Question

Suppose a small car collides with a truck that has a mass five times larger. Is the force the car does on the truck smaller, the same or larger than the force the truck exerts on the car. Please justify your answer.

Furthermore, what is the relationship between the impulse and the change in momentum of an object?

Answer 1

We know from Newtons Third law that To every action, there is equal and opposite reaction or we say that For every force applied to a body, an equal and opposite forces is applied back, irrespective of their masses, velocities or other things.

here the car and truck collide with each other, If truck exerts a force let us say F on car, the car exerts a force -F on the truck back. The magnitude of the forces is same, only the direction is opposite.

So the force that the car exerts on the truck is same as the truck applies on the car.

b) Momentum describes an objects resistance to stopping. It is given by

Impulse describes the net effect of a force acting on a body.it is given by

The impulse momentum theorem states that the rate of change of momentum of an object is equal to the impulse applied to it . i.e,