Question

How much Tension force is required to pull a 1500 kg car (it is being towed) forward with an acceleration of 3 m/s^2 if the friction force on the towed car's tires is pulling backward with a force of 2500 N?

Answer 1

If the pull is done horizontally, then the net force on the car is

∑ F = T - f = (1500 kg) (3 m/s²)

where T is the magnitude of the tension in the towing cable, and f is the friction which points in the opposite direction. Then

T = f + (1500 kg) (3 m/s²)

T = 2500 N + 4500 N

T = 7000 N