A2L Item 263
- Description: Identify the cart exerting the larger force.
- Goal: Reason regarding interactions
- Source: CT151.2S02-43
- Keywords: Newton's Third Law, Mechanics
The question for students:
A
cart of mass 2m collides and sticks to a cart of mass m that is
initially at rest. Which cart exerts the larger force on the other?
- m
- 2m
- Both exert the same force
- Cannot be determined
Commentary for teachers:
Answer
(3) Yet another instance of Newton’s Third Law. Some students still stumble because they the question considers the object exerting the larger force as opposed to the one having the larger force applied to it.