Question

A massive tractor is rolling down a country road. In a perfectly inelastic collision, a small sports car runs into the machine from behind. (i) Which vehicle experience a change in momentum of larger magnitude? (a) The car does. (b) The tractor does. (c) Their momentum changes are the same size. (d) It could be either vehicle. (ii) Which vehicle experiences a larger change in kinetic energy? (a) The car does. (b) The tractor does. (c) Their kinetic energy changes are the same size. (d) It could be either vehicle.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

In an inelastic collision, the momentum remains conserved while the kinetic energy is not conserved.

(i) Here, a small sports car runs into the machine from behind.

Due to the conservation of momentum, it remains conserved. It means their momentum changes are the same size.

Hence, the correct option is (c).

(ii) The car is moving faster than the tractor. A faster moving object will lose more energy as compared to the other. It means car's most of the energy is converted to internal energy. The car will have a a larger change in kinetic energy. Hence, the correct option is (a).