High School Physics : Forces

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Physics

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Understanding The Relationship Between Force And Acceleration

Two dogs are pulling on a bone in opposite directions. If the bone does not move, what conclusions can be drawn?

Possible Answers:

The dogs are pulling with equal force, but in opposite directions

We need to know the acceleration on the bone in order to draw any conclusions

We need to know the weight of the dogs in order to draw any conclusions

We need to know the mass of the bone to draw any conclusions

The two forces are equal in size and going in the same direction

Correct answer:

The dogs are pulling with equal force, but in opposite directions

Explanation:

If the bone does not move, then we know that the resultant acceleration on it is zero. That means that the net force must also equal zero. 

In other words, the sum of the two forces acting on the bone must be zero.

\displaystyle F_{net}=F_1+F_2

\displaystyle 0N=F_1+F_2

Since the forces are pulling in opposite directions, one force must be in the negative direction.

\displaystyle 0N=F_1+(-F_2)

From here, it's simple manipulation to see that the forces are equal.

\displaystyle F_2=F_1

The forces are equal in size, but going in opposite directions.

Example Question #2 : Understanding The Relationship Between Force And Acceleration

An ice skater skates on a frictionless surface with a velocity of \displaystyle v. If no forces act upon him, what is his velocity after \displaystyle 5s?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle v

We need to know the skater's mass in order to solve

\displaystyle v+5

\displaystyle 5v

We need to know the displacement of the skater in order to solve

Correct answer:

\displaystyle v

Explanation:

If no forces are acting upon the skater and he is on a frictionless surface, then that means he has no net acceleration.

Mathematically, we can see this relationship from Newton's second law:

\displaystyle F=ma

\displaystyle 0N=ma

\displaystyle a=0\frac{m}{s^2}

Presumably the skier has mass, therefore the acceleration must be zero.

If an object moves with a velocity and there is no acceleration, then the velocity remains constant. His velocity after five second will be equal to his initial velocity.

Example Question #2 : Understanding The Relationship Between Force And Acceleration

How much force is required to move a \displaystyle 35kg filing cabinet \displaystyle 5m?

Possible Answers:

We need to know the coefficient of friction between the cabinet and the floor

\displaystyle 343N

\displaystyle 175N

We need to know the final velocity of the cabinet

\displaystyle 1715N

Correct answer:

We need to know the coefficient of friction between the cabinet and the floor

Explanation:

There is insufficient information to solve. Force is the product of mass and acceleration. While we are given the mass, we are not given an acceleration.

\displaystyle F=ma

If we assume that we are looking for the minimum force required to move the cabinet, then the force would be equal to the force of friction.

\displaystyle F=-F_f

Substitute the equations for frictional force and Newton's second law.

\displaystyle ma=-(\mu F_N)

Normal force is equal to the force of gravity.

\displaystyle ma=-\mu (mg)

The masses cancel out and we know the acceleration due to gravity is constant.

\displaystyle a=-\mu (g)

This equation is unsolvable as we do not know \displaystyle \mu, the coefficient of friction between the cabinet and the floor. We cannot find the acceleration of the cabinet, meaning we cannot find the force.

Example Question #1 : Understanding The Relationship Between Force And Acceleration

A car rounds a perfectly circular turn at a constant speed. This causes the acceleration to __________.

Possible Answers:

not be predictable

increase

become zero

decrease

remain constant

Correct answer:

remain constant

Explanation:

Acceleration results from a change in velocity. Despite the speed remaining constant, velocity is a vector quantity and will change if the car changes direction. In rounding the turn, there is a change in the direction of the velocity, but not in the magnitude. This change in direction causes a non-zero acceleration.

The acceleration will remain equal to the equation for centripetal acceleration:

\displaystyle a_c=\frac{v^2}{r}

As long as the magnitude of the velocity and the radius of the turn do not change, the acceleration will remain constant.

Example Question #11 : Understanding The Relationship Between Force And Acceleration

An object moves forward with a constant velocity. What additional information do we need to know to determine the force acting upon the object?

Possible Answers:

The velocity of the object

The force is \displaystyle 0N

The time the object is in motion

The distance the object travels

The mass of the object

Correct answer:

The force is \displaystyle 0N

Explanation:

Force is given by the product of mass and acceleration. If an object has a constant velocity, then it has no acceleration.

\displaystyle a=\frac{v_2-v_1}{t}

\displaystyle v_2=v_1\rightarrow a=\frac{0}{t}=0\frac{m}{s^2}

If an object has no acceleration, then it must also have no net force.

\displaystyle F=ma

\displaystyle F=m*0\frac{m}{s}

\displaystyle F=0N

No additional information is needed to solve this question.

