Question

as shown in the diagram below, an open box and its contents have a combined ma a horizontal force of 15 newtons is required to push the box at a constant speed of 1 across a level surface. the inertia of the box and its contents increases if there is an increase in the (1) speed of the box (2) mass of the contents of the box (3) magnitude of the horizontal force applied to the box (4) coefficient of kinetic friction between the box and the level surface

Explanation:

Inertia is a property of matter that depends solely on mass. According to the concept of inertia, the greater the mass of an object, the greater its inertia.

• Option (1): Speed does not affect inertia. Inertia is independent of the object's speed.
• Option (2): Increasing the mass of the contents of the box increases the total mass of the box - and - contents system. Since inertia is directly related to mass, this will increase the inertia.
• Option (3): The magnitude of the applied force has no direct relation to the inertia of the object. Inertia is a characteristic of the object's mass, not the force acting on it.
• Option (4): The coefficient of kinetic friction is related to the frictional force \(F_f=\mu_k N\) (where \(N = mg\) for a horizontal surface). It has no relation to the inertia of the object.

Answer:

(2) mass of the contents of the box