Question

A train A runs from east to west and another train B of the same mass runs from west to east at the same speed along the equator. A presses the track with a force F₁ and B presses the track with a force F₂.
(a) F₁ > F₂.
(b) F₁ < F₂
(c) F₁ = F₂
(d) the information is insufficient to find the relation between F₁ and F_2.

Answer 1

(a) F₁ > F₂

When the trains are moving, effective angular velocity of both the trains are different (as shown in the figure).



Effective angular velocity of train B is more than that of train A.

Normal force with which both the trains push the tracks is given as:

$N=mg-mR\omega {\text{'}}^2$

From the above equation, we can conclude that F₁ > F₂.