Answer to Question #350358 in Classical Mechanics for Oshada

Question

A train with a mass of 500 metric tons travels at constant velocity on a horizontal line and unleashes its last compartment which is with a mass of 20 metric tons. If the engine is turned off after moving another 240 m, what would be the distance between the last compartment and the train when it stops? Note that the force generated by the engine remains unchanged throughout the motion and the resistance force applied to each part is proportional to the mass.

Answer 1

$s=d\frac{m_1}{m}=9.6~m.$