Calculating Net Force on a Car Pulling a Trailer

What is the net force acting on the car pulling a 305-kg trailer with an acceleration of 2.20 m/s²?

a) 3,091 N

Answer:

In this Newton's Second Law question, the net force acting on the car, pulling a 305 kg trailer, with an acceleration of 2.20 m/s² is 3,091 N in the positive x-direction, which means it acts in the direction of the car's movement.

To determine the net force on the car, we can use Newton's Second Law of Motion, which states that force is equal to the mass of an object multiplied by its acceleration (F = ma).

Given that the car and the trailer are accelerating together, the total mass in this case would be the sum of the mass of the car and the trailer, which is 1,100 kg + 305 kg = 1,405 kg.

The total acceleration is given as 2.20 m/s². Therefore, the net force acting on the car and the trailer together can be calculated as:

F = ma = 1,405 kg * 2.20 m/s² = 3,091 N.

In the positive x-direction implies that the net force is acting in the direction of the car's movement. Remember, the net force is the combination of all forces acting on the car, including the force required to pull the trailer along.