Question

Students in a physics lab set up an apparatus to study the collisions between two lab carts. They affix identical springs at opposite ends of the track. They place a small cart on the left side of the track and a larger, more massive cart on the right side of the track. IN numerous trials, the students press the carts against the springs and then release them from rest such that they are launched towards eachother. The carts are affixed with velcro that causes them to stick together when they collide. In one trial, the larger cart is pressed against its spring such that the spring compresses by 2 cm and the smaller cart is pressed against the spring such that the spring compresses by some distance, d. When the carts are released, the resulting collision causes the cart to come to rest.

A: Based on this information, which of the following compares the magnitude od the impulse applied to each cart by its spring during this trial?

1. Impulse applied for the small cart has a larger magnitude than the impulse applied to the larger cart

2. Small cart has smaller impulse

3. Impulses are the same

Please explain this in paragraph form

B: Which of the following describes the distance, d, that the spring is compressed by the smaller cart in this trial?

1. D is greater than 2 cm

2. D is less than 2 cm

3. D is equal to 2 cm

Explain in paragraph form

c: Describe the one change the students could make to the apparatus such that the carts will move to the right after the collision.

(Please be as detailed as you can with each answer, and offer an explanation if you use equations)

Answer 1