Question

A small lab cart and one of larger mass collide and rebound off each other. Which of them has the greater average force on it during the collision?
They both experience a force of zero.


They both experience the same magnitude of the collision force.


The large cart has greater force on it.


The small cart has greater force on it.

Answer 1

When a small lab cart collide with a large mass then during the collision two bodies will remain in contact and then apply the contact force on each other

This contact force is always equal on two bodies in magnitude and also it is normal or perpendicular to the contact surface.

This will always follow Newton's III law as per which every action has equal and opposite reaction.

So this contact force will not depend on the mass or any other factor but it will remain same on two colliding bodies.

So here the correct answer would be

They both experience the same magnitude of the collision force.