Some students measure the acceleration of a wheeled cart being acted on by varying forces. The students record their data in the table shown above. According to the data table, how much force is acting on the cart when the students measure an acceleration of 2.6 m/s2? A. 13 N

B. 7 N

C. 8 N

D. 12 N

F = 13 N

Given

Acceleration= a = 2.6 m/s²

Required

Force

Solution

Newton's second law :

ΣF = m x a

The wheeled cart used in the experiment is the same, so the mass used is the same

We use one of the data for example data 1 to find mass :

F = 1 N, a = 0.2 m/s²

m = F/a

m = 1/0.2

m = 5 kg

so for acceleration= a = 2.6 m/s² :

F = 5 kg x 2.6 m/s²

F = 13 N