What Are The Magnitudes of Forces in a Tractor Pulling Contest?

In summary, Newton's Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This law can be observed in everyday situations such as walking and opening doors. It applies to all types of forces and cannot be violated. This law is different from Newton's Second Law, which deals with the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.
  • #1
jsirving
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Homework Statement



In a tractor pulling contest, a 2300-kg tractor pulls a 4900-kg sledge with an acceleration of 0.61 m/s^2. If the tractor exerts a horizontal force of 7700 N on the ground, determine the magnitudes of (a) the force of the tractor on the sledge; (b) the force of the sledge on the tractor; and (c) the frictional force extended on the sledge by the ground.


Homework Equations



Fnet = ma


The Attempt at a Solution

 
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  • #2
What do you have so far, which part can't you do? You don't seem to have made an attempt yet.
 
  • #3


(a) The force of the tractor on the sledge can be calculated using Newton's Second Law, F = ma. In this case, the acceleration of the sledge is the same as the acceleration of the tractor, so the force exerted by the tractor on the sledge is also 7700 N.

(b) According to Newton's Third Law, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Therefore, the force of the sledge on the tractor is also 7700 N in the opposite direction.

(c) To determine the frictional force exerted on the sledge by the ground, we can use the equation Fnet = ma again. The net force on the sledge is equal to the force exerted by the tractor (7700 N) minus the force of the sledge on the tractor (7700 N). This results in a net force of 0 N, meaning there is no frictional force acting on the sledge by the ground. This is because the sledge and the tractor are moving together with the same acceleration, so there is no relative motion between them and no friction is generated.
 

Related to What Are The Magnitudes of Forces in a Tractor Pulling Contest?

1. What is Newton's Third Law of Motion?

Newton's Third Law of Motion, also known as the Law of Action and Reaction, states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that when an object exerts a force on another object, the second object will exert an equal and opposite force back on the first object.

2. How does Newton's Third Law relate to everyday life?

Newton's Third Law can be observed in many everyday situations, such as when you walk on the ground or push a door open. When you walk, you push your foot backwards against the ground, and the ground exerts an equal and opposite force on your foot, propelling you forward. Similarly, when you push a door open, the door exerts an equal and opposite force on your hand, allowing it to move.

3. Can Newton's Third Law be applied to all types of forces?

Yes, Newton's Third Law applies to all types of forces, including contact forces (such as pushing or pulling) and non-contact forces (such as gravitational or electromagnetic forces). Whenever one object exerts a force on another object, the second object will always exert an equal and opposite force back.

4. What is the difference between Newton's Third Law and Newton's Second Law?

Newton's Second Law, also known as the Law of Acceleration, states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. This law deals with the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration, while Newton's Third Law deals with the relationship between two forces.

5. Can Newton's Third Law be violated?

No, Newton's Third Law is a fundamental law of physics and cannot be violated. Every action will always have an equal and opposite reaction, regardless of the situation. However, it is important to note that the forces must act on different objects - if they act on the same object, they will cancel each other out and not produce any motion.

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