Find mass given acceleration and upward force

Thread starter zonesthesia93
Start date Oct 14, 2011
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Acceleration Force Mass

In summary, to calculate mass given acceleration and upward force, you can use the formula F=ma, where F is the upward force, m is the mass, and a is the acceleration. The upward force should be measured in Newtons (N) and the acceleration should be measured in meters per second squared (m/s²) when using the formula F=ma. Mass cannot be negative when using the formula F=ma, as it is a measure of the amount of matter in an object. The mass and acceleration have an inverse relationship when using the formula F=ma, as stated in Newton's Second Law of Motion. However, the formula F=ma can only be used in situations where there is a constant upward force and acceleration

Oct 14, 2011

zonesthesia93

Homework Statement

Find the mass of the body when:
upward force is 10N
downward force unknown (mg N)
acceleration 5ms^-2 downwards

Homework Equations

F=ma
W=mg

The Attempt at a Solution

Need to work out the resultant force?? Then find the mass from there...

Thank you!

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Oct 14, 2011

DiracRules

That's correct.
Remember that [itex]\sum \vec{F}=m\vec{a}[/itex]

FAQ: Find mass given acceleration and upward force

How do you calculate mass given acceleration and upward force?

To calculate mass given acceleration and upward force, you can use the formula F=ma, where F is the upward force, m is the mass, and a is the acceleration. You can rearrange the formula to solve for mass by dividing both sides by acceleration, giving you m=F/a.

What units should be used for the upward force and acceleration when calculating mass?

The upward force should be measured in Newtons (N) and the acceleration should be measured in meters per second squared (m/s²) when using the formula F=ma to calculate mass.

Can mass be negative when using the formula F=ma?

No, mass cannot be negative when using the formula F=ma. Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object and cannot have a negative value.

How does the mass affect the acceleration when using the formula F=ma?

The mass and acceleration have an inverse relationship when using the formula F=ma. This means that as the mass increases, the acceleration decreases, and vice versa. This relationship can be seen in Newton's Second Law of Motion, which states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force and inversely proportional to the mass.

Can the formula F=ma be used to calculate mass in all situations?

No, the formula F=ma can only be used to calculate mass in situations where there is a constant upward force and acceleration. If the force or acceleration is changing, a more complex formula or method may need to be used to calculate the mass.