PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
Three different vehicles are moving on a straight, frictionless test track:
• Cart A: mass 50kg, speed 6ms−1
• Motorcycle B: mass 70kg, speed 4ms−1
• Truck C: mass 2000kg, at rest
Answer the following questions.
(i) Calculate the momentum of each vehicle.
(ii) Arrange the three vehicles in descending order of inertia. State the criterion used.
(iii) The two moving vehicles are to be brought to rest uniformly in 2s. For each vehicle, calculate the magnitude of the average unbalanced force required. Which vehicle needs the larger force and why?
(iv) The truck starts from rest. Determine the speed the truck must attain so that its momentum equals that of Cart A computed in part (i).