While riding uphill, a cyclist together with her bicycle has a total mass of 90kg. She wishes to increase her speed by producing an acceleration of 0.50m s−2. The opposing force of air resistance acting on the cyclist–bicycle system is 12N opposite to the direction of motion.
Answer the following questions:
(a) Calculate the net force required to give the cyclist the stated acceleration.
(b) Determine the force that the cyclist must exert through the pedals in order to achieve this acceleration in the presence of air resistance.
(c) If the cyclist can actually maintain only 40N of force, compute the acceleration she will obtain under the same conditions.