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Dynamics Question. Car Towing Caravan.

A car mass 2500kg tows a caravan mass 1200kg. The braking force applied by the car is 4500N and that applied by the caravan is 2000N.

Find the acceleration of the car and the caravan, and hence the force acting in the coupling.

----

I can remember doing it at a level but my mind is completely blank...

PLEASE HELP
Original post by shaw600
A car mass 2500kg tows a caravan mass 1200kg. The braking force applied by the car is 4500N and that applied by the caravan is 2000N.

Find the acceleration of the car and the caravan, and hence the force acting in the coupling.

----

I can remember doing it at a level but my mind is completely blank...

PLEASE HELP


Draw a diagram making sure you include the tension in the towbar (it points in to the centre of the towbar from both ends).

Apply F = ma to the system as a whole and to the caravan alone.
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Avatar for shaw600
shaw600
OP
Thank you Mr M.

I get the wrong answers, -0.675ms^-2 and 2810N (should be -1.76ms^-2 and 108.12N)

I think my diagram is wrong though... I read the question as the caravan is going forward not braking...

20140220_100404[1].jpg
Original post by shaw600
...


Just reverse the direction of the force on the caravan then, so it's a breaking force.
Original post by ghostwalker
Just reverse the direction of the force on the caravan then, so it's a breaking force.


Braking.

:wink:
Original post by Mr M
Braking.

:wink:


:p: lol.

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