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Acceleration


Date: 9/12/96 at 22:7:56
From: Anonymous
Subject: Acceleration of More Massive Object

A 10-kg object accelerates at 60 meters per second squared. 
What would be the acceleration of a 30-kg object?

Date: 9/12/96 at 23:14:57
From: Doctor Robert
Subject: Re: Acceleration of More Massive Object

In order to calculate the acceleration of a body you have to know two 
things: the net force acting on the body and the mass of the body.  
The acceleration is then calculated using the formula a=F/m  So, if 
your 10 kg object accelerates at 60 m/sec^2, the force must be 600 
newtons. Your question cannot be answered unless I know the force 
acting on the 30-kg body. If you assume that the same force acts on 
both bodies, then the acceleration is 20 m/sec^2.  

-Doctor Robert,  The Math Forum
 Check out our web site!  http://mathforum.org/dr.math/

Associated Topics:
High School Physics/Chemistry

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