Trouble finding Fnet without a known mass for an acceleration. Please assist.

In summary, a car with an initial velocity of 22.2 m/s enters a muddy area of 25.0 m where it slows down to 15.3 m/s. Using the equations 2d/vi+vf=ΔT and a=vf^2-vi^2/2d, we can determine that the car was in the muddy area for 1.33 seconds and experienced an acceleration of -5.19 m/s. However, without knowing the mass, we cannot calculate the net force causing the acceleration. It is possible that some information is missing from the problem statement.
  • #1
*sperry*
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1. A car is moving to the right with velocity 22.2 m/s when it enters an area having a soft, muddy surface. If the soft surface is only 25.0 m long, but the car slows to 15.3 m/s while going through the muddy area, answer the following:

A) What length of time (in seconds) was the car in the muddy area?

B) What acceleration did the car experience?

C) What was the value of the net force causing the acceleration?



2. 2d/vi+vf=ΔT
a=vf^2-vi^2/2d
Fnet=ma



3. A) ΔT=1.33s

B) a=-5.19m/s

C) Answer is apparently -6220 N but I don't know how to get it.



I have trouble getting C. I don't have a mass so I'm not sure how to find Fnet. I feel like I'm missing a relationship here.
 
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  • #2
Without the mass you cannot determine the force. Did you leave any information out of the problem statement?
 

FAQ: Trouble finding Fnet without a known mass for an acceleration. Please assist.

How can I find Fnet without knowing the mass or acceleration?

There are two ways to find Fnet without knowing the mass or acceleration. One way is to use the equation Fnet = ma, where Fnet is the net force, m is the mass, and a is the acceleration. Rearranging the equation, we can solve for Fnet by dividing both sides by the unknown mass. Another way is to use Newton's Second Law, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration.

Can I use a different equation to find Fnet without knowing the mass or acceleration?

Yes, you can also use the equation Fnet = Δp/Δt, where Δp is the change in momentum and Δt is the change in time. This equation is known as the impulse-momentum theorem and is often used in scenarios where the mass or acceleration is not known.

What if I don't have any information about the object's motion?

If you don't have any information about the object's motion, then it is not possible to find Fnet without knowing the mass or acceleration. In order to calculate Fnet, we need at least one of these variables to be known. It is important to gather as much information as possible about the object's motion in order to accurately calculate Fnet.

Can I use a force meter to find Fnet without knowing the mass or acceleration?

No, a force meter will only measure the magnitude of the force, not the net force. In order to find the net force, we need to know the mass and acceleration of the object, or have information about the change in momentum over time.

Is it possible to find Fnet if I only know the object's velocity?

No, knowing only the object's velocity is not enough to calculate Fnet. We also need information about the mass or acceleration, or the change in momentum over time. Without this information, it is not possible to accurately determine the net force acting on the object.

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