Lesson: Systems of Unbalanced Forces

A hot-air balloon has a mass of 350 kg. The balloon is near the ground, and two ropes were thrown out for people on the ground to grab onto in order to help pull the balloon to the ground. Before the ropes are pulled, the balloon accelerates vertically downward at 0.25 m/s². And when the ropes are pulled, it accelerates downward at 1.5 m/s². Each rope has the same force applied to it, and each person pulling on the rope has a mass of 75 kg. How many newtons does each person who holds a rope apparently weigh while holding onto it?

A cyclist supplies a force of 250 N to her bicycle. She and the bicycle together have a mass of 130 kg. The bicycle accelerates at 1.5 m/s² as it travels into a headwind that applies a 15 N force in the opposite direction to the bicycle’s velocity, and friction acts on the bicycle in the same direction as the wind. How much force, in newtons, is supplied by friction?

A car with a mass of 320 kg is having engine problems, so it is being towed behind a van while the driver of the malfunctioning car tries to start its engine. The van supplies a force of 960 N to the car, and a friction force of 160 N acts in the opposite direction to the car’s motion. The malfunctioning motor starts to work and provides the car with a force of 160 N. What is the acceleration of the car when its engine starts working?

A piano of mass 300 kg is moved along a horizontal surface by a person pushing from one side and another person pulling from the other. The piano accelerates at 0.25 m/s². The pushing force is 120 N, and a friction force of 60 N acts in the opposite direction to the piano’s velocity. What is the pulling force? Consider the direction in which the piano moves to be the positive direction.

An object has three forces acting on it, as shown in the diagram. What is the magnitude of the net force on the object?

Three demolition workers push on a wall. The workers push with forces of 80 N, 50 N, and 60 N on the same side of the wall, parallel to each other. What is the total force acting on the wall?

An airplane with a mass of kg flies horizontally at a constant speed. The airplane then increases its horizontal speed and the lift force produced by its wings increases to 30 kN, increasing the airplane’s altitude. How much has the airplane’s altitude increased by when it has an instantaneous upward velocity of 25 m/s?