Kaplan 10th Edition DT Q49

Kaplan's Book

49) This question simply requires us to use Newton's 2nd Law to find the net acceleration of the railroad car. We know that our net force is 500 N in the +x-direction.

Where T is tension force.

This is a diagram of the x and y components of the tension forces. In Question 48, I explained that the y-components must be equal because the problem's given diagram describes the net motion in the +x-direction.

Knowing that the net force is 500 N, and the mass is 1000 kg, we can solve for the acceleration using Newton's 2nd Law.

Where F[net] is the net force, m is mass, and a is acceleration

Answer: E