A Small Rock Bouncing Off a Moving Car: Momentum Change
The Impact of a Small Rock Bouncing Off a Moving Car
Imagine a scenario where a small rock bounces off the windshield of a moving car. In this situation, the rock collides with the car's windshield, causing a significant change in velocity for the rock. This interaction between the rock and the car can lead to an interesting phenomenon related to momentum.
Understanding Momentum Change
Momentum is a vector quantity that describes the motion of an object. It is calculated by multiplying the mass of an object by its velocity. When the small rock bounces off the windshield of the moving car, the car's momentum is influenced by the collision.
How Does the Car's Momentum Change?
The car will slow down. If the rock is big enough and moving fast enough, the kinetic energy from the rock will transfer to the car. As a result, the car will experience a decrease in velocity due to the external force exerted by the rock. This change in momentum can lead to a noticeable impact on the car's speed and direction of motion.
"How does the car's momentum change?" The car will slow down. If the rock is big enough and moving fast enough, the kinetic energy from the rock will transfer to the car. And because of that, the car will slow down (and the windshield will most likely shatter)