Newton's laws during a tug of war

[Kindyl]

Homework Statement

Adam and Ben pull hand over hand on opposite sides of a rope while standing on a frictionless pond.
Adam's mass: 75.0kg
Ben's mass: 50.0kg
Adam's acceleration: 1.00 m/s² to the east
What is the magnitude and direction of Ben's acceleration?

 

[Matterwave]

Did you attempt to do the problem yourself? What principles do you think you should apply to this problem?

 

[Kindyl]

the second law of motion? I don't know where to start.

Did you attempt to do the problem yourself? What principles do you think you should apply to this problem?

 

[Matterwave]

You certainly can use the second law of motion. Let's start there. If Adam's acceleration is 1 m/s² east, what does the second law say about the force exerted on him?

 

[Kindyl]

force would be 75.0kg( 1 m/s²)

 

[jbriggs444]

If this is the force the rope exerts on Adam, how much force does Adam exert on the rope?