Write a function that is called like this: amag = accelerate(F1,F2,m). F1 and F2

Question

Write a function that is called like this: amag = accelerate(F1,F2,m). F1 and F2 are three-element column vectors that represent two forces applied to a single object. The argument m equals the mass of the object in units of kilograms. The three elements of each force equal the x, y, and z components of the force in Newtons. The output variable amag is a scalar that is equal to the magnitude of the object’s acceleration. The function calculates the object’s acceleration vector a by using Newton’s law: F = ma, where F is the sum of F1 and F2. Then it returns the magnitude of a. Hint: we are talking about physical vectors here, so the Pythagorean theorem will come in handy.

Explanation / Answer

Matlab Script:

function amag = accelerate(F1,F2,m)
Fnet = F1+F2;
Fnet_mag = sqrt(sum(Fnet.^2)); %gives the magnitude
amag = Fnet_mag/m; %gives the acceleration
end

Command window output:

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