A 5.0 kg hammer strikes a 0.25 kg nail with a force of 10.0 N causing the nail to accelerate at 40.0 m/s^2. What is the acceleration of the hammar?

2 m/s².

Explanation:

The following data were obtained from the question:

Mass (m) of hammer = 5 Kg

Mass (m) of nail = 0.25 kg

Force (F) applied = 10 N

Acceleration (a) of nail = 40 m/s².

Acceleration (a) of hammer =?

From Newton's third law which states that to every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction. This implies that the force applied by the hammer on the nail is exactly the force applied by the nail on the hammer. Thus, we can obtain the acceleration of the hammer as follow:

Mass (m) of hammer = 5 Kg

Force (F) applied = 10 N

Acceleration (a) of hammer =?

F = ma

10 = 5 × a

Divide both side by 5

a = 10/5

a = 2 m/s²

Thus, the acceleration of the hammer is 2 m/s².