Two body-problems can typically be approached using one of two basic approaches. Most commonly (though not always the case), the two unknowns are the acceleration of the two objects and the force transmitted between the two objects. When appearing as physics problems, two-body problems are characterized by a set of two unknown quantities. Situations involving two objects are often referred to as two-body situations. We will find that the analysis is conducted in the same general manner as when there is one object - through the use of free-body diagrams and Newton's laws. How is such an analysis conducted? How is the acceleration of the tow truck and the car determined? What about the force acting between the tow truck and the car? In this part of Lesson 3, we will make an attempt to analyze such situations. But what happens if there are two objects connected together in one way or another? For instance, there could be a tow truck hauling a car down a highway.

Our study thus far has been restricted to the analysis of single objects moving under the influence of Newton's laws.

System mechanic 15.0