Question

A crate rests on the horizontal bed of a pickup truck. For each situation described below, indicate the motion of the crate relative to the ground, the motion of the crate relative to the truck, and whether the crate will hit the front wall of the truck bed, the back wall, or neither. Disregard friction.

Situation: The truck accelerates forward.

A. Crate motion relative to the ground: Forward

B. Crate motion relative to the truck: Forward

C. Crate hits: Back wall

D. Crate hits: Front wall

Answer 1

A crate on the bed of a pickup truck, when the truck accelerates forward, will have forward motion relative to the ground and the truck. The crate will hit the back wall of the truck bed.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this situation, when the truck accelerates forward, the motion of the crate relative to the ground would be forward. The motion of the crate relative to the truck would also be forward. However, since the crate is sliding backward relative to the bed of the truck, it will hit the back wall of the truck bed.