Question

A driver in a Volkswagen bug (mass = 1335 kg) pulls out going 10 miles per hour in front of a Ford pickup truck (mass = 2675 kg) which is traveling 40 miles per hour. The two vehicles experience a head-on collision. Which of the following statements is true concerning the forces that each vehicle (and driver) experience in this collision?

a. The Volkswagen bug experiences a much greater force than the Ford pickup truck due to the greater speed of the truck.
b. The Volkswagen bug experiences a much greater force than the Ford pickup truck due to the larger mass of the truck.
c. The Volkswagen bug experiences a force that is the same as the Ford pickup truck experiences.
d. The Volkswagen bug experiences a much smaller force than the Ford pickup truck due to the smaller speed of the Volkswagen bug.
e. The Volkswagen bug experiences a much smaller force than the Ford pickup truck due to the smaller mass of the Volkswagen bug

Answer 1

c. The Volkswagen bug experiences a force that is the same as the Ford pickup truck experiences.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given:

mass of Volkswagen bug,
`m_v=1335\ kg`

speed of Volkswagen bug,
`v_v=10\ mi.hr^(-1)`

mass of Ford pickup,
`m_f=2675\ kg`

speed of Ford pickup,
`v_f=40\ mi.hr^(-1)`

Since both undergo a head-on collision they both face the equal impact in accordance with the Newton's third law of motion which states that every action has equal and opposite reaction.

So the bug the force applied by the bug on the pickup is equal to the force applied by the pickup on the bug. This happens only till both the masses are in contact with each other.

Answer 2

Answer:C

Step-by-step explanation:

Given

mass of Volkswagen
`m_1=1335 kg`

speed of Volkswagen
`v_1=10 mi/hr`

mass of Ford pick up
`m_2=2675 kg`

speed of ford pick up
`v_2=40 mi/hr`

When two bodies collide head-on then force experienced by both the bodies will be the same but opposite in direction.

According to newton's third law, the force exerted by one particle on another is equal to the force exerted by the second particle on first.

Thus two bodies will experience the same force