A wooden block of mass 10kg lies on a perfectly smooth horizontal table. Two students pull it simultaneously by applying horizontal forces of 40N to the east and 55N to the west, respectively.
a. (i) Draw a labelled free-body diagram for the block showing all horizontal forces.
b. (ii) Determine the magnitude and direction of the net force acting on the block.
c. (iii) Calculate the magnitude and direction of the block’s acceleration.
d. (iv) Explain why the presence of two sizeable forces does not necessarily imply large acceleration. Comment on how the concept of net force resolves the apparent contradiction.