Question

The windshield of a speeding car hits a hovering insect. Consider the time interval from just before the car hits the insect to just after the impact. Which of the following are correct?
A. The system consists of the bug alone.
B. The system consists of the bug plus the car.
C. The magnitudes of the change of velocity are equal for car and bug.
D. The magnitude of change of momentum of the car is bigger that that of the bug.
E. The magnitude of change of momentum of the bug is bigger than that of the car.
F. The system consists of the car alone.
G. The magnitude of change of velocity of the car is bigger than that of the bug.
H. The magnitudes of the change of momentum are equal for car and bug.
I. The magnitude of change of velocity of the bug is bigger than that of the car.

Answer 1

Answer:

A. False

B True

C. False

D.False

E. True

F. False

G. False

H. False

I. True

Explanation:

A. False: The system being analyzed consists of the bug and the car.  These are the two bodies involved in the collision.

B. True: The system being analyzed consists of the bug and the car

C. False: The magnitudes of the change in velocity are different from the car and the bug. The velocity of the bug changes from 0 to the velocity of the car, while there is no noticeable change in the velocity of the car

D.False: There is barely any change in the momentum of the car since the mass of the bug is very small.

E. True: Since the mass of the bug is small, and was initially at rest, the magnitude of the change in monentum will be large because the new velocity will be that of the car.

F. False: The system being analyzed consists of the bug and the car. Those are the two bodies involved in the collision

G. False: The car barely changes in velocity since the mass of the bug is small.

H. False: The car barely changes in momentum because the collision does not affect its speed so much. on the other hand the momentum change of the bug is large since its mass is small.

I. True: The bug which was initially at rest will begin moving with the velovity of the speeding car, while the car barely changes in its velocity