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Ch 05: Force and Motion
Chapter 5, Problem 5

A single force with x-component Fₓ acts on a 2.0 kg object as it moves along the x-axis. A graph of Fₓ versus t is shown in FIGURE P5.32. Draw an acceleration graph aₓ versus t) for this object.

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1
Identify the mass of the object, which is given as 2.0 kg. This will be used to relate the force to the acceleration using Newton's second law.
Use Newton's second law, F = ma, to express the acceleration as a = F/m. Since the mass m = 2.0 kg, the acceleration aₓ can be calculated by dividing the force Fₓ by the mass.
Examine the graph of Fₓ versus t to determine the values of Fₓ at different times. These values are necessary to calculate the corresponding acceleration values aₓ at those times.
For each time t on the Fₓ versus t graph, calculate the acceleration aₓ using the formula aₓ = Fₓ / 2.0 kg. This will give you the acceleration at each point in time.
Plot the calculated acceleration values aₓ against the corresponding times t to create the acceleration graph aₓ versus t. This graph will visually represent how the acceleration of the object changes over time.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Newton's Second Law of Motion

Newton's Second Law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. This relationship is expressed mathematically as F = ma, where F is the net force, m is the mass, and a is the acceleration. In this scenario, understanding this law is crucial for determining how the force Fₓ affects the acceleration of the 2.0 kg object.
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Force vs. Time Graphs

A force vs. time graph illustrates how the force acting on an object changes over time. The area under the curve of this graph represents the impulse, which is the change in momentum of the object. By analyzing the shape and values of the Fₓ versus t graph, one can derive the corresponding acceleration graph aₓ versus t, as acceleration is directly related to the force applied.
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Acceleration

Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity of an object with respect to time. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. In this context, the acceleration graph aₓ versus t will show how the acceleration of the 2.0 kg object varies as the force Fₓ changes over time, providing insights into the object's motion along the x-axis.
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