Final answer:
The net force exerted by the 1300-kg car on the 520-kg trailer is 1092 N, the force that the trailer exerts on the car is also 1092 N in the opposite direction, and the net force acting on the car is 3822 N.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves 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). Let's solve each part's question.
A. What is the net force exerted by the car on the trailer?
To find the net force exerted by the car on the trailer, we can use the equation F = ma, where m is the mass of the trailer and a is the acceleration:
F = 520 kg × 2.10 m/s² = 1092 N
B. What force does the trailer exert on the car?
According to Newton's third law, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Therefore, the force that the trailer exerts on the car is also 1092 N, but in the opposite direction.
C. What is the net force acting on the car?
The net force acting on the car can also be found using F = ma. However, this time we need the combined mass of the car and the trailer:
F = (1300 kg + 520 kg) × 2.10 m/s² = 3822 N