A 0.5 kg ball is moving with a velocity of 10 m/s. If a constant force of 5 N is applied in the direction of motion, how far will the ball travel in 4 seconds?

["Title: How a 0.5 kg Ball Moves Under Constant Force: Calculating Distance Traveled in 4 Seconds", "When studying motion, understanding how a constant force affects an object’s motion is essential. This article explores a practical physics problem: a 0.5 kg ball moving at 10 m/s with a constant force of 5 N applied in its direction of motion. We’ll determine how far the ball travels in 4 seconds using fundamental physics principles.", "---", "### The Physics Behind the Motion", "According to Newton’s second law, force equals the product of mass and acceleration:", "[\nF = m \cdot a\n]", "Given:\n- Mass ( m = 0.5 , \ ext{kg} )\n- Applied force ( F = 5 , \ ext{N} )\n- Acceleration ( a = \frac{F}{m} = \frac{5}{0.5} = 10 , \ ext{m/s}^2 )", "So the ball accelerates at 10 m/s² in the direction of motion.", "---", "### Calculating Distance Traveled in 4 Seconds", "The ball starts with an initial velocity ( u = 10 , \ ext{m/s} ) and accelerates uniformly over time ( t = 4 , \ ext{s} ). We use the equation of motion for distance under constant acceleration:", "[\ns = ut + \frac{1}{2} a t^2\n]", "Substituting known values:", "[\ns = (10 \ imes 4) + \frac{1}{2} \ imes 10 \ imes 4^2\n]", "[\ns = 40 + \frac{1}{2} \ imes 10 \ imes 16 = 40 + 80 = 120 , \ ext{meters}\n]", "---", "### Final Answer", "Under a constant 5 N force, a 0.5 kg ball moving at 10 m/s travels 120 meters in 4 seconds. This calculation combines Newton’s laws with kinematic equations to predict real-world motion clearly and precisely.", "---", "### Why This Matters", "Understanding this concept helps in sports, engineering, and safety design—whether analyzing a kicked sports ball or calculating braking distances in vehicles. The consistent application of force and motion principles enables accurate predictions critical in science and technology.", "---", "Keywords: 0.5 kg ball, velocity 10 m/s, force 5 N, distance traveled 120 meters, Newton’s second law, kinematics, physics calculation."]