Reflection on Calculating Acceleration of a Cart

How can we calculate the acceleration of a cart?

Given data:

• The mass of the cart is 0.5 kg.
• The force pulling the cart is 2 N.

Calculation of Cart's Acceleration

According to Newton's second law, the force acting on the cart in terms of the mass and acceleration of the cart is:

Newton's second law states that the force (F) acting on an object is equal to the mass (m) of the object multiplied by its acceleration (a), expressed as F = ma. To calculate the acceleration of the cart in this scenario, we can use the formula:

a = F / m

Substitute the given values into the formula:

a = 2 N / 0.5 kg = 4 m/s^2

Therefore, the acceleration of the cart is 4 meters per second squared. This calculation demonstrates the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration, highlighting the fundamental principles of physics at work.