Two teams of nine members each engage in tug-of-war. Each of the first team's members has an average mass of 68 kg and exerts an average force of 1350 N horizontally. Each of the second team's members has an average mass of 73 kg and exerts an average force of 1365 N horizontally. (a) What is magnitude of the acceleration of the two teams, and which team wins? (b) What is the tension in the section of rope between the teams?

(a) Acceleration  = 0.1063 m/s^2      (Second team wins)

(b) Tension in rope = 65.106 N

Explanation:

Total mass of first team = 68 * 9 = 612 kg

Total force of first team = 1350 * 9 = 12150 N

Total mass of second team = 73 * 9 = 657 kg

Total force of seconds team = 1365 * 9 = 12285 N

Difference in force = 12285 - 12150 = 135 N   (towards the second team as it has more force)

(a) For acceleration we get:

F = m * a

135 = (mass of both teams) * a

a = 135 / (612 + 657)

acceleration  = 0.1063 m/s^2      (Second team wins)

(b) Since we know the acceleration of the first team (pulling being pulled towards the second team at an acceleration of 0.1063 m/s^2) , we can find out the force required to move them:

Force required for first team = mass of first team * acceleration

Force required = 612 * 0.1063

Force required = 65.106 N

This is the force exerted on the first team through the rope, so the tension in the rope will also be 65.106 N.