Question
A student is investigating inertia using four boxes of different masses. The student pushes each box across a flat surface with the same amount of force. The student records her observations in the table shown.
image f4b59f6909d240f2bb329086eb8f299c
The student claims that the mass of the boxes affects inertia. Which argument can the student make using the data in the table?
a
Box A travels the farthest because it has the most inertia.
b
Box B travels less than Box C because it has more inertia.
c
Box D travels the least because it has the lowest amount of inertia.
d
Box C travels more than Box B because it has more inertia.
image f4b59f6909d240f2bb329086eb8f299c
The student claims that the mass of the boxes affects inertia. Which argument can the student make using the data in the table?
a
Box A travels the farthest because it has the most inertia.
b
Box B travels less than Box C because it has more inertia.
c
Box D travels the least because it has the lowest amount of inertia.
d
Box C travels more than Box B because it has more inertia.
Answers
GPT-5 mini
b
If Box B travels less than Box C and the same force was applied to both, that indicates Box B has a larger mass (greater inertia) so it accelerates less and moves a shorter distance. This shows mass affects inertia.
If Box B travels less than Box C and the same force was applied to both, that indicates Box B has a larger mass (greater inertia) so it accelerates less and moves a shorter distance. This shows mass affects inertia.