Physics Dynamics Workbook

Dynamics Problems Involving Several Collinear Forces

2-1. A 1300 kg automobile accelerates at 2 m/s2. What must be the force

exerted by the car's motor if frictional forces total 1500 N? 4100 N

2-2. Two dogs are pulling on a 2 kg steak. One pulls with a force of 250 N to
the right and the other dog pulls with a force of 275 N to the left.
What is the resulting acceleration of the steak? 12.5 m/s2 [left]

2-3. A 1000 kg car experiences an air resistance of 4000 N and road friction of
3000 N. The wheels push with a force of 7300 N.
What is the car's acceleration? 0.30 m/s2

SOLUTIONS

2-1. A 1300 kg automobile accelerates at 2 m/s2. What must be the force

exerted by the car's motor if frictional forces total 1500 N?
Let the direction in which the car is moving (forward) be the positive (+) direction.
The force of friction acts in the opposite, negative, direction.

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Quantities Appropriate Formula Isolate Unknown Substitute Quantities Answer with units
m = 1300 kg
Fm + Ff = m • a
a = 2 m/s2
FNET = m • a Fm = 1300 • 2 – (-1500) Fmotor = 4100 N
Ffriction = -1500 N
Fm = m • a – Ff
Fmotor = ?

2-2. Two dogs are pulling on a 2 kg steak. One pulls with a force of 250 N to
the right and the other dog pulls with a force of 275 N to the left.
What is the resulting acceleration of the steak? 12.5 m/s2 [left]

Let the rightward direction be the positive (+) direction.

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Quantities Appropriate Formula Isolate Unknown Substitute Quantities Answer with units
m = 2 kg
F1 + F2 = m • a
F1 = +250 N a = (250+ -275) a = -12.5 m/s2
FNET = m • a
F2 = -275 N 2 = 12.5 m/s2 [left]
a = (F1 + F2) / m
a=?

2-3. A 1000 kg car is travelling at constant speed. It experiences an air resistance

of 4000 N and road friction of 3000 N. The wheels push with a force of
7300 N. What is the car's acceleration? 0.30 m/s2

Let the direction in which the car is moving (forward) be the positive (+) direction.
The force of friction acts in the opposite, negative, direction.
 Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5
Quantities Appropriate Formula Isolate Unknown* Substitute Quantities Answer with units

m = 1000 kg FNET = -4000 + -3000

Fresistance = -4000 N FNET = Fr + Ff + Fw + 7300
a = -12.5 m/s2
Ffriction = -3000 N FNET = m • a
Fwheels = 7300 N a = FNET / m
FNET = 300 N = 12.5 m/s2 [left]
a=? a = 300 / 1000

* In general, it is convenient to determine FNET separately.