Answer to Question #140759 in Physics for jas

Question

Your family decided to decorate your Christmas tree with ornaments to give your home the Christmas feels; however, your parents pushed the big box of glass Christmas balls along the floor at a velocity of 3.0 m/s. You see that the wall is just 3 m ahead. You called the attention of your younger sibling (who happened to be at the opposite side) to stop the box from sliding for the Christmas balls inside might shatter. It takes 0.15 s before your sibling is able to counter push the box from sliding (this is known as the reaction time). Once it is counter pushed, it now decelerates at a rate of 0.30 m/s2.

Answer 1

Although the question in this problem is not present, it is very interesting what force your sibling will need to apply in order to support the deceleration of 0.3m/s/s. Assume the mass of the box is 5 kg, according to Newton's second law, the required force is

$$F=ma=5\cdot0.3=1.5\text{ N}.$$

Achievable force even for young kids. The box is safe & sound.