4 A 12.0 kg shot put is thrown with 36 N of force. What is its acceleration (with units)

To find the acceleration of the shot put, you can use Newton's second law, which states that \( F = ma \), where \( F \) is the force applied, \( m \) is the mass, and \( a \) is the acceleration. Rearranging the formula gives \( a = \frac{F}{m} \). Here, the force \( F = 36 \, \text{N} \) and the mass \( m = 12.0 \, \text{kg} \). Plugging in the values, we have: \[ a = \frac{36 \, \text{N}}{12.0 \, \text{kg}} = 3 \, \text{m/s}^2 \] So, the acceleration of the shot put is \( 3.0 \, \text{m/s}^2 \). Getting into the nitty-gritty of physics, it's fascinating to see how forces interplay with mass. Imagine that every force you apply on the shot put is like giving it a little push. The heavier the shot (massier it is), the less it accelerates when you shove it! Each object has a "magic number" known as mass that determines how responsive it is to pushes or pulls. And if you're ever looking to apply this in real life, think about a basketball game! When a player launches the ball, they apply force through their arm. Depending on how heavy the ball is and how hard they push, the ball's speed can change dramatically. Understanding this can help coaches teach athletes how to maximize their throws for better performance. Who knew physics could score points in sports?