Question

Gary, an online physics student, has a mass of 80.5 kg. His new bicycle has a mass of 13.7 kg. Gary is pedaling so that a net (unbalanced) force of 9.86 N accelerates him and his bicycle. What is the value of the acceleration?
Notice the two masses are added together because the 9.86 N force accelerates the system of masses.
m = 13.7 kg + 80.5 kg = 94.2 kg
F = 9.86 N
a = ?
F = ma
a = F/m = 9.86 N/94.2 kg
F = 0.10467 m/s2
F = 0.105 m/s2

Answer 1

Answer:

Acceleration, $a=0.105\ m/s^2$

Explanation:

It is given that,

Mass of Gary, m = 80.5 kg

Mass of his bicycle, m' = 13.7 kg

Net unbalanced force acting on him, F = 9.86 N

Let a is the value of acceleration. Both cycle and Gary will move with same acceleration. Using the second law of motion to find it as :

$F=ma$

$F=(m+m')a$

$a=\dfrac{F}{m+m'}$

$a=\dfrac{9.86}{80.5+13.7}$

$a=0.10467\ m/s^2$

or

$a=0.105\ m/s^2$

So, the value of acceleration of the Gary and bicycle is $0.105\ m/s^2$. Hence, this is the required solution.