A student conducts an experiment in which a cart is pulled by a variable applied force during a 2sec time interval. In trial 1,
the student exerts the force on a cart of mass M. In trial 2, the student exerts the force on a cart of mass 3M. In trial 3, the student exerts the force on a cart of 5M. In which trial will the cart experience the greatest change in momentum from 0 sec to 2 sec?
change of momentum does not depend on the mass of the cars, as the force and time are the same all vehicles have the same change of momentum
Explanation:
Let's look for the speed of the car
F = m a
a = F / m
We use kinematics to find lips
v = v₀ + a t
v = v₀ + (F / m) t
The moment is defined by
p = m v
The moment change
Δp = m v - m v₀
Let's replace the speeds in this equation
Δp = m (v₀
+ F / m t) - m v₀
Δp = m v₀ + F t - m v₀
Δp = F t
We see that the change of momentum does not depend on the mass of the cars, as the force and time are the same all vehicles have the same change of momentum
