Newton's second law Transitional Reasoning Practice
5 Physics practice questions on Newton's second law. Questions that build towards applied reasoning.
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Questions
- 1.
During an experimental trial on a frictionless horizontal surface, an autonomous robotic probe with a mass of 20 kg is driven by two independent thrusters operating simultaneously. Thruster 1 applies a steady horizontal force of 36 N directed toward the north, while Thruster 2 applies a steady horizontal force of 48 N directed toward the east. According to Newton's second law, what is the magnitude of the probe's acceleration during this maneuver?
- 2.
A weather research balloon payload with a total mass of 12 kg descends vertically toward a landing zone. To slow its descent, an onboard retro-thruster fires to deliver a constant upward thrust of 162 N while atmospheric resistance exerts an additional upward drag force of 18 N. Assuming the local acceleration due to gravity is 10 m/s², what is the magnitude of the vertical acceleration of the payload during this braking maneuver?
- 3.
On a frictionless horizontal testing track, an electric actuator pushes two touching crates, crate X with a mass of 15 kg and crate Y with a mass of 10 kg, by applying a constant horizontal force of 75 N directly to crate X. The two crates accelerate together along the track in a straight line. What is the magnitude of the horizontal contact force exerted by crate X on crate Y?
- 4.
During a field test of an autonomous robotic rover on a horizontal surface, an internal motor provides a constant forward thrust while a constant surface resistance of 2.0 N opposes the motion. In the initial trial, the 4.0 kg rover accelerates forward at 2.0 m/s². The engineering team then removes a sensor pack to reduce the rover's mass to 3.0 kg and doubles the forward thrust of the motor, while the opposing resistance remains 2.0 N. What is the magnitude of the rover's forward acceleration in the second trial?
- 5.
In a physics laboratory investigation, a student applies a constant horizontal net force of 12 N to an empty cart resting on a frictionless horizontal track, resulting in an acceleration of 4.0 m/s². The student then places a cargo box inside the cart and pulls the combination with a net force of 15 N, observing an acceleration of 3.0 m/s². Based on Newton's second law, what is the mass of the cargo box?
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