Question

which box (a or b) would experience a greater acceleration based on the diagram below (a and b have the same mass)?
20 n
a
100 n
b
they will have the same acceleration
a
b

Explanation:

Step1: Recall Newton's second law

Newton's second law is \(F = ma\), where \(F\) is the force, \(m\) is the mass, and \(a\) is the acceleration. We can solve for \(a\) to get \(a=\frac{F}{m}\).

Step2: Compare the accelerations

Since \(m_A = m_B\) (given that \(A\) and \(B\) have the same mass). Let \(m=m_A = m_B\). For box \(A\), \(a_A=\frac{F_A}{m}\) with \(F_A = 20N\). For box \(B\), \(a_B=\frac{F_B}{m}\) with \(F_B=100N\). Since \(F_B>F_A\) and \(m\) is the same for both boxes, and \(a\propto F\) (when \(m\) is constant), we have \(a_B > a_A\).

Answer:

C. B