Question

A man is holding two suitcases, one in each hand. Their masses are 2 kg and 5 kg for the right and the left hand respectively. What is the force exerted by each hand and the total force exerted by man to hold the suitcases?
(Take $g=10{m/s}^2$)

• A. Right: 2 N; Left: 5 N; Total: 7 N
• B. Right: 5 N; Left: 2 N; Total: 3 N
• C. Right: 20 N; Left: 50 N; Total: 70 N
• D. Right: 50 N; Left: 20 N; Total: 30 N

Answer 1

The correct option is C Right: 20 N; Left: 50 N; Total: 70 N

The suitcases are not moving. So, the force exerted by each hand equals the weight of the respective suitcase.
Right hand is used to hold the 2 kg suitcase. So, the force exerted by the right hand is:
$F_r=m_{r}g$
$F_r=2kg\times 10{m/s}^2$
$F_r=20N$
Left hand is used to hold the 5 kg suitcase. So, the force exerted by the left hand is:
$F_l=m_{l}g$
$F_l=5kg\times 10{m/s}^2$
$F_l=50N$

Both the forces are in the upward direction. So, the total force will be the sum of the individual forces.
$F=F_r+F_l$
$F=20N+50N$
$F=70N$