A lunar rover has a mass of 90\text{ kg} on Earth. While operating on the lunar surface, w… — Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

A lunar rover has a mass of $90\text{ kg}$ on Earth. While operating on the lunar surface, where gravitational acceleration is approximately $1.6\text{ m/s}^2$ , its electric drive system generates a constant net forward force of $270\text{ N}$ . What is the forward acceleration of the rover?

A
$18.0\text{ m/s}^2$
$3.0\text{ m/s}^2$ Answer
C
$4.6\text{ m/s}^2$
D
$0.3\text{ m/s}^2$

Answer

The forward acceleration of the rover is

3.0\text{ m/s}^2

According to Newton's second law of motion, acceleration is directly proportional to the net force applied and inversely proportional to the mass (

a = F_{\text{net}} / m

). Because mass is constant regardless of location, the rover's mass on the Moon is still

90\text{ kg}

. Dividing the net force of

270\text{ N}

90\text{ kg}

yields an acceleration of

3.0\text{ m/s}^2

Step-by-Step Solution

Identify the invariant mass of the rover

m = 90\text{ kg}

Mass measures the amount of matter in an object and remains constant regardless of local gravity.

Apply Newton's second law of motion (

F_{\text{net}} = ma

)

a = \frac{F_{\text{net}}}{m} = \frac{270\text{ N}}{90\text{ kg}} = 3.0\text{ m/s}^2

Horizontal acceleration depends solely on the net horizontal force divided by the object's mass.

Key Concept

Newton's Second Law of Motion and Mass Invariance

Estimated Time:1m 0s

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