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)

Question

Responses

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 change in momentum equal to that of the rock, in the opposite direction.
It has a change in momentum equal to that of the rock, in the opposite direction.

It does not change.
It does not change.

It has a much smaller change in momentum than 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, which states that in a closed system, the total momentum before an event must equal the total momentum after the event. When the rock bounces off the windshield of the moving car, the car and rock experience equal and opposite changes in momentum.