Scenario: Consider a skateboard that is resting on a flat surface. On the left side of the skateboard, a person is pushing with a force of 50 Newtons (N) to the right, while on the right side, a friend is pushing with a force of 30 N to the left.
Forces Applied:
- Left Side (pusher 1): 50 N to the right
- Right Side (pusher 2): 30 N to the left
Net Force Calculation: To find the net force acting on the skateboard, subtract the force applied on the right from the force applied on the left:
\[ \text{Net Force} = \text{Force Left} - \text{Force Right} \] \[ \text{Net Force} = 50 , \text{N} , \text{(right)} - 30 , \text{N} , \text{(left)} \] \[ \text{Net Force} = 20 , \text{N} , \text{(to the right)} \]
Direction of Acceleration: Since the net force of 20 N is acting to the right, the skateboard will accelerate in that direction.
Observation of Motion:
- The skateboard will start moving to the right because the net force is greater in that direction.
- According to Newton's second law (\( F = ma \)), the acceleration can be calculated if the mass of the skateboard is known. For simplicity, let’s say the mass of the skateboard and the person on it is 10 kg.
Using the formula: \[ a = \frac{F}{m} \] \[ a = \frac{20 , \text{N}}{10 , \text{kg}} = 2 , \text{m/s}^2 \]
Thus, the skateboard will accelerate at \( 2 , \text{m/s}^2 \) to the right.
Conclusion: In this scenario, the forces are unbalanced, as the force applied to the right is stronger than the force applied to the left. The skateboard accelerates to the right with a net force of 20 N, and the calculated acceleration is \( 2 , \text{m/s}^2 \).
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