Question

A 8000kg engine pulls a train of 5 wagons, each of 2000kg, along horizontal track .
if the engine exerts a force of 40000N and the track offers a friction force of 5000N, then calculate :
______________________
(a) the net accelrating force
(b)the acceleration of the train
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Answer 1

Answer:

(a)Force exerted by the engine, F = 40000 N

Frictional force offered by the track, Ff = 5000 N

Net accelerating force, Fa = F − Ff = 40000 − 5000 = 35000 N

Hence, the net accelerating force is 35000 N.

(b)Acceleration of the train = a

The engine exerts a force of 40000 N on all the five wagons.

Net accelerating force on the wagons, Fa = 35000 N

Mass of the wagons, m = Mass of a wagon × Number of wagons

Mass of a wagon = 2000 kg

Number of wagons = 5

∴ m = 2000 × 5 = 10000 kg

Mass of the engine, m′ = 8000 kg