A large truck and a car, both moving with a velocity of magnitude "v", have a head-on collision and both of them come to halt after that. If the collision lasts for 10 seconds:
a) Which vehicle experiences the greater force of impact?
b) Which vehicle experiences the greater momentum change?
c) Which vehicle experiences the greater acceleration?
d) Why is the car likely to suffer more damage than the truck?

Question

A large truck and a car, both moving with a velocity of magnitude "v", have a head-on collision and both of them come to halt after that. If the collision lasts for 10 seconds:
a) Which vehicle experiences the greater force of impact?
b)  Which vehicle experiences the greater momentum change?
c) Which vehicle experiences the greater acceleration?
d) Why is the car likely to suffer more damage than the truck?

anonymous · Answer

a. Same force (Newton's 3rd law).

b. Impulse/Momentum is directly related to force, therefore both vehicles experience the same momentum change.

c.$$F = ma$$
Since F is constant, the vehicle with the smaller mass will have the greater acceleration.

d. Because of c.

anonymous · Answer

Yes that is right
But i think the car will experience the greater force of the impact
Im not sure though

anonymous · Answer

The car's mass is less than the large truck's mass, therefore the car will have a bigger acceleration compared to that of the truck for the same force experienced by both objects. Get it?

anonymous · Answer

mA = Ma = F

m -> small mass
M -> big mass

A-> big acceleration
a-> small acceleration
F is force