Question

In a lab, two identical lab carts (m = 1.0 kg) travel toward each other, each with a speed of 2 m/s. The cars collide, and one cart moves to the right with a speed of 3 m/s and the other moves left with a speed of 2 m/s. What best explains the results of the experiment?

Answer 1

this explains that there was a external force invoved in this case as the momentum isn't conserved hence it hasn't occured in a closed system

Answer 2

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In a lab, two identical lab carts (m = 1.0 kg) travel toward each other, each with a speed of 2 m/s. The cars collide, and one cart moves to the right with a speed of 3 m/s and the other moves left with a speed of 2 m/s. What best explains the results of the experiment?

This experiment did not occur in a closed system.

This proves the conservation of momentum, since pi = pf.

An additional mass was added to one cart, which explains the increase in speed.

The increase in speed was due to kinetic energy from one cart transferring to the other.

Answer:

The results of the experiment are best explained by the statement that the experiment did not occur in a closed system.

Explanation:

• Regardless of any interactions between the system's components, the total linear momentum of a system of particles that is not subject to external forces is constant in magnitude and direction.
• In the given experiment, the two identical lab carts having an equal mass of 1 kg move toward each other at the speed of 2m/s. Therefore, initial momentum = m1v1 + m2v2 = 1×2 + 1×2 = 4 kgm/s
• When the carts collide, one cart moves to the right with a speed of 3m/s = v2 while the other cart moves left with a speed of 2m/s. Therefore, final momentum, m1v1 + m2v2 = 1×3+ 1×2 = 5 kgm/s.
• Therefore, initial momentum ≠ final momentum
• Since the momentum isn't preserved, it is possible that the event involved an external force, and it did not occur in a closed system.

Thus, the results of the experiment are best explained by the statement that the experiment did not occur in a closed system.

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