Question

A light plastic cart and a heavy steel cart are both pushed with the same force for a distance of 1.0 m, starting from rest. After the force is removed, the kinetic energy of the light plastic cart is ________ that of the heavy steel cart.

Answer 1

The kinetic energy of the light plastic cart is equal to that of the heavy steel cart.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is known that both carts are pushed with the same amount of force and they also covered the same distance of 1 m which means both carts have done same amount of work.

W = F.d

From the work energy equation

ΔKE = W

ΔKE = F.d

Since force and distance are same for both carts then the change in kinetic energy would also be equal for both carts.

In order to have greater kinetic energy, a greater force will be required hence resulting in greater work done.