Question:medium

A car of mass 1000 kg is moving with a velocity of 20 m/s. The driver applies the brakes, and the car comes to rest in 10 seconds. Find the average force exerted by the brakes to stop the car.

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When calculating force, always remember to account for the direction of acceleration. A negative acceleration means a decelerating force that acts in the opposite direction of motion.
Updated On: Nov 26, 2025
  • \( 2000 \, \text{N} \)
  • \( 5000 \, \text{N} \)
  • \( 10000 \, \text{N} \)
  • \( 4000 \, \text{N} \)
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Newton's second law, \( F = m \times a \), calculates the braking force.

First, determine the acceleration. The car stops (\( v_f = 0 \) m/s) from an initial speed (\( v_i = 20 \) m/s) in \( t = 10 \) seconds.

Acceleration is calculated as:

\( a = \frac{v_f - v_i}{t} \)

Plugging in the values yields:

\( a = \frac{0 - 20}{10} = -2 \, \text{m/s}^2 \)

The negative acceleration signifies deceleration.

Next, use the force formula:

\( F = m \times a \)

With \( m = 1000 \, \text{kg} \) and \( a = -2 \, \text{m/s}^2 \):

\( F = 1000 \times (-2) = -2000 \, \text{N} \)

The negative sign indicates the braking force opposes motion. The average braking force magnitude is thus:

\( 2000 \, \text{N} \)

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