Consider 2 automobile accidents in which identical cars are driven into solid wall at 30 mph and 60 mph, respectively. compared to the car traveling 30 mph, the car 60 mph transfers what?
To compare the effects of two automobile accidents, one at 30 mph and the other at 60 mph, we need to understand the concept of momentum.
Momentum is a property of moving objects and is calculated by multiplying an object's mass by its velocity. In collisions, the momentum is conserved unless an external force acts on the system.
Now, let's compare the momentum transferred in both accidents. Since both collisions involve identical cars, we can assume that the mass of the cars is the same in both cases. Therefore, the only difference is in their velocities.
The momentum of an object can be calculated using the following formula:
Momentum = mass × velocity
Since the mass is the same in both cases, we only need to compare the velocities. By doubling the velocity from 30 mph to 60 mph, we find that the momentum also gets doubled.
So, compared to the car traveling at 30 mph, the car traveling at 60 mph transfers twice the amount of momentum in the collision.