Me

a tugboat is pushing a barge into a harbor. the barge is exerting a force of 3000 n against the tugboat. which force would most likely allow the tugboat to move the barge into the harbor?

–4500 n

–2500 n

2500 n

4500 n

A s per the question a tugboat is pushing a barge into a harbor.

The force exerted by the barge on the tugboat is 3000 N.

Let the barge is not moving. Hence the force exerted by the tug boat must be equal to 3000 N but opposite to the force exerted by barge on the tug boat.It is because of Newton's third law of motion which states that action and reaction are equal and opposite.

Hence the minimum force that the tugboat can apply  on the barge is 3000 N. Any force below that  will violate the fundamental law of physics.

As per the question the barge is set up into motion.Hence the force exerted by the tug boat on the barge to do so must be greater than or equal to 3000 N.

Out of the 4 options given in the question the two options 4500 N and -4500 N will be the correct answer.

As the force exerted by the tugboat is opposite to the force exerted by the barge,hence the correct answer will be -4500 N.            

Hence option 1 is right.

cant without the picture! ?