A child pulls a wagon (find Tension)

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Homework Statement



A child pulls an 11 kg wagon with a horizontal handle whose mass is 1.4kg , accelerating the wagon and handle at 2.4m/s^2 .

Mass of the wagon: 11 kg
Mass of the handle: 1.4kg
wagon acceleration: 2.4m/s^2
handle acceleration: 2.4m/s^2

Homework Equations


Newton's Second Law of Motion says sum of all force has the same value of the object's mass * object's acceleration

The Attempt at a Solution


Handwritten free-body diagrams and working for a child pulling a wagon: handle FBD with normal force, tension and weight; Newton's second law steps giving T = 3 N; wagon and handle FBD with T = 30 N; wagon of 11 kg accelerating at 2.4 m/s^2.


T = 3N is the tension of the rope near the child
T = 30N is the tension of the rope near the wagon

I need feedback and hints.
 
Last edited:
I assume by "rope" you mean handle?

How would the force increase further away from the handle?

The vertical forces balance since there is no acceleration in the vertical direction: N + mg = 0

The net horizontal force on any part = ma where m is the mass of that part. That force is provided by the child to the handle. The handle mechanically applies a part of that force to the wagon. So the force on the handle and wagon is mhandle+wagona. The force on the wagon only (ie the force exerted by the handle on the wagon) is mwagona.

AM