Question

A horse pulls a cart with constant force so that the cart moves with a constant speed.

1. Does it violate Newtons second law of motion?

2 If not, how will you account for the non acceleration of the cart?

3. Will the speed of the cart increase, decrease or remain the same if the horse applied more force?

4. A body of mass 5kg is acted upon by two perpendicular forces 8N and 6N. Give the magnitude and direction of the acceleration of the body.

Answer 1

1. No.

2. The force applied by the car is balanced by the frictional force. Hence the cart moves with constant velocity.

3. If the horse is applied more force, the speed of the cart increases.

4. The resultant force,

F = 10N

We know, F = ma

10 = 5 × a

acceleration, a = \(\frac{5}{10}\) = 2 m/sec²

The angle of resultant force,

θ = tan^-1 6/8

θ = 36°52¹

The angle of acceleration θ = 36°52¹.