Final answer:
The mass of the locomotive is calculated using Newton's second law of motion, which relates force to mass and acceleration, yielding a mass of approximately 409,655 kg.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the mass of the locomotive based on the force and acceleration given, we can use Newton's second law of motion, which states that force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma). By rearranging the equation to solve for mass (m), we get m = F/a. Given a force (F) of 59,400 N and an acceleration (a) of 0.145 m/s², the mass (m) of the locomotive can be calculated as follows:
m = F/a = 59,400 N / 0.145 m/s²
Performing the division gives us the mass of the locomotive:
m = 409,655.17 kg
Therefore, the mass of the locomotive is approximately 409,655 kg.