Example Question #11 : Understanding The Relationship Between Force And Acceleration

A \displaystyle 30kg box slides along the floor with a constant velocity. What is the net force on the box?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 30N

\displaystyle 73.5N

\displaystyle 0N

\displaystyle -294N

\displaystyle 294N

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 0N

Explanation:

Since the object is moving with a constant velocity, it has no acceleration. Acceleration is only produced by a change in the velocity.

\displaystyle a=\frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}

\displaystyle \Delta v=0\frac{m}{s}\rightarrow a=\frac{0\frac{m}{s}}{\Delta t}=0\frac{m}{s^2}

If acceleration is zero, no force is produced. This conclusion comes from Newton's second law:

\displaystyle F=ma

Since the acceleration is zero:

\displaystyle F=m*0\frac{m}{s^2}

\displaystyle F=0N

Example Question #12 : Understanding The Relationship Between Force And Acceleration

A constant force acts on an object, causing it to accelerate along a track, when it suddenly breaks in half. What is the ratio of the initial acceleration of the object to the acceleration of one piece after it breaks if the force remains constant after the break?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 2:1

\displaystyle 1:1

\displaystyle 4:1

\displaystyle 1:2

\displaystyle 1:4

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 2:1

Explanation:

Newton's second law states that:

\displaystyle F=ma

We are told that the force on the object remains constant, even after it breaks in half. The mass of the broken piece will be equal to half the mass of the total object.

\displaystyle F_1=F_2

\displaystyle m_1=2m_2

Using these values, we can set up equations for the initial and final accelerations.

\displaystyle a_1=\frac{F_1}{m_1}

\displaystyle a_2=\frac{F_2}{m_2}=\frac{F_1}{\frac{1}{2}m_1}

\displaystyle a_2=2\frac{F_1}{m_1}=2a_1

\displaystyle a_2:a_1=2:1

If the force remains constant while the mass is cut in half, the acceleration of the object will double. The ratio of the new acceleration to the old acceleration will be 2:1. If the question asked for the ratio of the old acceleration to the new one, it would be 1:2.

Example Question #11 : Understanding The Relationship Between Force And Acceleration

What force is required produce an acceleration of \displaystyle 3\frac{m}{s^2} on an object of mass \displaystyle 5kg?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 0N

\displaystyle 15N

\displaystyle 45N

\displaystyle 10N

\displaystyle 75N

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 15N

Explanation:

Newton's second law states that:

\displaystyle F=ma

We are given the mass of the object and the acceleration. Using these values, we can solve for the necessary force.

\displaystyle F=5kg*3\frac{m}{s^{2}}
\displaystyle F=15N

Example Question #13 : Forces

A car moves with a constant velocity of \displaystyle 20\frac{m}{s}. What is the net force on the car?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 4.5N

\displaystyle 20N

\displaystyle 0N

We need to know the mass of the car in order to solve

We need to know the frictional forces in order to solve

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 0N

Explanation:

If an object is moving with constant velocity, then its acceleration must be zero.

\displaystyle a=\frac{v_2-v_1}{t}

\displaystyle v_2=v_1\rightarrow a=\frac{v-v}{t}=\frac{0}{t}=0

We can then look at Newton's second law. If the acceleration is zero, then the net force must also be zero.

\displaystyle F=ma

\displaystyle F=m(0)=0N

This means that the gravitational force and normal force cancel out, and the propulsion force of the car cancels out the force of friction. Forces may still be acting in respective directions, but the net sum of these forces is zero.

Example Question #11 : Understanding The Relationship Between Force And Acceleration

Two dogs pull on a \displaystyle 0.07kg bone in opposite directions. If the first dog pulls with a force of \displaystyle 17N to the left and the other pulls with a force of \displaystyle 22N in the opposite direction, what will be the acceleration on the bone?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 2.8\frac{m}{s^2}

\displaystyle 571.4\frac{m}{s^2}

\displaystyle 71.4\frac{m}{s^2}

We need to know the masses of the dogs in order to solve

\displaystyle 0.35\frac{m}{s^2}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 71.4\frac{m}{s^2}

Explanation:

First we need to find the net force, which will be equal to the sum of the forces on the bone.

\displaystyle F_{net}=F_1+F_2

Since the forces are going in opposite directions, we know that one force will be negative (since force is a vector). Conventionally, right is assigned a positive directional value. The force to the left will be negative.

\displaystyle F_{net}=22N+(-17N)

\displaystyle F_{net}=5N

From here we can use Newton's second law to expand the force and solve for the acceleration, using the mass of the bone.

\displaystyle F=ma

\displaystyle 5N=(0.07kg)a

\displaystyle \frac{5N}{0.07kg}=a

\displaystyle 71.4\frac{m}{s^2}=a

 

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