AP Physics 1 L5: Fnet = 0

Started: __not yet__________ Finished: ________

In previous activities we determined that if you apply a constant force to an object, the object will accelerate.
Exercise 5.0
Sketch a v-t graph for a cart, starting at rest, pulled by a constant net force.

Exercise 5.1
Sketch a graph for a cart starting at rest, and pulled by two forces of equal magnitude in opposite directions.

Exercise 5.2
Sketch a graph for a cart starting at rest, and pulled by a 10 N net force for 3 seconds. At t=3s, a 5N force is exerted in the
opposite direction, and Fnet is immediately reduced to 5N. From 3s-6s, Fnet is maintained at 5N.

a)
b)
c)

On the above graph you sketched, add another line that represents F net being reduced to 2.5N
Add a third line with Fnet reduced to 1N
Add a fourth line with Fnet reduced to 0N.

d)

Consider the following discussion about the exercise above:

Student 1: If an object is moving at a constant speed there must be no forces interacting with the cart
Student 2: I disagree. If the forces are equal and opposite, the cart could move at a constant speed
Student 3: If the Fnet =0, the cart has to be at rest!
With whom do you agree? Explain.

e)

Explain how you would use two battery-powered toy cars to demonstrate Exercise 5c, and the student discussion.

Practice MC:
1. A net force F acts on a mass m and produces an acceleration a. What acceleration results if a net force 2F acts on mass 4m?
A) a/2
B) 8a
C) 4a

D) 2a
2. Mass and weight
A) both measure the same thing.
B) are exactly equal.
C) are two different quantities.
D) are both measured in kilograms.
3. Starting from rest, a 4.0-kg body reaches a speed of 8.0 m/s in 2.0 s. What is the net force acting on the body?
A) 4.0 N
B) 8.0 N
C) 16 N
D) 32 N
4. A horizontal force of 5.0 N accelerates a 4.0-kg mass, from rest, at a rate of 0.50 m/s 2 in the positive direction. What friction
force acts on the mass?
A) 2.0 N
B) 3.0 N
C) 4.0 N
D) 5.0 N

FIGURE 4-3
5. Two boxes of masses m and 2m are in contact with each other on a frictionless surface. (See Fig. 4-3.) What is the
acceleration of the more massive box?
A) F/m
B) F/(2m)
C) F/(3m)
D) F/(4m)

HW (for Tuesday, 11/18/2014)

g 1.7 m s ,
2

1.

What is the downward pull of a 76-kg astronaut (a) on Earth, (b) on the Moon

(c) on Mars

g 3.7 m s ,
(d) in outer space traveling with constant velocity?

2.

Your groceries are in a bag with paper handles. The handles will tear off if a force greater than 51.0 N is applied to
them. What is the greatest mass of groceries that can be lifted safely with this bag, given that the bag is raised (a) with

1.35 m/s 2 ?
constant speed, or (b) with an acceleration of