PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
In a classroom experiment, a student intends to move a low-friction cart of mass 2.5kg along a straight track by attaching several identical rubber bands. Each rubber band, when stretched to the planned length, can exert a force of 2.0N. The student’s goal is to give the cart an acceleration of 1.8×103cm s−2.
Respond to the tasks below:
(i) Convert the required acceleration to SI units.
(ii) Calculate the total force that must act on the cart to achieve this acceleration.
(iii) Estimate the minimum number of rubber bands the student should use.
(iv) If the student actually uses this number of rubber bands but the cart carries an additional load of 0.5kg, determine the acceleration that will be produced.