A constant force acting on a body of mass 3.0 kg changes its speed from 2.0 m s–1 to 3.5 m s–1 in 25 s. The direction of the motion of the body remains unchanged. What is the magnitude and direction of the force?
Given,
Mass of the body, m = 3 kg
Initial speed of the body, u = 2 m/s
Final speed of the body, v = 3.5 m/s
Time, t = 25 s
Using the first equation of motion,
v = u + at
Acceleration(a) produced in the body, a =
Therefore,
Now, according to Newton's second law of motion, we have
F = ma
= 3 x 0.06
= 0.018 N
Since the application of force does not change the direction of the body, the net force acting on the body is in the direction of its motion.