mechanic 1 edexcel help

s234590

when do you put =MA at the end? Sounds like a silly question but im just a bit confused! thanks

Reply 1

Kevin De Bruyne

Original post by s234590

when do you put =MA at the end? Sounds like a silly question but im just a bit confused! thanks

I'm not sure what you mean - where have you seen this before?

Reply 2

Chicken Fajita

You find the resultant force by resolving and if the resultant force has an unknown you put F(resultant)=MA and insert the acceleration and mass to find unknown; for example the coefficient of friction. Or you do it the other way round, for example you're trying to find the acceleration you put the resultant force and mass into equation, rearrange and viola.

Reply 3

s234590

Original post by SeanFM

I'm not sure what you mean - where have you seen this before?

Wasnt very well explained sorry.

You see you have questions where you have to resolve the forces because they are at an angle how comes sometimes when you resolve you =ma
and sometime you just pick a positive direction and make for example the horizontal equal to eachother.

Does that make more sense?

Reply 4

Kevin De Bruyne

Original post by s234590

Hmm. A specific example or exam question would be helpful to see where you're getting stuck, but when you're resolving forces you find the resultant force on the mass - which is given by MA.

Reply 5

User1443542

Original post by s234590

If the object is in equilibrium in the direction you're taking, resolve the forces. If it's not in equilibrium in the direction, i.e. you have a resultant force, F=ma, and plug in numbers

Reply 6

s234590

Original post by devangdave

If the object is in equilibrium in the direction you're taking, resolve the forces. If it's not in equilibrium in the direction, i.e. you have a resultant force, F=ma, and plug in numbers