Question

When a large truck collides with a small car which one undergoes the greater change in momentum

Answer 1

Explanation:

Comparison of the collision variables for the two trucks:

In a head-on collision:

Newton's third law dictates that the forces on the trucks are equal but opposite in direction.

Impulse is force multiplied by time, and time of contact is the same for both, so the impulse is the same in magnitude for the two trucks. Change in momentum is equal to impulse, so changes in momenta are equal. With equal change in momentum and smaller mass, the change in velocity is larger for the smaller truck. Since acceleration is change in velocity over change in time, the acceleration is greater for the smaller truck.