Suppose you are assigned to stop a block that is moving eastwards, a force of some magnitude is surely required to stop it. What could be the best possible direction of a force to stop that moving block from motion at the earliest? ( Consider the surface frictionless)

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Solution

Explanation

Given that the surface is frictionless.
From Newton's first law we get, that every object continues to be in rest or motion unless some external force act on it.
So to stop the moving block some external force is needed.
The block is moving eastward. So if we apply a force of equal magnitude and in the opposite direction of the block's motion, the block will immediately stop moving.
The applied force direction is negative to the east direction. So the direction of applied force must be westward.
Hence, a force of equal magnitude must be applied in a westward direction to stop the block which is opposite in the direction of the block from moving.

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Q. A

3 kg

block of wood is on a very large level surface where

μ_{s} = 0.25

and

μ_{k} = 0.2

. A force of

7 N

is being applied horizontally to the block. Mark the correct statement(s) regarding this situation.

Q. Multiple correct answers type
A 3-kg block of wood is on a level surface where

μ_{s} = 0.25

and

μ_{k} = 0.2

. A force of 7 N is being applied horizontally to the block. Mark the correct statement(s) regarding this situation.
a. If the block is initially at rest, it will remain at rest and friction force will be about 7 N.
b. If the block is initially moving, then it will continue its motion forever if the force applied is in the direction of the motion of the block.
c. If the block is initially moving and the direction of applied force is same as that of motion of block, then block moves with an acceleration of

1 / 3 m s^{- 2}

along its initial direction of motion.
d. If the block is initially moving and direction of applied force is opposite to that of initial motion of the block, then the block decelerates, comes to a stop, and starts moving in the opposite direction.

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