Question

A horse pulls a cart along a flat road. Consider the following four forces that arise in this situation. (1) the force of the horse pulling on the cart (2) the force of the cart pulling on the horse (3) the force of the horse pushing on the road (4) the force of the road pushing on the horse Suppose that the horse and cart have started from rest; and as time goes on, their speed increases in the same direction. Which one of the following conclusions is correct concerning the magnitudes of the forces mentioned above?

Answer 1

Complete Question: A horse pulls a cart along a flat road. Consider the following four forces that arise in this situation. (1) the force of the horse pulling on the cart (2) the force of the cart pulling on the horse (3) the force of the horse pushing on the road (4) the force of the road pushing on the horse Suppose that the horse and cart have started from rest; and as time goes on, their speed increases in the same direction. Which one of the following conclusions is correct concerning the magnitudes of the forces mentioned above?

A) Force 1 exceeds force 2.

B) Force 2 is less than force 3.

C) Force 2 exceeds force 4.

D) Force 3 exceeds force 4.

E) Forces 1 and 2 cannot have equal magnitudes.

Answer: B) Force 2 is less than force 3.

Explanation: From the given four forces to be considered, Force 2 is less than Force 3 is correct option.

After evaluating the forces one by one. Force 3 and Force 4 are the same, both have equal magnitude.

And Force 3 is greater than Force 2, i.e., the force of the horse pushing on the road is much higher than the cart pulling the horse. Hence, more forces is required to pull the cart while on the road towards forward direction.

More so, the force of the road pushing on the horse is greater than the force of the cart pulling on the horse.