Question

17. Akhtar, Kiran and Rahul were riding in a motorcar that was
moving with a high velocity on an expressway when an insect
hit the windshield and got stuck on the windscreen. Akhtar
and Kiran started pondering over the situation. Kiran suggested
that the insect suffered a greater change in momentum as
compared to the change in momentum of the motorcar (because
the change in the velocity of the insect was much more than
that of the motorcar). Akhtar said that since the motorcar was
moving with a larger velocity, it exerted a larger force on the
insect. And as a result the insect died. Rahul while putting an
entirely new explanation said that both the motorcar and the
insect experienced the same force and a change in their
momentum. Comment on these suggestions.​

Answer 1

Answer:

Akhtar, Kiran and Rahul were riding in a motorocar that was moving with a high velocity on an expressway when an insect hit the windshield and got stuck on the windscreen. ... Akhtar said that since the motorcar was moving with a larger velocity, it exerted a larger force on the insect. And as a result the insect died

Answer 2

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Rahul gave the correct reasoning and explanation that both the motorcar and the insect experienced the same force and a change in their momentum. As per the law of conservation of momentum.

When 2 bodies collide:

Initial momentum before collision

= Final momentum after collision

m1 u1+ m2 u2

= m1 v1+ m2 v2

The equal force is exerted on both the bodies but, because the mass of insect is very small it will suffer greater change in velocity.