A 1200-kg car is pulling a 500-kg trailer along level ground. Friction is negligible. The car accelerates with an acceleration of 1.3 m/s². What is the force exerted by the car on the trailer?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

We know that the total mass being pulled is 1200 kg + 500 kg = 1700 kg.

Using F = ma, we can find the force exerted by the car:

F = (1700 kg)(1.3 m/s^2) 
F = 2210 N

However, this is the total force exerted on the car and the trailer. We only want to know the force exerted by the car on the trailer.

Since the car is pulling the trailer, the force exerted by the car on the trailer is the same as the force of tension in the connecting rope or rod. Therefore, the force exerted by the car on the trailer is also 2210 N.

However, the question asks for the answer in Newtons, so we can round our answer to the nearest hundred:

Answer: C) 650 N.

A 1200-Kg Car Is Pulling a 500-Kg Trailer Along Level