A locomotive is pulling 11 freight cars, each of which is loaded with the same amount of weight. The mass of each freight car (with its load) is 37,000 kg. If the train is accelerating at 0.58 m/s2 on a level track, what is the tension in the coupling between the second and third cars?

Question

Physics

Mia Keith

6 December, 11:07

A locomotive is pulling 11 freight cars, each of which is loaded with the same amount of weight. The mass of each freight car (with its load) is 37,000 kg. If the train is accelerating at 0.58 m/s2 on a level track, what is the tension in the coupling between the second and third cars?

+5

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Garrett Adams · Answer 1

The final tension force on level track is F = 193140 N

Explanation:

Locomotive pull 11 freight cars so the tension is between the car so is 2 and accelerates 3 cars so 9 forces so the mass total is equal

m total = 9 * 37000 kg

m total = 33.3 x 10 ^ 4 kg

Now the acceleration is about a = 0.58 m/s^2

So replacing in the force formula numeric so:

F = m*a

F = 33.3 x10 ^ 4 kg * 0.58 m/s^2

F = 193140 N