Question

Question 9: Your last step on this part of the Portfolio is to research how you can apply Newton’s First Law to safety rules regarding railroad crossings. Below are some helpful links. You are welcome to conduct your own research as well.

Links:

See Tracks? Think Train? - Be sure to take the Test Your Rail Safety Smarts Quiz
Operation Lifesaver - Scroll down to watch the video about ENS
U.S. Department of Transportation - Scroll down to watch the "Stop. Trains Can't." video
In the box below, explain how Newton’s First Law of Motion applies to the situation of a train and a car both approaching a railroad crossing. Be sure you answer the following questions:

1. How is the train having difficulty stopping quickly an example of Newton's First Law of Motion?

2. Why is it important that the car follow the safety regulations?

3. Why do you think it is important for someone your age to have this information?

Answer should be 4 or more complete sentences. Again, including the terms unbalanced forces and inertia should help you in writing your answer. (And maybe balanced forces too.)

(2 points)
0 / 10

Answer 1

Newton’s First Law (the law of inertia) says an object in motion stays in motion unless acted on by an unbalanced force. A moving train has a huge amount of inertia because of its large mass, so even when the engineer applies the brakes the unbalanced braking force is often not large enough to stop the train quickly; that is why trains need a very long distance to slow and stop. It is important for the car to follow safety regulations (stop signs, lights, gates) because a car can stop much more quickly than a train, but a train cannot swerve or stop fast enough to avoid a collision if a car is on the tracks; following the rules prevents the need for sudden large unbalanced forces and keeps everyone safe. For someone my age this information is important because young drivers are more likely to take risks or misjudge stopping distances, so understanding inertia and the limits of braking helps build safer habits around railroad crossings. Finally, when a car is stopped safely with the gate down, the forces are balanced and it stays at rest until a new unbalanced force (pressing the gas) makes it move again.