A \(5.5-\mathrm{kg}\) block is initially at rest on a frictionless horizontal surface. It is pulled with a constant horizontal force of \(3.8 \mathrm{~N}\). (a) What is its acceleration? (b) How long must it be pulled before its speed is \(5.2 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s} ?(c)\) How far does it move in this time?

Understanding acceleration in physics is crucial for solving problems involving motion. Acceleration is defined as the rate at which the velocity of an object changes with time. It's not just about an object speeding up; an object can also be decelerating, meaning its speed is decreasing, yet it is still considered to be accelerating in the context of physics.

To calculate acceleration, the formula from Newton's second law of motion, \( F = m \cdot a \), is often used, where \(F\) is the force applied on the object, \(m\) is the mass of the object, and \(a\) is the acceleration. Rearranging the equation for acceleration gives us \( a = \frac{F}{m} \). This formula shows that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force applied and inversely proportional to the object’s mass.

In our exercise example, to find the acceleration of a block with a mass of \(5.5\mathrm{kg}\) being pulled by a force of \(3.8\mathrm{N}\), we divide the force by the mass, resulting in an acceleration value.

The relationship between force and motion forms the foundation of Newton's laws of motion, particularly the second law. It tells us how the velocity of an object changes when it is subjected to a force. The second law states that the force exerted on an object is equal to the product of its mass and acceleration \( (F = m \cdot a) \).

This law provides insight into how objects behave when forces are applied. For example, a heavier object will require more force to achieve the same acceleration as a lighter one. It's important to note that the force and acceleration vectors have the same direction.

When we apply this law to the 5.5-kg block in the exercise, it helps us understand why the block starts to move and accelerates when the force is applied. It also helps to predict how the motion will continue under constant force and can even determine the effects if other forces, such as friction or air resistance, were present.

Kinematic equations are a set of formulas that relate the five kinematic variables: displacement, initial velocity, final velocity, acceleration, and time. These equations are indispensable tools for solving constant-acceleration problems in physics. Even though the actual motion might be very complex, kinematic equations simplify the analysis to a manageable level by the assumption that acceleration remains constant.

One of the fundamental kinematic equations is \( S = u \cdot t + \frac{1}{2} \cdot a \cdot t^2 \), where \(S\) is the distance traveled, \(u\) is the initial velocity, \(t\) is the time, and \(a\) is the acceleration. Since our block starts at rest, the initial velocity \(u\) is zero, which simplifies our distance calculation.

By applying the kinematic equations to the block in our exercise, we can predict its speed after a certain time, as well as the distance the block covers in that time. These equations are a powerful tool that lets us extrapolate the future position and velocity of an object from its current state, assuming the acceleration is known and constant.