Heidi and James are carrying loads of trash to the dump. They are walking down the sidewalk, side by side but James begins to lag behind Heidi. Explain what's happening using one of Newton's Laws of Motion.

Question

Heidi and James are carrying loads of trash to the dump. They are walking down the sidewalk, side by side but James begins to lag behind Heidi. Explain what's happening using one of Newton's Laws of Motion.

HEIDI'S LOAD IS LESS HEAVY
JAMES LOAD IS MORE HEAVY

(1 point)
Responses

Newton's 1st Law. James's wagon and load will not move unless he exerts a force on it.
Newton's 1st Law. James's wagon and load will not move unless he exerts a force on it.

Newton's 2nd Law. James is pulling the heavier load. He needs a greater force to move as fast as Heidi.
Newton's 2nd Law. James is pulling the heavier load. He needs a greater force to move as fast as Heidi.

Newton's 3rd Law. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. James's action is not enough to move as fast as Heidi.
Newton's 3rd Law. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. James's action is not enough to move as fast as Heidi.

Newton's 2nd Law. Heidi and James are pulling the two loads with unequal forces.

Answer 1

Heidi's load is less heavy, so she needs to exert less force to move at the same speed as James, who is pulling the heavier load. This is in accordance with Newton's 2nd Law, which states that the force needed to move an object is directly proportional to its mass. Since James is carrying a heavier load, he needs to exert a greater force to move as fast as Heidi.