- #1
scooby07
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Homework Statement
Given two cars, one heavier than the other but identical in all other respects, traveling at the same speed on a snowy or icy road which one will stop sooner?
Momentum would say that the lighter car should stop sooner but how does the heavier car's increased weight in combination with friction figure into the stopping distance? Shouldn't the heavier car be able to dig into snow more increasing the opposing frictional force? On ice even though neither car can "dig in", wouldn't the heavier car experience a greater frictional force causing it to stop sooner or is the increased momentum greater than this increase friction?
Explanations are fine as are equations. Thanks for the help.