Question

read the diagram the diagram shows the net force (f) acting on a cart with a mass (m) and an acceleration (a). draw the acceleration arrow when the carts mass is 3m. what is the magnitude of the arrow? explain your answer.

Explanation:

Step1: Apply Newton's second - law

According to Newton's second - law $F = ma$. Initially, we have $F=ma$.

Step2: Find new acceleration

When the mass is $3m$ and the force $F$ remains the same, we use $F = (3m)a_{new}$. Since $F = ma$, then $ma=(3m)a_{new}$. Solving for $a_{new}$, we divide both sides of the equation $ma=(3m)a_{new}$ by $3m$. So $a_{new}=\frac{F}{3m}$. And because $F = ma$, we can substitute $F$ to get $a_{new}=\frac{a}{3}$.

Answer:

The magnitude of the acceleration arrow is $\frac{a}{3}$.