Question

A 1190 kg car pulls a 460 kg trailer. The car exerts a horizontal force of 4070 N against the ground in order to accelerate. What force does the car exert on the trailer? Assume an effective friction coefficient of 0.190 for the trailer.

Answer 1

F - the force exerted by the car;
T - the force exerted on the trailer;
M = 1,190 kg;
m = 460 kg.
F = ( M + m ) a + (mi) m g
T = m a + (mi) m g
T = m ( ( F - (mi) m g ) / ( M + m ) ) + (mi) m g =
460 * ( ( 1190 - 0.190 * 460 * 9.81 ) / (460 + 1190 ) ) + 0.190 * 460 * 9.81 =
= 460 * 332 / 1650 + 857.4 = 92.6 + 857.4 = 950 N