Question

A ramp of mass M is at rest on a horizontal surface. A small cart of mass m is placed at the top of the ramp and released.

a) The cart moves down the ramp.

b) The ramp moves down with the cart.

c) The system remains at rest.

d) The cart moves up the ramp.

Answer 1

The cart moves down the ramp.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the cart is released at the top of the ramp, it will move down the ramp. This is because the force of gravity will act on the cart, causing it to accelerate down the slope of the ramp. The ramp itself will also experience a reaction force pushing it down, but the ramp's mass is usually much greater than the cart's mass, so it will have a negligible effect on the motion of the system.