Suppose you are traveling in a bus at highway speed on a nice summer day and the momentum of an unlucky bug is suddenly changed as it splatters onto the from window.

a. Compared to the force that acts on the bug, how much force acts on the bus? (more) (the same) (less)

b. The time of impact is the same for both the bug and the bus. Compared to the impulse on the bug, this means the impulse on the bus is (more) (the same) (less).

c. Although the momentum of the bus is very large compared to the momentun of the bug, the change in momentum of the bus, compared to the change of momentun, of the bug is (more) (the same) (less).

d. Which undergoes the greatest acceleration? (bus) (both the same) (bug)

e. Which therefore, suffers the greater damage? (bus) (both the same (the bug of course!)

3 answers

For (a), consider Newton's third law.

For (d), consider accleration in the form of the equation:

a = (Vf - Vi) / t

where a is acceleration, Vf is final veloctiry, Vi is initial velocity, and t is the elapsed time.

Or more simply, consider acceleration to be a change in velocity: which had a greater change in velocity, the bug or the bus?

1. the same

Jeje