Exam-Style Problem
⬅ Back to SubchapterNov 2023 p42 q6
3407
A railway engine of mass 120000 kg is towing a coach of mass 60000 kg up a straight track inclined at an angle of \(\alpha\) to the horizontal where \(\sin \alpha = 0.02\). There is a light rigid coupling, parallel to the track, connecting the engine and coach. The driving force produced by the engine is 125000 N and there are constant resistances to motion of 22000 N on the engine and 13000 N on the coach.
(a) Find the acceleration of the engine and find the tension in the coupling.
At an instant when the engine is travelling at 30 m/s, it comes to a section of track inclined upwards at an angle \(\beta\) to the horizontal. The power produced by the engine is now 4500000 W and, as a result, the engine maintains a constant speed.
(b) Assuming that the resistance forces remain unchanged, find the value of \(\beta\).
