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 1 s:
(a) Which vehicle experiences the greater force of impact?
(b) Which vehicle experiences the greater change in momentum?
(c) Which vehicle experiences the greater acceleration?
(d) Why is the car likely to suffer more damage than the truck?
(a) Both vehicles experience equal forces of action and reaction because both the objects are moving.
(b) Since, both truck and car are moving with the same magnitude of velocity v, momentum change for both vehicles is same.
(c) Mass and acceleration are inversely proportional to each other. Therefore, car experiences greater acceleration due to its smaller mass.
(d) Due to its smaller mass or opposition to the force exerted on it, the car is likely to suffer more damage than the truck.
