5 A van of mass 4500 kg is towing a trailer of mass 750 kg down a straight hill inclined at an angle of \(\theta\) to the horizontal where \(\sin \theta = 0.05\). The van and the trailer are connected by a light rigid tow-bar which is parallel to the road. There are constant resistance forces of 2500 N on the van and 300 N on the trailer.
- It is given that the tension in the tow-bar is 450 N .
Find the acceleration of the trailer and the driving force of the van's engine.
On another occasion, the van and trailer ascend a straight hill inclined at an angle of \(\alpha\) to the horizontal where \(\sin \alpha = 0.09\). The driving force of the van's engine is now 9100 N , and the speed of the van at the bottom of the hill is \(20 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). The resistances to motion are unchanged. - Find the acceleration of the van and the tension in the tow-bar.
- Find the speed of the van when it has travelled a distance of 375 m up the hill.