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Ch 07: Newton's Third Law
Chapter 7, Problem 7

A 2.0-m-long, 500 g rope pulls a 10 kg block of ice across a horizontal, frictionless surface. The block accelerates at 2.0 m/s^2. How much force pulls forward on (b) the rope? Assume that the rope is perfectly horizontal.

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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 by the formula F = ma, where F is the net force, m is the mass, and a is the acceleration. In this scenario, the block of ice accelerates due to the force exerted by the rope, allowing us to calculate the force needed to achieve the given acceleration.
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Tension in the Rope

Tension is the force transmitted through a rope or string when it is pulled tight by forces acting from opposite ends. In this problem, the tension in the rope is responsible for pulling the block of ice. Since the surface is frictionless, the tension must equal the net force required to accelerate the block, allowing us to determine how much force is exerted on the rope.
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Mass and Weight

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, typically measured in kilograms, while weight is the force exerted by gravity on that mass. In this context, the mass of the block of ice (10 kg) is crucial for calculating the force needed to accelerate it. Understanding the distinction between mass and weight helps clarify how forces interact in a frictionless environment, as only the mass affects the acceleration when no other forces are present.
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