Two frictionless lab carts start from rest and are pushed along a level surface by a constant force. Students measure the magnit

Question

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Two frictionless lab carts start from rest and are pushed along a level surface by a constant force. Students measure the magnit

ude and duration of the force on each cart, as shown in the partially completed data tableabove, and calculate final kinetic energy and momentum. Which cart has a greater kinetic energy at the end of the push?

Physics

1 answer:

Yuliya22 [3.3K] · Answer 1 · 2026-02-18T10:01:21+03:00

Answer:

The kinetic energy is higher for the first cart.

Explanation:

For the second cart, its mass is 2kg and the momentum measured is 10kg m/s, which leads to

$(2kg)v = 10kg\: m/s$

resulting in

$v = 5m/s$ .

Consequently, the kinetic energy for the 3kg cart ends up as

$K.E. = \dfrac{1}{2}mv^2$

$= \dfrac{1}{2}(2kg)(5m/s)^2 = 25J$

$\boxed{K.E = 25J}$

indicating it is less than that of the 1kg cart so it follows that the first cart possesses greater kinetic energy.