Forces in Collisions Flashcard

Front

What happens when a car hits a bug?

Back

Both the car and the bug experience the same forces.

Front

Why do some collisions affect objects differently?

Back

Because of the physics of force, mass, and velocity.

Front

What happens when a moving object collides with a still object of the same mass?

Back

The moving object changes its velocity from motion to rest, while the still object goes from rest to motion with the same velocity.

Front

Why does a bug splatter on a car windshield?

Back

The bug has much less mass than the car, so the forces have a greater effect on it.

Front

Why does a person with less mass in a bumper car collision move farther than a person with more mass?

Back

The same amount of force affects the person with less mass more.

Front

What is the definition of force?

Back

A push or pull on an object resulting from the object's interaction with another object.

Front

What is mass?

Back

The amount of matter in an object, typically measured in kilograms.

Front

What is velocity?

Back

The speed of an object in a specific direction.

Front

What is the principle of conservation of momentum?

Back

In a closed system, the total momentum before a collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

Front

What is an elastic collision?

Back

A collision in which kinetic energy is conserved, and the objects bounce off each other.