Rail way car acceleration problem

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The discussion revolves around calculating the acceleration of a train engine with a mass of 5*10^4 kg, which can accelerate six railway cars (total mass 3*10^5 kg) at 0.40 m/s^2. Participants emphasize applying Newton's second law (F=ma) to determine the net force exerted by the engine. By calculating the force for the initial scenario, they suggest using that same force to find the acceleration for four railway cars with a total mass of 2*10^5 kg. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration in solving the problem. Ultimately, the focus remains on applying physics principles to derive the required acceleration.
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The engine of a train has mass of 5*10^4kg. It can accelerate six rail way cars having a total mass of 3*10^5kg at 0.40m/s^2. What acceleration can it give four railway cars having a total mass of 2*10^5kg?
i don't know what to do?
please help
 
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help pleasezzzzzzzzz
 
raman911 said:
The engine of a train has mass of 5*10^4kg. It can accelerate six rail way cars having a total mass of 3*10^5kg at 0.40m/s^2. What acceleration can it give four railway cars having a total mass of 2*10^5kg?
i don't know what to do?
please help
you should start by showing us what you know about Newton's 2nd law and how you might apply it to solve this problem.
 
PhanthomJay said:
you should start by showing us what you know about Newton's 2nd law and how you might apply it to solve this problem.

i am not understandig that problem
how can i show u work
 
Can you write down Newton's 2nd law?
 
Fnet=ma
....
 
raman911 said:
Fnet=ma
....
Yes, correct. Now in the problem statement, you are given the acceleration and the mass of the engine and the and 6 cars. Can you solve for Fnet?
 
PhanthomJay said:
Yes, correct. Now in the problem statement, you are given the acceleration and the mass of the engine and the and 6 cars. Can you solve for Fnet?

can u do that
i don't understand
 
If F=ma, and you have a total mass and an acceleration... then I'm pretty sure you can solve for F.
 
  • #10
Fnet = menginea1 + 6mcara1

now since the pulling power of the engine (the force it can exert) is assumed to be constant,

Fnet = menginea2 + 4mCARa2
 
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