Car 1 & Car 2: Inertia & Velocity at the Edge of a Cliff

In summary, Car 1 and Car 2, with different masses, accelerate across equal distance to the edge of a cliff. The force is suddenly removed and they both sail through the air, with Car 2 having greater acceleration and therefore shooting out farther. The concepts of velocity, inertia, and acceleration are important in understanding this scenario.
  • #1
deanine3
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0

Homework Statement


Car 1 and Car 2 are initially at rest on a horizontal parking lot at the edge of a steep cliff. Car 1 has twice the mass as car 2. Equal and constant forces are applied to each car and they accelerate across equal distance to the cliff. We ignore the effects of friction. When they reach the far end of the lot, the force is suddenly removed, whereupon they sail through the air and crash to the ground below.


Homework Equations


Velocity = speed x direction
inertia
acceleration = change in velocity/time

The Attempt at a Solution


Car 1 has twice the mass it has twice the inertia and less velocity then car 2. Since car 2 has 1/2 the mass, it has greater acceleration leaving the cliff it therefore "shoots out" farther than car 1. Would it be correct to say it has greater "horizontal velocity" leaving the cliff?
 
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  • #2


Yep.

You were an easy one! :cool:
 
  • #3


Hoorah!
 

1. What is inertia?

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. This means that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue moving at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by an external force.

2. How does inertia relate to cars at the edge of a cliff?

In the scenario of "Car 1 & Car 2: Inertia & Velocity at the Edge of a Cliff," inertia is important because it determines how the cars will behave when they reach the edge of the cliff. If the cars are moving at a high velocity, they will have a greater tendency to continue moving forward due to their inertia, even when they reach the edge of the cliff.

3. What is velocity?

Velocity is a measure of an object's speed and direction of motion. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. In the scenario of "Car 1 & Car 2: Inertia & Velocity at the Edge of a Cliff," the velocity of the cars will determine how fast and in which direction they are moving.

4. How is velocity affected when a car reaches the edge of a cliff?

When a car reaches the edge of a cliff, its velocity will be affected by the external force of gravity pulling it downward. As the car falls, its velocity will increase due to the acceleration of gravity. However, if the car's velocity is high enough, it may have enough inertia to continue moving forward even as it falls.

5. How does the mass of a car affect its inertia?

The mass of an object is directly related to its inertia. Objects with larger mass have a greater inertia, meaning they are more resistant to changes in motion. In the scenario of "Car 1 & Car 2: Inertia & Velocity at the Edge of a Cliff," the car with a larger mass will have a greater tendency to continue moving forward due to its greater inertia.

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