Physics (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1118486897
ISBN 13: 978-1-11848-689-4

Chapter 4 - Forces and Newton's Laws of Motion - Check Your Understanding - Page 85: 5

Answer

In case (c), the acceleration does not change.

Work Step by Step

Newton's 2nd law states that $$\sum F=ma$$ (a) Because $\sum F=F_1+F_2+ ...+F_n$, if all these forces double, $\sum F$ will double and $a$ will double as a result. (b) Following Newton's 2nd law, $\sum F$ acted on the object doubles will lead to $a$ doubling. (c) Both $\sum F$ doubling and $m$ doubling cancel out each other so $a$ stays the same. (d) If $m$ is reduced by half and $\sum F$ remains the same, from Newton's 2nd law, $a$ has to double to cater for the loss of $m$. So (c) is the exception.
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