Two people pull as hard as they can on ropes attached to a 200 kg boat. If they pull in the same direction, the boat has an acceleration of 1.44 m/s2 to the right. If they pull in opposite directions, the boat has an acceleration of 0.518 m/s2 to the left. What is the force exerted by each person on the boat? (Disregard any other forces on the boat.)

Question

Smaller N

Larger N

Answer 1

n+N=200*1.44
N-n=200(.518)
add the equations
2N=200(1.44 +.518)
solve for N
N=100(1.96)=196N

n=200*1.44-195=288-196=92 N