Question

A truck and a car are moving with equal velocity. On applying brakes, if both decelerate at the same rate,what happens?

• A. The truck will cover less distance before stopping.
• B. The car will cover less distance before stopping.
• C. Both will cover equal distance.
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is B The car will cover less distance before stopping.

Consider, the car has a mass ‘m’ and truck has a mass ‘M’.

where ,$M>>m$

Momentum = (mass of the body) x (velocity of the same body)

As, the velocities of the car and truck are the same….its the mass which decides the distance which will be covered after applying brakes by each of them.

As the mass of truck is much higher than that of a car, the truck has a larger momentum value.

HENCE, THE TRUCK TRAVELS A LARGER DISTANCE AFTER APPLYING BRAKES.