Worked example
A 4 kg cart experiences a net force of 12 N to the right. What is its acceleration magnitude?
Answer & why
Answer: 3 m/s²
a = 12 ÷ 4 = 3 m/s², directed right.
Grade 11 · Science
Use net force to calculate acceleration
Apply Fnet = ma in one dimension using mass in kilograms and net force in newtons.
6 authored questions + worked example
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All questions
All 6 authored questions for this skill.
Question 1
A 3 kg cart experiences a net force of 18 N. What is its acceleration magnitude?
- 6 m/s²
- 3 m/s²
- 1 m/s²
- 2 m/s²
A hint
Find the net force, combining all stated forces with direction.
Answer & why
Answer: 6 m/s²
a = 18 ÷ 3 = 6 m/s².
Question 2
A 2 kg cart experiences forces of 12 N right and 4 N left. What is its acceleration magnitude?
- 4 m/s²
- 3 m/s²
- 2 m/s²
- 1 m/s²
A hint
Find the net force, combining all stated forces with direction.
Answer & why
Answer: 4 m/s²
Net force = 12 − 4 = 8 N right; a = 8 ÷ 2 = 4 m/s².
Question 3
A 6 kg cart experiences a net force of 6 N. What is its acceleration magnitude?
- 2 m/s²
- 1 m/s²
- 3 m/s²
- 4 m/s²
A hint
Find the net force, combining all stated forces with direction.
Answer & why
Answer: 1 m/s²
a = 6 ÷ 6 = 1 m/s².
Question 4
A 4 kg cart experiences a net force of 20 N. What is its acceleration magnitude?
- 2 m/s²
- 1 m/s²
- 3 m/s²
- 5 m/s²
A hint
Find the net force, combining all stated forces with direction.
Answer & why
Answer: 5 m/s²
a = 20 ÷ 4 = 5 m/s².
Question 5
A 4 kg cart experiences a net force of 12 N to the right. What is its acceleration magnitude?
- 4 m/s²
- 1 m/s²
- 3 m/s²
- 2 m/s²
A hint
Find the net force, combining all stated forces with direction.
Answer & why
Answer: 3 m/s²
a = 12 ÷ 4 = 3 m/s², directed right.
Question 6
A 5 kg cart experiences a net force of 10 N. What is its acceleration magnitude?
- 3 m/s²
- 2 m/s²
- 4 m/s²
- 1 m/s²
A hint
Find the net force, combining all stated forces with direction.
Answer & why
Answer: 2 m/s²
a = 10 ÷ 5 = 2 m/s².