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At the start of the race, outline the application of Newton’s 1st and 2nd Laws of motion to a rowing boat (Figure 1). - Leaving Cert Physical Education - Question 1 - 2020
Question 1
At the start of the race, outline the application of Newton’s 1st and 2nd Laws of motion to a rowing boat (Figure 1).
Worked Solution & Example Answer:At the start of the race, outline the application of Newton’s 1st and 2nd Laws of motion to a rowing boat (Figure 1). - Leaving Cert Physical Education - Question 1 - 2020
Step 1
Newton’s 1st Law
Answer
Newton’s 1st Law states that an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will continue in motion with the same speed and direction unless acted upon by a net external force.
In the context of a rowing boat, when the boat is stationary at the start of the race, it will not move until the rowers exert a force through their oars. This shows that the boat's initial state of rest will only change with applied force. Once the boat is moving, it will continue to glide on the water until frictional forces from the water and air, or any obstructions, slow it down.
Step 2
Newton’s 2nd Law
Answer
Newton’s 2nd Law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass, expressed with the formula:
For the rowing boat, the force applied by the rowers through the oars generates acceleration. The effective force that propels the boat forward can be described by the force of the oars against the water, which drives the boat ahead. The greater the force exerted by the rowers, the greater the acceleration of the boat, keeping in mind that the boat's mass also impacts how quickly it can accelerate.