The Student Room Group

M1

6. A car of mass 1.25 tonnes tows a caravan of mass 0.75 tonnes along a straight level road. The total resistance to motion experienced by the car and the caravan is 1200N. The car and caravan accelerate uniformly from rest to 25 m/s in 20 seconds.

a) calculate the driving force produced by the car's engine.


Given that the resistance to motion experienced by the car and caravan are in the same ratio as their masses,

b) find these resistances and the tension in the towbar.

When the car and caravan are travelling at a steady speed of 25m/s, the towbar snaps. Assuming that the caravan experiences the same resistive force as before.

c) calculate the distance travelled by the caravan before rest

d) give a reason why anser to c) may be unrealistic
Reply 1
please help i really dont understand
Reply 2
do you know how to set up the equations of motion for the system?
Reply 3
I am doing physics AS level not M1 but this could be right though for part A (please tell me if I am wrong anyone).

Mass of Car + Mass of caravan = 2 tonnes

2 tonnes = 2000kg (ie base units) Therefore overall mass of 2000Kg.

Delta Velocity= 0-25 = 25 (ie initial velocity - final velocity)

Time- 20 seconds

Therefore acceleration= delta v/time
acceleration=25/20
acceleration=1.25ms^-2

Now using Force equation

F=mass x acceleration where F=2000 x 1.25
F= 2500N provided by motor (i think) resultant force would equal to 1300N