Question

Which describes what the crane opertor does todrop the scrap metal into the train car?

Answer 1

The question is related to the action a crane operator takes to drop scrap metal into a train freight car, which involves releasing the hold on the scrap metal allowing it to fall into the freight car due to gravity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to an application of the conservation of momentum and energy principles in physics, specifically concerning a crane operator who is responsible for dropping scrap metal into a train freight car. To achieve this, the crane operator would release the crane's hold on the scrap metal, allowing it to free-fall due to gravity into the freight car. This question may involve calculating the final velocity of the freight car after the scrap metal is deposited, as indicated by a similar sample professional application question which includes a 30,000-kg freight car coasting at 0.850 m/s that receives 110,000 kg of scrap metal. Unlike that application problem which focuses on the mathematical computation of final velocity and kinetic energy lost, the given question asks us to describe the action taken by the crane operator during the process.

Answer 2

The crane operator drops scrap metal into a train car by releasing it from the hopper, which increases the car’s mass and changes its momentum. By applying the conservation of momentum, we can calculate the car’s final velocity. The loss in kinetic energy can be determined by computing the difference between the initial and final kinetic energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

Crane Operation in Dropping Scrap Metal

The scenario presented describes a crane operator’s task when dropping scrap metal into a train car. The crane is positioned over a freight car and releases scrap metal into it. When scrap metal is dumped by the hopper into the freight car, the total mass of the system increases from 30,000 kg to 140,000 kg. To find the final velocity of the freight car, we apply the conservation of momentum, assuming negligible friction.

Initially, the freight car has momentum given by p = (mass of freight car) × (initial velocity), which is 30,000 kg × 0.850 m/s. After the scrap metal is added, the total mass is 140,000 kg. The final velocity can be found by setting the initial momentum equal to the final momentum, since momentum is conserved.

Kinetic energy is calculated using the formula KE = (1/2) × mass × velocity². Any loss in kinetic energy comes from the drop in final velocity when the additional mass of scrap metal is added to the freight car. We would calculate the initial kinetic energy and final kinetic energy, and take the difference to find the amount of kinetic energy lost.