If for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, how come a tow truck can pull another car?

Question

another car of the same mass.

Answer 1

Because f = Ma; where M = the mass of both the car and the truck. So, if the truck is able to exert a net force (f) on both the car and itself (M), both bodies will accelerate. This is what gets both vehicles going.

The net forces include the pulling force of the truck as applied through its tires onto the asphalt. And they also include the kinetic friction forces of all the tires (car and truck) on the asphalt. Thus f = Ma = P - F; where P is the pull force and F is the friction force.

Once both vehicles are up to speed (e.g., 35 mph), there is no more acceleration, we have f = Ma = P - F = 0. Why? Because a = 0 since there is no more acceleration. When f = 0, we can quickly see that P = F, the two composite forces are equal in size, but opposite in direction. And there you have it, equal and opposite forces for a truck pulling a car in tow.

Lesson learned: the forces do not add up to equal and opposite when the system is accelerating or decelerating. The forces are indeed out of balance; that's what causes the system to change its velocity. But when the system is not changing its velocity (accelerating), the forces must be equal and opposite; otherwise, the velocity would be changing.

Answer 2

Because when they were "hooked" together they became "one" unit. If you drop an item inside your car traveling 70 mph the item simply drops straight down because the item is also traveling 70 mph, if you drop the same item out the window it appears to be going backward because you are still traveling 70 mph but the item isn't. Inside the car the item and the car become as one just like the tow truck and the car being pulled.

Answer 3

when tow truck applies a force(action) on car , car pulls(reaction) truck with same force
Now ,annalyze car --- find acceleration a1 (F/mass of car)
Now, annalyze truck-- find acceleration a2 (F/mass of truck)
since, mass of truck >mass of car
a2 therefore acceleration of truck towards car is much less as compared to acceleration of car towards truck
hence, tow truck can pull another car

Answer 4

Usually it pulls the car on the cars back wheels, but there will still be friction, and wind resistance that will go against the truck and car.


I think :}

Answer 5

Good question. The reason is that when A acts on B, while action force acts on B, reaction force acts on A. They are equal, but they act on diff objects. Thats why they don't cancel each other.

Answer 6

For one because the car is on wheels, you are not actually moving the mas you are rolling it... the other reason is that tow trucks have larger engins for that pourpse.

Answer 7

The action is the drive wheels are pushing in one direction and pushing the vehicle in the other direction, which there is a transverse of forces in action if analyzed in literal form.

Answer 8

guy, Newton's 0.33 regulation has been taken out of context certainly one of those great form of situations it variety of feels a remember of path now. i've got pronounced this in the previous and that i'll assert it lower back: that is in basic terms a actual regulation, making use of extremely to the movements of products in a actual way; that is not any longer A PHILOSOPHY sturdy Gravy.