AQA M1 2012 January — Question 5

Exam BoardAQA
ModuleM1 (Mechanics 1)
Year2012
SessionJanuary
TopicNewton's laws and connected particles

5 A car, of mass 1200 kg , tows a caravan, of mass 1000 kg , along a straight horizontal road. The caravan is attached to the car by a horizontal towbar. A resistance force of magnitude \(R\) newtons acts on the car and a resistance force of magnitude \(2 R\) newtons acts on the caravan. The car and caravan accelerate at a constant \(1.6 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }\) when a driving force of magnitude 4720 newtons acts on the car.
  1. Find \(R\).
  2. Find the tension in the towbar.