A force F acts in the forward direction on a cart of mass m. A friction force ff opposes this motion. Part A Use Newton's second law and express the acceleration of the cart. Express your answer in terms of the variables F, f, and m.

a = F-ff/m

Explanation:

According to Newton's second law of motion which states that "the rate of change in momentum of a body is directly proportional to the applied force F and acts in the direction of the force.

Mathematically;

F = ma

Since two forces acts on the cart i.e the moving force F and the frictional force Ff , we will take the sum of the forces.

∑F = ma where

m is the mass of the cart

a is its acceleration

∑F = F+(-ff )(since frictional force is an opposing force)

F - ff = ma

Dividing both sides by mass m

a = F-ff/m

the minimum constant speed at which she can catch the train is 2.7 m/s

given:

acceleration = 0.6

time = 4.5 s

to find:

velocity = ?

formula used:

from 1st kinematic equation we get,

v = u + at

u = initial speed of train = 0 m/s

v = final speed of the train

a = acceleration of the train

t = time

solution:

from 1st kinematic equation we get,

v = u + at

u = initial speed of train = 0 m/s

v = final speed of the train

a = acceleration of the train

t = time

v = 0 + (0.6 × 4.5)

v = 2.7 m/s

the minimum constant speed at which she can catch the train is 2.7 m/s