Wo horses are pulling a barge with mass 1.86 103 kg along a canal as shown in Figure 4.5. The cable?

Question

Two horses are pulling a barge with mass 1.86 103 kg along a canal as shown in Figure 4.5. The cable connected to the first horse makes an angle of 30.0° with respect to the direction of the canal, while the cable attached to the second horse makes an angle of 45.0°. Find the initial acceleration of the barge, starting at rest, if each horse exerts a force of magnitude 5.83 102 N on the barge. Ignore forces of resistance on the barge.

Repeat the above problem, but assume the upper horse pulls at a 40.8° angle, the lower horse at 17.3°.

a = m/s2

θ = °

Answer 1

There are 8 possible solutions to this problem depending on whether the horses are on the same or opposite banks, and if the barge stats at midstream or against a bank.