Physics of Collisions: Exploring Momentum and Center of Mass
What happens to the net force exerted on the blocks during a collision?
a. The net force is zero for both blocks
b. The net force is non-zero for both blocks
c. The net force is zero for one block and non-zero for the other block
During a collision, does the center of mass of the two-block system speed up, slow down, or stay the same?
a. Speed up
b. Slow down
c. Stay the same
Answer:
When the blocks collide, they exert equal and opposite forces on each other, resulting in zero net force. The center of mass of the two-block system remains constant.
Explanation:
During a collision, according to Newton's Third Law, the blocks exert equal and opposite forces on each other, causing the net force to be zero. This is a result of the conservation of momentum. As a consequence, the center of mass of the system does not accelerate and stays at a constant velocity.
In summary, the laws of physics govern the interactions between the blocks, leading to balanced forces and a stationary center of mass.