
distance= 1/2 a t^2, use a above, solve for net force. Change cm to m
To find the acceleration of the otter, you can use one of the basic equations of motion:
$v^2 = u^2 + 2as$
where:
- $v$ is the final velocity of the otter (in this case, it is 0 since it comes to a stop at the bottom)
- $u$ is the initial velocity of the otter (which is also 0 since it starts from rest)
- $a$ is the acceleration of the otter
- $s$ is the displacement (distance) covered by the otter
First, let's convert the given displacement from centimeters to meters. Since 1 meter is equal to 100 centimeters, divide 85 cm by 100 to get 0.85 meters.
Next, substitute the known values into the equation:
$0^2 = 0^2 + 2a(0.85)$
Simplifying the equation:
$0 = 0 + 1.7a$
Solving for $a$, divide both sides of the equation by 1.7:
$a = 0 m/s^2$
This indicates that the acceleration of the otter is zero. Now, using the equation $F = ma$, where $F$ is the net external force acting on the otter, $m$ is the mass of the otter (2 kg), and $a$ is the acceleration (0 m/s^2), we can find the net external force:
$F = 2 kg \times 0 m/s^2$
$F = 0 N$
Therefore, the net external force acting on the otter along the incline is zero.