Question

A 1,200-kg car is pulling a 315-kg trailer. Together, the car and trailer have an acceleration of 2.10 m/s2 in the positive x-direction. Neglecting frictional forces on the trailer, determine the following. (Indicate the direction with the sign of your answer. Assume forward motion is along the positive x-axis and upwards is along the positive y-axis. Assume the trailer's weight is entirely supported by it's own tires.)(a) Determine the net force on the car.

Answer 1

The net force on the car is equal to 661.5 N.

Why?

We need to calculate the net force on the car and not the exerted by the trailer on the car. However, if we were asked to calculate the force exerted on the car by the trailer, we must remember that ar is pulling (and moving) the trailer, the net force exerted by the car on the trailer will be the same (with opposite direction) that the force exerted by the trailer on the car.

So, calculating we have:

`Force_(onthecar)=mass(tcar)*acceleration\\\\Force_(onthecar)=315Kg*2.10(m)/(s^(2))=2520N`

Hence, we have that the net force on the car is equal to 661.5N.

Have a nice day!