Acceleration and Force in Towing Scenario

[cheerspens]

Homework Statement

A car can accelerate with a maximum acceleration of 3m/s². What is its maximum acceleration if it is towing another car just like itself.

Homework Equations

With so little information I'm not sure that you need equations to answer this question.

The Attempt at a Solution

My only thought is that since the car is is towing another car just like itself that it would cause the acceleration to decrease by half? Making the new maximum acceleration 1.5m/s²?

 

[kuruman]

Your thought is correct, but it is based on an equation. What equation is that?

 

[cheerspens]

Is it F_NET=ma?

 

[kuruman]

Correct. Assuming that F_Net denotes the force provided by the engine minus all friction-like forces, if you keep this force constant and double the mass that has to be accelerated, the acceleration will have to be half as much to keep the product "ma" the same.