Answer to Question #263163 in Mechanics | Relativity for Riwaydo Odorosh

Question

A tow truck is pulling out a car that slid into a snow bank at the side of the road. The tow truck pulls the car with a force of 3750 N[E]. Describe the force the car is exerting on the tow truck while the tow truck is pulling the car.

Answer 1

According to the problem statement it can be considered that the force we are talking about is the frictional force between the car and the ground that opposes the truck which is pulling the car.

The frictional force is directly proportional to the mass of the car. The heavier the car is, the more force required to pull it out of the snow bank. The frictional force is also directly proportional to the kinetic friction constant for the surface of the snow bank. The frictional force will increase as the roughness of the snow bank surface increases.

The frictional force can be expressed with the following equation.

Frictional force = Coefficient of friction x Normal force

f = µN

where N = normal force which is the force the ground exerts on the system and is pushing the system

µ = Coefficient of friction

If the car is being pulled out of the snow bank by the tow truck at a constant speed, then the frictional force is equal to the force that the truck is exerting on the car, or 3750 N in the East direction.

f = 3750 N