Question

A 5kg box moves at 3m/s and a 3kg box moves at 5m/s. a) Which has more inertia? b) If they run into each other, which

will experience the greater force? c) If they run into each other, which will experience the greater acceleration?

Answer 1

( a ) Inertia is proportinal to mass of the object. An object which has greater the mass will have greater inertia. Here velocity of object doesn't involve.

Thus 5 kg box has more inerita as compared to 3 kg box

( b ) Force is rate of change of momentum.

For the both, the momentum is same, 15 kg.m.s. Thus 5 kg box and 3 kg box possses same froce if they run into each other.

( c)

Newton's second law state definition of force F = ma

acceleration, a = F / m

For the same force, less the mass will possess greater acceleration. Thus, 3 kg box have greater acceleration as compared to 5 kg box.