Question

A 2kg Chihuahua is running on ice at 20m/s when it collides with a 60kg Great Dane walking straight at it at 0.5m/s. (all questions refer to magnitude. Ignore the fact that some quantities may be positive and other negative due to direction). Justify answers. Which dog experiences the greater impulse and acceleration during collision.? Which has the greater inertia? Which dog has the greatest change in momentum and velocity?

Answer 1

60kg Great Dane has the greater inertia than 2kg Chihuahua.

As the force on them is same and in opposite directions, and impulse depends on force and duration of impact, both the dogs experience the same impulse. But the acceleration is inversely proportional to their mass. So, Chihuahua is having greater acceleration during collision.

Since both the dogs experience the same impulse, the change in momentum is same for both. But change in velocity is also inversely proportional to mass. So, Chihuahua is having greater change in velocity.