Exciting Physics Problem: Finding the Net Force

How can we determine the magnitude of the net force acting on a kayak?

A person in a kayak starts paddling, accelerates from 0 to 0.419 m/s in a distance of 0.413 m. With a combined mass of 82.2 kg, what is the net force?

Calculation and Final Answer

The magnitude of the net force acting on the kayak is 83.48 N.

Let's dive into the exciting world of physics! In this problem, we are tasked with finding the net force acting on a kayak when a person starts paddling and accelerates it. The key to solving this lies in Newton's second law of motion, which states that force is equal to mass times acceleration (F = ma).

First, we need to calculate the acceleration of the kayak. We can find this by dividing the change in velocity by the change in distance. The kayak accelerates from 0 to 0.419 m/s over a distance of 0.413 m, giving us an acceleration of 1.015 m/s².

Next, we can plug the values into the formula F = ma. With a combined mass of 82.2 kg, we multiply it by the acceleration to get the net force acting on the kayak, which is 83.48 N. This force is what propels the kayak forward as the person paddles.

Understanding the magnitude of the net force in this scenario helps us appreciate the importance of Newton's laws in describing the motion of objects. Physics offers us a fascinating window into the workings of the world around us, from the simplest movements to the complexities of the universe.