Question

• What net force is needed to accelerate a 1200 kg car along a
horizontal surface from rest to 130 km/h in 80 seconds?

Answer 1

Hi there!

We can begin by converting 130 km/h to m/s:

$\frac{130km}{1hr} * \frac{1hr}{3600s} * \frac{1000m}{1km} = 36.11 m/s$

Find the acceleration associated with this velocity change in the given time frame:

vf = vi + at (vi = 0 m/s)

vf = at

vf/t = a

36.11/80 = 0.45 m/s²

Now, we can calculate Net Force using Newton's Second Law:

∑F = ma

∑F = (1200)(0.45) ≈ 540 N