In: Physics
A heavy semi-truck collides head-on with a small, light car. Before the collision the vehicles were moving with the same speed but in opposite direction.
A. Just before the collision, was the magnitude of the momentum of the car greater, equal or less than that of the truck?
B. Just before the collision, was the kinetic energy of the car greater, equal or less than that of the truck?
C. During the collision, is the force that the car exerts on the truck greater, equal or less than the force that the truck exerts on the car?
D. During the collision, is the magnitude of the acceleration of the car greater, equal or less than the magnitude of the acceleration of the truck?
E. If the two vehicles stick together immediately after the collision, which way will they be moving, if at all?