The Mystery of Shopping Carts Interaction

What force is being exerted when Debbie places two shopping carts in a cart corral?

A. Friction force

B. Applied force

Answer:

The force being exerted is an applied force.

When Debbie places two shopping carts in a cart corral and pushes the first cart, a force is being exerted. In this scenario, the force being exerted is an applied force.

Debbie exerts a friction force on the first shopping cart when she pushes it. As a result, the first cart then exerts an applied force on the second cart. This applied force is what causes the second cart to move after Debbie pushes the first one.

It is important to understand the difference between friction force and applied force in this context. Friction force occurs between surfaces in contact and opposes the motion of one surface over the other. On the other hand, applied force is a force that is applied to an object by a person or another object.

In the case of Debbie pushing the first shopping cart, she is applying a force to it, causing it to exert a force on the second cart. This results in both shopping carts moving in the same direction due to the transfer of the applied force from one cart to the other.