IB skill practice

Apply Newtons laws to connected bodies

Paper 1, Paper 2 5 marks Difficulty 3

Connected-body acceleration

Two connected carts in a lift calibration test have masses \(7\,\text{kg}\) and \(2\,\text{kg}\). A horizontal force of \(38\,\text{N}\) pulls the pair. Ignore friction and calculate their acceleration. Use the diagram before entering the requested value. Enter the numerical result and choose the interpretation that matches the physics meaning.

Worked practice: physics data and result

Read the physical quantities first, then calculate the result and state what it means.