Final answer:
The tension in the cable towing a car with a mass of 722 kg accelerating at 2.95 m/s² on frictionless ice is 2130.9 N. This is calculated using Newton's second law of motion, F = ma, where 'F' is the tension, 'm' is the mass, and 'a' is the acceleration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about the tension in the cable that is towing a car on frictionless ice when the car is accelerating at a given rate. To find the tension, we apply Newton's second law of motion, which states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration (F = ma). Considering that the only horizontal force acting on the car is the tension in the cable, the tension will be equal to the product of the car's mass and its acceleration.
Mathematically, the tension (T) can be expressed as:
T = m × a
Where:
- m is the mass of the car
- a is the acceleration
Therefore, the tension in the cable is:
T = 722 kg × 2.95 m/s² = 2130.9 N
So, the tension in the cable when the car is accelerating at 2.95 m/s² is 2130.9 N.