In the situation described in problem C10T.5, will the car's internal energy increase, decrease, or remain unchanged? (Be prepared to explain your answer in terms of the momentum requirement and the work done.)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The car's internal energy will increase due to the work done on it. When a force is applied to stop the car, work is done on the car, converting kinetic energy into internal energy, typically in the form of heat due to friction. This process does not violate the conservation of momentum, as the momentum is transferred to the Earth, but the Earth's massive size makes its movement negligible.

In the Situation Described in Problem C10T