how can i calculate acceleration of a body from its mass, distance of travel, speed and time of travel?

Question

I have to calculate the force exerted by a moving object on a clamp. Force = Mass X Acceleration. the weight of the body is 10kg (weight!! not mass). distance travelled is 200 cm. time of travel is 2 seconds. I can calculate speed, how to calc acceleration?

Answer 1

s = 1/2 a t^2

2 = 1/2 x a x 2^2

2 / 1/2 x 4 = a

a = 2 / 2 = 1

a = 1 ms^-2

By the way when you have calculated it's speed, you have calculated average speed for the journey, i.e. ds/dx = average speed
acceleration is dv/dx or d^2s / dx^2 (i.e. the second differential of displacement)

Answer 2

♦ first; don’t feel baffled about weight and mass; when they say 10kg weight they mean 10kg mass, its weight being 10kg*9.8m/s^2 = 98 N;
♣ now distance travelled d = 200 cm = 0.2 m. Also d=0.5*a*t^2, where t=2s, a is acceleration to be found, hence a=2d/t^2 = 2*0.2/(2^2) =0.1 m/s^2
♥ now F=m*a =10*0.1 = 1 N;