A 50 kg passenger is standing in a jeepney that suddenly accelerates from a stop at 2 m/s^2. If the passenger is not holding onto anything, explain what happens to the passenger in terms of Newton's first law. Also, calculate the net force acting on the passenger.

### Explanation (Newton's First Law)

Newton's First Law states that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will remain in motion with a constant velocity unless acted upon by a net external force. This is also known as the **law of inertia**.

In this scenario, the passenger inside the jeepney is initially at rest. When the jeepney suddenly accelerates forward at \(2 \, \text{m/s}^2\), the passenger’s body, due to inertia, tends to remain at rest. This is why it may appear as if the passenger is "pushed backward" relative to the moving jeepney. In reality, the passenger is attempting to remain stationary while the jeepney moves forward, causing the passenger to be displaced relative to the vehicle.

If the passenger is not holding onto anything, the friction between the passenger's feet and the jeepney floor provides some force, but it may not be enough to keep the passenger moving at the same rate as the accelerating jeepney. Thus, the passenger might stumble or fall backwards unless they stabilize themselves.

### Calculation of Net Force

To calculate the net force acting on the passenger, we use Newton's Second Law:

\[
F = ma
\]

Where:
- \( F \) is the net force,
- \( m \) is the mass of the passenger,
- \( a \) is the acceleration of the jeepney.

Given:
- \( m = 50 \, \text{kg} \),
- \( a = 2 \, \text{m/s}^2 \).

Substitute the values:

\[
F = 50 \, \text{kg} \times 2 \, \text{m/s}^2 = 100 \, \text{N}.
\]

### Conclusion:
The net force acting on the passenger is **100 N** in the direction of the jeepney's acceleration.

Would you like more details or have any further questions? Here are some related questions for practice:

1. How does Newton's Second Law apply if the acceleration of the jeepney increases?
2. If the passenger were holding onto something, how would this affect the net force acting on them?
3. What would happen if the jeepney came to a sudden stop while the passenger was standing?
4. How does friction between the passenger’s feet and the jeepney floor influence their motion?
5. If the jeepney were on an incline, how would the forces acting on the passenger change?

**Tip**: Always consider Newton's Third Law when analyzing interactions between objects in motion.

Explore how Newton's First Law applies to a 50 kg passenger in a jeepney accelerating at 2 m/s^2. Learn how to calculate the net force acting on the passenger using F = ma. This problem demonstrates key physics concepts such as inertia and force, suitable for students in Grades 9-12.

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