Question

A train consists of a 4300-kg locomotive pulling two loaded boxcars. The first boxcar (just behind the locomotive) has a mass of 12,700 kg and the second (the car in the back) has a mass of 16,300 kg. Presume that the boxcar wheels roll without friction and ignore aerodynamics. The acceleration of the train is 0.569 m/s2. (a) With what force, in Newtons, do the boxcars pull on each other

Answer 1

To solve this problem we will apply the concepts related to Newton's second law, which defines force as the product between mass and acceleration. Mathematically this can be described as,

$F = ma$

Here,

m = Mass

a = Acceleration

Taking as reference the mass of the second boxcar, the force applied would be

$F = m_2 a$

$F = (16300kg)(0.569m/s)$

$F = 9274.7N$

Therefore the boxcars pull on each other with a force of 9274.7N