A large truck with a mass of 3200 kg is pulling a trailer with a mass of 2400 kg. Both are accelerating at a rate of 0.45 m/s^2 . Determine the tension force between the truck and the trailer, and determine the force with which the truck is pulling.

Question

I'm not sure how to find the tension force, but I think that the force pulling the truck would be found using f=ma, where m= 3200kg and a=0.45m/s^2, and the answer is 1440J

Answer 1

force is in Newtons (not Joules)

the force with which the truck is pulling is accelerating the truck and the trailer...you're on the right track...just use both masses
... f = (truck + trailer) * a

the force pulling the trailer is the tension between them
... tension = trailer * a