An engine can pull four coaches at a maximum speed of 20 ms−1. The mass of the engine is twice the mass of every coach. Assuming resistive forces to be proportional to the weight, approximate maximum speeds of the engine, when it pulls 12 and 6 coaches, are
Let the mass of every coach is m, the mass of the total system when 4 coaches are connected will be 6m and the mass of the total system when 12 coaches are connected will be 14m.
According to conservation of linear momentum, when 12 coaches are connected, it can be written as,
6m×20=14m×v1
v1=8.57m/s
Since, the mass of the total system when 6 coaches are connected will be 8m.
According to conservation of linear momentum, when 6 coaches are connected, it can be written as,
6m×20=8m×v2
v2=15m/s
Thus, when engine pulls 12 coaches, the speed is 8.57m/s and when engine pulls 6 coaches, the speed is 15m/s.