Finding mass

Question

A 406 N force accelerates a go-cart and its driver from 10.4 m/s to 16.9 m/s in 5.00 seconds. What is the mass of the go-cart plus driver?

Answer 1

First write down what you have:

 

F = 406 N

Vi = 10.4 m/s

Vf = 16.9 m/s

delta t (elapsed time) = 5.00 s

m =?

 

Next step is the appropriate formula. We can use the impulse momentum formula that relates the variables:

 

F* (delta t) = m* (delta V)

 

delta V = Vf - Vi = 16.9 - 10.4 = 6.5 m/s

 

So:  406 * (5) = m* (6.5)

 

so m = (406*5) / 6.5 = 312.31 Kg