Question

If Ari is replaced with circus dog Bo, who has one-fifth the mass of Bart, and Bo's trainer is positioned 20 m high for a hoped-for catch, will Bo's propulsion be enough to reach the trainer?

a) Yes, the lower mass of Bo will result in greater propulsion.
b) No, the mass of Bo is insufficient for the required propulsion.
c) It depends on Bo's initial velocity.
d) None of these

Answer 1

Whether Bo can reach the trainer 20 m high depends on Bo's initial velocity, as sufficient initial velocity can compensate for his lower mass. The correct answer is: c) It depends on Bo's initial velocity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks if circus dog Bo can reach a trainer positioned 20 meters high, given that Bo has one-fifth the mass of Bart, and whether Bo's propulsion will be enough for the hoped-for catch. The correct answer is: c) It depends on Bo's initial velocity. Momentum is indeed affected by mass and velocity. However, what will determine Bo's reach is the initial velocity and the mass, which affects the object's ability to overcome gravitational force. If Bo's initial velocity is high enough to overcome the gravitational force and reach the height of 20 meters where the trainer is positioned, the propulsion will be sufficient. This principle is in line with Newton's second law of motion, which relates force, mass, and acceleration.