The mass of each car is 600kg, 970kg, 230kg, 810kg, 660kg. The force of friction on each car is 1980N, 3201N, 759N, 2673N, 2178N respectively. If the train is traveling at a constant velocity, what is the force supplied by the locomotive?

1 Answer
Daniel W.
Oct 22, 2015

The driving force, T = 10,791 N

Explanation:

The train is moving at constant velocity. Therefore the acceleration is zero and according to #F=ma# the resultant force is also therefore zero.
The horizontal resultant force (#F#) is the sum of the driving force (#T#) and friction (#F_r#):
#F = T-F_r = 0 ⇒ T=F_r#

The driving force is equal to the sum of all the friction forces on all of the cars:
#T= 1980+3201+ 759+ 2673+ 2178 = 10,791 N#

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