Question

A flea jumps by exerting a force of 1.12 10^-5 N straight down on the ground. A breeze blowing on the flea parallel to the ground exerts a force of 1.12 10^-6 N on the flea. Find the direction and magnitude (in m/s²) of the acceleration of the flea if its mass is 6.0 10^-7 kg. (Let us assume that F_wind points to the right. We will consider this to be the +x direction and vertical to be the +y direction.)

magnitude ____ m/s²

direction

Answer 1

here,

the force applied on Flea by ground , F1 = 1.12 * 10^-5 N

the force applied by wind , F2 = 1.12 * 10^-6 N

mass , m = 6 * 10^-7 kg

the magnitude of net force , |F| = sqrt(F1^2 + F2^2)

|F| = sqrt(1.12^2 + 0.112^2) * 10^-5 N

|F| = 1.13 * 10^-5 N

the magnitude of acceleration , |a| = |F| /m

|a| = 1.13 * 10^-5 /(6 * 10^-7) m/s^2

|a| = 18.83 m/s^2

the direction of force , theta = arctan(F2 /F1)

theta = arctan(0.112 /1.12) = 5.7 degree above the horizontal