Question

if the block in the picture has an acceleration of 1 m/s2, what would be the blocks mass? 2 kg 0.125 kg 8 kg 0.5 kg

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate net force

The forces are \(3N\) (right) and \(5N\) (left). Net force \(F_{net}=5 - 3=2N\) (left - direction is accounted in magnitude as per formula \(F = ma\)).

Step2: Use Newton's second law \(F = ma\)

We know \(F_{net}=2N\) and \(a = 1m/s^{2}\). Rearranging \(F=ma\) for \(m\), we get \(m=\frac{F_{net}}{a}\).
Substitute \(F_{net}=2N\) and \(a = 1m/s^{2}\) into \(m=\frac{F_{net}}{a}\), so \(m=\frac{2}{1}=2kg\).

Answer:

2 kg