Assignment task: Consider the following question.
Q1. Barth Bumblebutt has an older uni-system harvest tractor. The machine picks 4 - 36" rows of corn, and the engine divides its 135 hp output between the propulsion drive, corn head, and the separator. The corn head requires 8.5 hp per row to operate effectively. The separator requires 38.5 hp / mph of ground speed, and the rolling resistance of the machine requires 23.7 hp / mph to overcome. What is the maximum speed that Barth can shell corn?
Q2. Barth switches to 30" rows and needs to upgrade his farming system. Billy finds a neighbor that has a six row corn head for the uni-system that he no longer uses and will sell cheaply. It doesn't fit Barth's harvest tractor right, and Billy and Barth have to do significant modification with the cutting torch and welder to make things work. It is heavier, and they have to re-ballast the tractor. The rolling resistance rises to 31.3 hp / mph. The corn head has seen better days. It requires 11.0 hp per row to operate effectively. What is Barth's new maximum corn shelling speed?
Q3. Making decisions like this, how does the Bumblebutt family manage to continue farming year after year?