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Chapter 4: Problem 5

A truck crashes into a stalled car. A student trying to explain the physics of this event claims that no forces are involved; the car was just "in the way" so it got hit. Comment.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The student's claim that no forces are involved is incorrect. When the truck hits the car, it exerts a force on the car, causing its motion or deformation. This is an application of Newton's second law of motion, which illustrates the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Newton's Laws of Motion

Newton's second law, often stated as \(F = ma\), is highly relevant here. The law says that force is directly proportional to mass and acceleration. In the context of a car crash, the truck exerts force upon the car, and this force is what causes the car to move or deform.
02

Interpreting the Student's Statement

The statement by the student that the car was hit because it was in the way partially correct. The location of the car is a key factor in the collision. However, stating no forces were involved is incorrect. When the truck collided with the car, a force was exerted by the truck upon the car. This force caused the car to accelerate and/or change shape (if the force was strong enough to cause damage).
03

Describing the Force on the Car

The car certainly wasn't just 'in the way'. When the truck hit the car, it exerted a considerable force on the car resulting in the deceleration of the truck and the acceleration of the car. Not only that, but forces involved in the collision may cause damage to both the truck and the car, further illustrating the fact that forces do indeed play a crucial role in such events.

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Is it possible for a nonzero net force to act on an object without the object's speed changing? Explain,

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