Difficulty: Easy

Average Score: 84%

A cart is coasting on a straight, level track at constant speed when an engine starts applying a constant force on it in the same direction the cart is moving.

What happens to the cart?

Rationale

The cart speeds up.

When a constant force is applied in the same direction that the cart is already moving, it will accelerate, resulting in an increase in its speed. This is consistent with Newton's second law of motion, which states that an object will accelerate in the direction of the net force applied to it.

A (It slows down.) YOUR ANSWER

If the cart were to slow down, it would imply that the net force acting on it is in the opposite direction to its motion. However, since a constant force is being applied in the same direction as its current movement, the cart cannot experience a reduction in speed.

B (It stops.) YOUR ANSWER

For the cart to come to a stop, a force must act on it in the opposite direction with sufficient magnitude to counteract its motion. Since the engine applies a constant force in the same direction, the cart cannot stop; it will instead continue to accelerate.

C (It continues to move at a constant speed.) YOUR ANSWER

A constant speed would imply that no net force is acting on the cart. However, since a constant force is being applied, the cart will not maintain its speed; it will instead experience an increase in velocity due to the applied force.

D (It speeds up.) CORRECT

The application of a constant force in the same direction as the cart's movement will result in an acceleration of the cart. According to Newton's second law, this acceleration will increase the cart's speed over time.

Conclusion

In summary, when a constant force is applied to an object moving in the same direction, it will always lead to an increase in speed, as per the principles of classical mechanics. In this case, the cart will speed up due to the force from the engine, demonstrating the direct relationship between force and acceleration.

What happens to the cart?

The cart speeds up.

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