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4.1: Calculate the velocity of the car relative to the truck.

Physics

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40 m⋅s−1 EAST\text{40 m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1} \text{ EAST}

6.67 m⋅s−1 WEST\text{6.67 m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1} \text{ WEST}

F

4.1: Calculate the velocity of the car relative to the truck.
Let the eastern direction be positive.
Velocity of car, vc=+20 m⋅s−1v_c = +20 \text{ m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1}
Velocity of truck, vt=−20 m⋅s−1v_t = -20 \text{ m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1}

The velocity of the car relative to the truck is given by:

vc rel t=vc−vtv_{c \text{ rel } t} = v_c - v_t vc rel t=(+20 m⋅s−1)−(−20 m⋅s−1)v_{c \text{ rel } t} = (+20 \text{ m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1}) - (-20 \text{ m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1}) vc rel t=20 m⋅s−1+20 m⋅s−1v_{c \text{ rel } t} = 20 \text{ m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1} + 20 \text{ m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1} vc rel t=40 m⋅s−1v_{c \text{ rel } t} = 40 \text{ m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1}

The velocity of the car relative to the truck is 40 m⋅s−1 EAST\boxed{\text{40 m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1} \text{ EAST}}.

4.2: State the principle of conservation of linear momentum in words.
In an isolated system, the total linear momentum remains constant.

4.3: Calculate the velocity of the truck-car system immediately after the collision.
Let the eastern direction be positive.
Mass of car, mc=mm_c = m
Initial velocity of car, vci=+20 m⋅s−1v_{ci} = +20 \text{ m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1}
Mass of truck, mt=2mm_t = 2m
Initial velocity of truck, vti=−20 m⋅s−1v_{ti} = -20 \text{ m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1}
Since the vehicles stick together, their final velocity will be the same, vfv_f.

According to the principle of conservation of linear momentum:

mcvci+mtvti=(mc+mt)vfm_c v_{ci} + m_t v_{ti} = (m_c + m_t) v_f

Substitute the given values:

(m)(+20 m⋅s−1)+(2m)(−20 m⋅s−1)=(m+2m)vf(m)(+20 \text{ m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1}) + (2m)(-20 \text{ m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1}) = (m + 2m) v_f 20m−40m=3mvf20m - 40m = 3m v_f −20m=3mvf-20m = 3m v_f

Divide both sides by mm:

−20=3vf-20 = 3 v_f vf=−203 m⋅s−1v_f = \frac{-20}{3} \text{ m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1} vf≈−6.67 m⋅s−1v_f \approx -6.67 \text{ m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1}

The negative sign indicates the direction is WEST.
The velocity of the truck-car system immediately after the collision is 6.67 m⋅s−1 WEST\boxed{\text{6.67 m}\cdot\text{s}^{-1} \text{ WEST}}.

4.4.1: Determine, in terms of FF, the magnitude of the force that the truck exerts on the car on impact. Give a reason for the answer.
The magnitude of the force that the truck exerts on the car is F\boxed{F}.
Reason: According to Newton's Third Law, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The force exerted by the car on the truck is an action force, and the force exerted by the truck on the car is the reaction force. These forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

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