Jace operating a freight car with a mass of 6.0 x10^4 kg is rolling along a level track at 0.40 m/s, dragging a chain behind it. If the largest force that could be applied to the chain is 320.0 N, how long would it take to stop the car?
The force applied to the chain will be in the opposite direction of the car's motion to stop it. Therefore, the force applied will be a negative value.
Using Newton's second law of motion:
F = ma
where F is the force, m is the mass, and a is the acceleration.
Since we want to stop the car, the acceleration will be in the opposite direction of its initial motion and will be negative.
The net force acting on the car is equal to the force applied to the chain:
Net force = Force applied
ma = -320 N
a = -320 N / (6.0 x 10^4 kg) = -5.33 x 10^-3 m/s^2
Now we can use the kinematic equation:
v_final = v_initial + at
0 = 0.40 m/s - 5.33 x 10^-3 m/s^2 * t
t = 0.40 m/s / (5.33 x 10^-3 m/s^2)
t ≈ 75 seconds
Therefore, it would take approximately 75 seconds to stop the car.