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VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Physics => Topic started by: onur369 on June 11, 2011, 09:27:04 pm

Title: Tension
Post by: onur369 on June 11, 2011, 09:27:04 pm
Hey guys Im stuck with a question.

George is driving along a straight level road. The car weighs 1800kg and the trailer is very lightly loaded and wieghs 400kg. The car and trailer are accelerating forward at 2.2ms.

The friction force acting on the car is 350N and on the trailer another 250N

Im not exactly sure how to answer this question, but I did attempt it and got 630N as my answer.
Title: Re: Tension
Post by: luffy on June 11, 2011, 09:42:20 pm
When you are trying to find Tension, you simply look at the forces acting on a single object.

In this case, lets analyse the trailer.

Ftrailer

=

By analysing the forces on the trailer, you can find that:

Ftrailer = T - Ffriction





Hence, the Tension force has a magnitude of 1130N and is in the same direction as the motion of the vehicle.

Hope I helped.
Title: Re: Tension
Post by: onur369 on June 11, 2011, 09:44:00 pm
I minused the 250 arghhh that was my problem, thanks alot :)
Title: Re: Tension
Post by: forumguy on June 11, 2011, 09:45:07 pm
Not sure if it's right but i got 1130
Title: Re: Tension
Post by: Lasercookie on June 11, 2011, 09:45:23 pm
I assumed we're trying to figure out the tension between the thing that joins the trailer and car.

(Consider only the forces on the trailer)
Fnet = T - Fr
ma = T - Fr
T = ma + Fr
T = (400)(2.2) + 250
T = 880 + 250
T = 1130N

This is a STAV question isn't it? They seem to use the same characters in their questions.

edit: damn I was too slow haha
Title: Re: Tension
Post by: yawho on June 11, 2011, 10:04:40 pm
this is not a competition
Title: Re: Tension
Post by: luffy on June 11, 2011, 10:07:38 pm
Quote from: yawho on June 11, 2011, 10:04:40 pm
this is not a competition

Its too bad we can't say the same for VCE :P
Title: Re: Tension
Post by: Lasercookie on June 11, 2011, 10:16:47 pm
Quote from: yawho on June 11, 2011, 10:04:40 pm
this is not a competition
Yeah, it's a discussion where I was too slow and ending up stating what had already been stated :P