Question

90 POINTS!!!!!

Your 1200-kg car pulls a 580-kg trailer away from a stoplight with an acceleration of 1.20 m/s2 .

What force does the trailer exert on the car?
What is the net force acting on the car?

Only up to 3 sigfigs per answer.

Answer 1

Answer:

1. What force does the trailer exert on the car? = 696 Newtons

2. -696 Newtons are acting on the car.

Explanation:

1.Calculate the force exerted by the car on the trailer.  

The expression for the force from Newton’s second law is, F=ma

Substitute 580kg for m and 1.2m^2

F=(580kg)(1.20m/s^2  = 696N

2. According to Newton’s third law, an equal force is exerted by the trailer in the opposite direction. Hence, the magnitude of the force is negative.

Answer 2

Answer:

-696 N

1440 N

Explanation:

The force that the car exerts on the trailer is:

T = m₂ a

T = (580 kg) (1.20 m/s²)

T = 696 N

The force that the trailer exerts on the car is opposite and equal.

T' = -T

T' = -696 N

The net force on the car is:

∑F = m₁ a

∑F = (1200 kg) (1.20 m/s²)

∑F = 1440 N