Question

A small rock bounces off the windshield of a moving car and experiences a large change in velocity. How does the car’s momentum change?(1 point) Responses It does not change. It does not change. It has a change in momentum greater than that of the rock, in the opposite direction. It has a change in momentum greater than that of the rock, in the opposite direction. It has a much smaller change in momentum than that of the rock, in the opposite direction. It has a much smaller change in momentum than that of the rock, in the opposite direction. It has a change in momentum equal to that of the rock, in the opposite direction.

Answer 1

The correct response is: **It has a change in momentum equal to that of the rock, in the opposite direction.**

This is based on the principle of conservation of momentum. When the rock bounces off the windshield, the momentum lost by the car is equal to the momentum gained by the rock, but in the opposite direction. Thus, the changes in momentum of the rock and the car are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.