Question

Two identical objects, A and B, move along straight, parallel, horizontal tracks. The graph above represents the position as a function of time for the two objects.

(a) At a time of 2 seconds, where the lines intersect, do the displacements of the two objects from their initial positions have the same magnitude? Briefly explain your answer.
(b) At a time of 2 seconds, where the lines intersect, do the velocities of the two objects have the same magnitude? Briefly explain your answer.
(c) At a time of 2 seconds, where the lines intersect, which object, if either, has a net force with a greater magnitude exerted on it? If the net force has the same magnitude or both objects, indicate this explicitly
(d) In a clear, coherent paragraph-length response, explain your response to part (c). Be sure to reference and compare the graphed information for both objects A and B.

Answer 1

At a time of 2 seconds, the displacements and velocities of the two objects do not have the same magnitudes. It is not possible to determine which object, if either, has a greater net force exerted on it at a time of 2 seconds. The graph only represents the positions of the objects and does not provide information about the forces involved.

(a) Displacement:

At a time of 2 seconds, where the lines intersect, the displacements of the two objects from their initial positions do not have the same magnitude. Displacement is a vector quantity that measures the change in position of an object, taking into account both magnitude and direction. Looking at the graph, Object A has moved a greater distance to the right (in the positive x-direction) compared to Object B, which suggests that Object A has a greater displacement from its initial position.

(b) Velocity:

At a time of 2 seconds, where the lines intersect, the velocities of the two objects do not have the same magnitude. Velocity is also a vector quantity that indicates both the speed and direction of an object's motion. From the graph, Object A has a steeper slope (greater change in position with respect to time) than Object B, which implies that Object A has a greater velocity than Object B at that particular moment in time.

(c) Net Force:

From the information given in the question, it is not possible to determine which object, if either, has a net force with a greater magnitude exerted on it at a time of 2 seconds. The graph provided only represents the position as a function of time for the two objects and does not give any information about the forces acting on the objects.

(d) Explanation:

In the absence of information about the forces acting on the objects, we cannot determine which object, if either, has a net force with a greater magnitude at a time of 2 seconds. The graph only provides information about the positions of the objects at different points in time and does not give any information about the forces involved. Therefore, it is not possible to make any conclusions about the net forces based solely on the graph provided.