Physics Dynamics Workbook

1 - Basic Dynamics Problems Involving a Single Force

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, assume rectilinear motion in the absence of friction.

1-1. What is the acceleration of a 1300 kg automobile if acted upon by

a single force of 2600 N ? 2 m/s2

1-2. What mass would be accelerated at 4 m/s2 by a force of 10 N?

2.5 kg

1-3. A net force F causes a mass m1 of 4 kg to accelerate at a rate of

6 m/s2. This same force F causes a second mass m2 to accelerate
at 8 m/s2. What is the value of m2 ? 3 kg

1-4. A force of 8 N applied separately to each of two objects, results in

accelerations of 20 m/s2 and 5 m/s2. The two objects are then tied
together and the same force of 8 N is applied to them. Neglecting
friction, what will be the resulting acceleration of this combination? 4 m/s2

1-5. A certain force accelerates a cart at a rate of 0.5 m/s2. What acceleration
would the same force produce on 3 carts (joined together)? 0.17 m/s2

SOLUTIONS

1-1. What is the acceleration of a 1300 kg automobile if acted upon by

a single force of 2600 N ?

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Quantities Appropriate Formula Isolate Unknown Substitute Quantities Answer with units
m = 1300 kg
FNET = 2600 N FNET = m • a a = FNET / m a = 2600 / 1300 a = 2 m/s2
a=?

1-2. What mass would be accelerated at 4 m/s2 by a force of 10 N?

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Quantities Appropriate Formula Isolate Unknown Substitute Quantities Answer with units
a = 4 m/s2
FNET = 10 N FNET = m • a m = FNET / a m = 10 / 4 m = 2.5 kg
m=?
1-3. A net force F causes a mass m1 of 4 kg to accelerate at a rate of
6 m/s2. This same force F causes a second mass m2 to accelerate
at 8 m/s2. What is the value of m2 ?

This is a problem involving 2 situations therefore requiring 2 procedures.

First mass

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Quantities Appropriate Formula Isolate Unknown Substitute Quantities Answer with units
m = 4 kg
a = 6 m/s2 FNET = m • a FNET = m • a FNET = 4 x 6 FNET = 24 N
FNET = ?

Second mass

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Quantities Appropriate Formula Isolate Unknown Substitute Quantities Answer with units
FNET = 24 N
a = 8 m/s2 FNET = m • a m = FNET / a m = 24 / 8 m = 3 kg
m=?

1-4. A force of 8 N applied separately to each of two objects, results in

accelerations of 20 m/s2 and 5 m/s2. The two objects are then tied
together and the same force of 8 N is applied to them. Neglecting
friction, what will be the resulting acceleration of this combination?

This is a problem involving 3 situations therefore requiring 3 procedures.

First object

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Quantities Appropriate Formula Isolate Unknown Substitute Quantities Answer with units
FNET = 8 N
a = 20 m/s2 FNET = m • a m = FNET / a m = 8 / 20 m = 0.4 kg
m=?

Second object

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Quantities Appropriate Formula Isolate Unknown Substitute Quantities Answer with units
FNET = 8 N
a = 5 m/s2 FNET = m • a m = FNET / a m=8/5 m = 1.6 kg
m=?
Both objects tied together

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Quantities Appropriate Formula Isolate Unknown Substitute Quantities Answer with units
m = 2 kg
FNET = 8 N FNET = m • a a = FNET / m a=8/2 a = 4 m/s2
a=?

1-5. A certain force accelerates a cart at a rate of 0.5 m/s2. What acceleration
would the same force produce on 3 carts (joined together)?

This is a problem involving 2 situations therefore requiring 2 procedures.

Single cart

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Quantities Appropriate Formula Isolate Unknown Substitute Quantities Answer with units
m = mCART
a = 0.5 m/s2 FNET = m • a FNET = m • a FNET = mCART • 0.5 FNET = 0.5•mCART
FNET = ?

Three carts

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Quantities Appropriate Formula Isolate Unknown Substitute Quantities Answer with units
m = 3•mCART
FNET = 0.5•mCART FNET = m • a a = FNET / m a = 0.5•mCART / 3•mCART a = 0.167 m/s2
a=?

This problem may be solved by assuming a value for the mass of a single cart (e.g. 1 kg).
However, the reader is encouraged to solve such problems without resorting to assumed values.
You’ll see why next year…