A Person in a Kayak Starts Paddling: Calculating the Net Force Acting on the Kayak
A Person in a Kayak Starts Paddling: Calculating the Net Force Acting on the Kayak
A person in a kayak starts paddling, and it accelerates from 0 to 0.509 m/s in a distance of 0.555 m. If the combined mass of the person and the kayak is 63.4 kg, what is the magnitude of the net force acting on the kayak?
Question:
What is the magnitude of the net force acting on the kayak?
Answer:
The magnitude of the net force acting on the kayak is 14.77 N.
Explanation:
Given:
Initial velocity of the kayak, u = 0
Final velocity of the kayak, v = 0.509 m/s
Distance traveled by the kayak, d = 0.555 m
Combined mass of the person and kayak, m = 63.4 kg
Determine the acceleration of the kayak by using the following kinematic equation:
v² = u² + 2ad
(0.509)² = 0 + (2 x 0.555)a
0.259081 = 1.11a
a = 0.259081 / 1.11
a = 0.233 m/s²
The magnitude of the net force acting on the kayak is calculated by using Newton's second law of motion:
F = ma
F = 63.4 x 0.233
F = 14.77 N
Therefore, the magnitude of the net force acting on the kayak is 14.77 N.