Question

1. a 15.5 kg box is pushed across the lunch table. the acceleration of the box is 24.2 m/s². what was the net force applied to the box?

Explanation:

Step1: Recall Newton's Second Law

Newton's second law states that the net force \( F_{net} \) acting on an object is equal to the mass \( m \) of the object multiplied by its acceleration \( a \), i.e., \( F_{net}=m\times a \).

Step2: Identify given values

The mass \( m = 15.5\space kg \) and the acceleration \( a = 24.2\space m/s^{2} \).

Step3: Calculate the net force

Substitute the given values into the formula: \( F_{net}=15.5\space kg\times24.2\space m/s^{2} \).
First, multiply \( 15.5\times24.2 \):
\( 15.5\times24.2=(15 + 0.5)\times24.2=15\times24.2+0.5\times24.2=363 + 12.1 = 375.1 \).
So, \( F_{net}=375.1\space N \).

Answer:

The net force applied to the box is \( \boldsymbol{375.1\space N} \).