Solving Puck Force Question: Find Acceleration

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F1 to F2, so that F = m * a is satisfied.In summary, the question involves a puck with a mass of 0.20 kg and two forces, F1 at 1N directed at -30° and F2 at 2N directed to the West. The person has solved similar problems before by finding the vector components and adding them together, but in this example, they only took the x direction into account and ignored the y direction. This is because F1 is diagonally downward and y is constant, so the negative x component of F1 is added to F2 to satisfy F = ma.
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Supernejihh
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Homework Statement


A puck of m = 0.20 kg has F1 of 1N directed -30° and F2 of 2N directed to the West. What is the acceleration?

I've dealt with these problems before by finding the vector components of the angled force and adding it to the other forces. This meant i took into account both x and y directions. However in this book example, they did (1N*cos30 - 2N)/0.20 kg = -5.7 m/s^2. Why did they only take the x direction into account when the force also had a y component?


Homework Equations


F = ma


The Attempt at a Solution

 
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Hi Supernejihh! :smile:

(without seeing the full question :redface: …) my guess is that F1 is diagonally downward, and y is constant because the puck can't go through the ice :wink:
 

FAQ: Solving Puck Force Question: Find Acceleration

1. What is the formula for solving puck force question?

The formula for solving puck force question is F = ma, where F is the force, m is the mass of the puck, and a is the acceleration. This formula is derived from Newton's second law of motion.

2. How do you find the acceleration of a puck?

To find the acceleration of a puck, you need to know the force acting on the puck and its mass. Once you have these values, you can use the formula F = ma to calculate the acceleration.

3. What is the unit of measurement for acceleration?

The unit of measurement for acceleration is meters per second squared (m/s²) in the SI system. In the imperial system, it is commonly measured in feet per second squared (ft/s²).

4. Can you solve for acceleration if the mass and force are not given?

No, it is not possible to solve for acceleration if the mass and force are not given. These two values are essential in determining the acceleration of an object using the formula F = ma.

5. How does solving a puck force question relate to real-life applications?

Solving a puck force question can help us understand the concept of force and its effect on an object's acceleration. This knowledge is crucial in various real-life applications, such as designing cars, airplanes, and other machines that require precise control of acceleration and force.

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