Question

explain the forces acting on a car traveling at a constant speed down a straight road. how could you cause a change in the car's motion?

Answer 1

When a car is traveling at a constant speed down a straight road, the forces acting on the car are the frictional force between the road and the tires and the drag force on the car. These forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, resulting in a net force of zero. To cause a change in the car's motion, an external force that is not balanced by the forces of friction and drag needs to be applied.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a car is traveling at a constant speed down a straight road, the forces acting on the car are the frictional force between the road and the tires and the drag force on the car. These forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, resulting in a net force of zero. This means that the car continues to move at a constant velocity without any change in its motion.

To cause a change in the car's motion, you would need to apply an external force that is not balanced by the forces of friction and drag. For example, you could increase the engine power to accelerate the car, or apply the brakes to decelerate the car. By changing the forces acting on the car, you can cause a change in its motion.

Answer 2

When a car is traveling at a constant speed, the forces acting on it are in equilibrium according to Newton's first law. To cause a change in the car's motion, a nonzero net force needs to be applied. This can be done by accelerating or decelerating the car.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a car is traveling at a constant speed down a straight road, the forces acting on the car are in equilibrium. According to Newton's first law, the net force on the car is zero, which means the car is not accelerating. The forces acting on the car include the frictional force between the road and tires, which opposes the drag force on the car. These forces balance each other out, resulting in constant velocity.

If you want to cause a change in the car's motion, you would need to apply a nonzero net force to the car. For example, if you push the gas pedal to accelerate the car, you increase the force produced by the engine and overcome the drag force. This results in a nonzero net force and causes the car to accelerate. Alternatively, if you apply the brakes, you increase the force of friction and decrease the net force, causing the car to decelerate or come to a stop.