Newton's Laws of Motion Practice Test

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A plate experiences a push F at an angle α above the horizontal. Which portion of F causes horizontal acceleration?

The horizontal component F cos α causes horizontal acceleration.

For horizontal acceleration, only the horizontal component of the push matters. A force F at angle α above the horizontal can be split into a horizontal part F cos α and a vertical part F sin α. The horizontal acceleration is given by a_x = (F cos α)/m, so the horizontal component is what drives motion in that direction. The vertical component would affect vertical motion (if not constrained) and does not contribute to horizontal acceleration. Hence, the part that causes horizontal acceleration is the horizontal component.

The vertical component F sin α causes horizontal acceleration.

Both components equally contribute to horizontal acceleration.

Neither component causes horizontal motion.