A bumper car is moving at constant velocity when another bumper car starts to push on it with a constant force at an angle of 60 degrees with respect to the first car's initial velocity. The second bumper car continues pushing in exactly that direction for some time. What is most likely to happen is that
A) the first car will stop moving.
B) the first car will move in the direction of the force.
C) the first car's velocity will increase in magnitude but not change direction.
D) the first car's velocity will gradually change direction more and more toward that of the force while increasing in magnitude.
E) the first car's velocity will gradually change direction more and more toward that of the force while decreasing in magnitude.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since the force is at an angle of 60 degrees with the initial velocity, it has components in both the horizontal and vertical directions. The vertical component is perpendicular to the direction of motion and does not affect the motion of the first car. The horizontal component is in the direction of the force and will cause the first car's velocity to gradually change direction more and more toward that of the force while increasing in magnitude. This is consistent with the idea of an unbalanced force causing an acceleration, which changes the velocity of the first car.

A Bumper Car Is Moving at Constant Velocity When Another