Austin C. answered • 03/14/21
Computer Science student @ University of North Texas
With any question like this, our first step should be to think, "what units are used with the numbers I am given? Do I know any formulas that use those units?"
In this case, we have mass, in the form of kilograms. We also have Force, in the form of Newtons. Finally, we have some mystery amount of acceleration, in the form m/s2.
Remember from class that Force is equal to Mass times Acceleration. We know a formula for this: F=MA. (If that doesn't look familiar, don't worry! However, it is a very common formula in physics, so commit it to memory. F=MA. F=MA. F=MA. Got it? Ok!)
If we rearrange that formula using our friend Algebra, we get A=F/M. Acceleration is equal to Force divided by Mass. Plug in our numbers, and we get A=12/5.8, or A=~2.069.
So the acceleration of a 5.8kg bowling ball pushed by a 12N force is 2.069m/s2.
