Recent content by Maka42

Hmm, all I can think of is the normal force adjusting due to the momentum of the weight. But then I'm not really sure how that would change the velocity if there's no friction.

Hmm, well now that I think about it, the total momentum before and after are different, as the load is moving vertically and the cart is moving horizontally. Which means an external force is acting.

Well I thought that the speed would remain constant throughout because there is no net force horizontally and due to Newton's first law the speed would remain unchanged. I feel as though I'm missing something important though.

Oh, It never occurred to me that it both the forces would change proportionally. Thanks for your reply, I definitely won't be making these mistakes again!

That's very true, well I suppose since there is no friction in the horizontal direction, the increase in weight would simply be balanced by the reaction force and so there would still be no net force meaning velocity would be unchanged.

Just introducing myself, Hi, my name is Jonathan but feel free to refer to me as Maka or what ever else tickles your fancy! I'm currently doing a bachelor of science majoring in Physics hoping to pursue things like modern physics, quantum physics, cosmology and particle physics in the future...

Hmm, well if there is no friction then I guess that means the velocity would stay the same. Thanks for your help! I guess my problem was more with the English rather than the physics, good thing I'm doing a physics degree rather than an English one!

I interpreted it that way at first as well, I feel like "down a track" can mean its both going down a slope and a flat surface. If it was a flat surface would that mean the kinetic force of friction would increase and thus make it go slower?

A trolley is moving at a constant speed down a track, with no net force acting upon it. A heavy load is dropped vertically on top of the moving trolley. What happens to the trolley's speed? a) It stays the same, b) It decreases, c) It becomes zero, d) It is impossible to say, e) It increases...