Two toy models for the motion of a leaky tank car

Abstract

I present two toy models for the motion of a tank car as fluid drains out of an off-center opening, based on replacing the fluid with particles. No knowledge beyond simple Lagrangian mechanics is required. The first toy model is solved analytically and the second can be simulated numerically for a variety of initial conditions and mass ratios. Both toy models show the car turning around once as is required by conservation of momentum.