- #1
mcdowellmg
- 55
- 0
Homework Statement
"A certain force gives an object of mass m1 an acceleration of 12.2 m/s^2 and an object of mass m2 an acceleration of 4 m/s^2. What acceleration would the force give to an object of mass m2-m1, and also of an object of mass m2+m1?"
Homework Equations
acceleration = force/mass
The Attempt at a Solution
I deduced that a = F/(m2-m1). From there, I calculated that a*m2 = a*m1, because the F is the same throughout. I worked a little algebra...4*m2 = 12.2*m1, so 4/12.2*m2 = m1. That means that m1 is .32787 of m2, and thus m2 - m1 would leave an "m3" that is .67213 of m2. I tried to apply this to the acceleration by calculating .67213*4...getting an acceleration of 2.7, but that would mean m3 is greater than m2 in mass...which could not be possible. I guess I am getting a little lost in my own (il)logic. Any ideas?
Thanks!