Question

a force F applied to an object of mass m1 produces an acceleration of 3.30m/s^2. the same force applied to a second object of mass m2 produces an acceleration of 1.5m/s^2


if m1 and m2 are combined, find their acceleration under the action of the force F.

Answer 1

m1 = F/3.3
m2 = F/1.5
so
(m1+m2) = F(1/3.3 + 1/1.5) = .970 F
a = F/(.970 F) = 1.03 m/s^2

Answer 2

The mass m2 is larger than m1 by a factor
3.30/1.50 = 2.2

The combined mass m1 + m2 is therefore
m1 + 2.2m1 = 3.2 m1

When the same force F acts, acceleration will be ne 3.2 tikmes less than when it acted on m1, or
a = 3.30 m/s^2/3.2 = 1.03 m/s^2