Question

A customer is pushing a shopping cart around a grocery store. The customer lets go of the cart and the cart slowly rolls to a stop. Describe what could have happened to the cart that would cause it to stop.

a) Increased friction between the wheels and the floor
b) A sudden gust of wind
c) A change in the cart's weight
d) A change in the cart's shape

Answer 1

The most likely reason for the shopping cart to stop rolling is increased friction between the wheels and the floor (a).

Step-by-step explanation:

When the customer releases the cart, various factors can influence its motion. Increased friction between the wheels and the floor would impede its movement, causing it to slow down and eventually stop. Friction arises due to the interaction between the surfaces of the wheels and the floor. This force opposes the cart's motion and gradually brings it to a halt.

Frictional force
`\(F_f\)`can be calculated using the equation
`\(F_f = \mu * N\)`, where
`\(\mu\)` represents the coefficient of friction and
`\(N\)` is the normal force. In this scenario, a change in the coefficient of friction or an alteration in the surface condition might have occurred, causing the cart to stop. Additionally, any external forces such as a sudden gust of wind (b) might momentarily affect the cart's motion, but unless the wind continues to act or the force is substantial, it would not be the primary reason for the cart's stoppage.

Changes in the cart's weight (c) or shape (d) could alter its behavior, but they are less likely to directly cause the cart to come to a stop unless significant modifications have been made, affecting the frictional interaction between the wheels and the floor. Therefore, increased friction between the wheels and the floor is the most probable reason for the shopping cart to stop.