A truck collides head-on with a car. The larger change in momentum magnitude is experienced by
A) the truck.
B) the car.
C) Both the truck and the car experience the same change in momentum magnitude.
D) Both the truck and the car experience no change in momentum magnitude.
E) More information is needed to work out the answer.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the law of conservation of momentum, in the absence of external forces, the total momentum of a system remains constant. In a head-on collision between a truck and a car, both vehicles experience forces of equal magnitude but in opposite directions for the same amount of time, leading to changes in momentum of equal magnitude but in opposite directions. Therefore, both the truck and the car experience the same change in momentum magnitude.

A Truck Collides Head-On with a Car