Question

If 'a' is the acceleration of the block when the force is applied with one hand. Then, suppose you use both your hands (see figure) to apply force on two identical bricks as shown in above question. What will be the new acceleration?

• A. becomes '2a'
• B. almost equal to 'a'
• C. becomes 'a/2'
• D. becomes zero

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

almost equal to 'a'

Newton's Second Law of Motion states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of that object times its acceleration. This is written in mathematical form as: F = ma, where, F is force, m is mass and a is acceleration. The maths behind this is quite simple. If we double the force, we double the acceleration, but if we double the mass, we cut the acceleration in half.
In this case, the force is doubled and the mass is also doubled. Hence, the acceleration remains almost the same.