In which situation does the reactive force between two colliding objects cause a physical change?
The swing hitting another swing causing the second swing to move
To bumper cars and amusement park colliding causing both cars to change directions
The best baseball player swinging a bat and hitting a baseball causing the bat to shatter
The exhaust from rocket thrusting the rocket away from the ground
The best baseball player swinging a bat and hitting a baseball causing the bat to shatter
The situation in which the reactive force between two colliding objects causes a physical change is when bumper cars in an amusement park collide, causing both cars to change directions. In this scenario, the force exerted by one bumper car on the other car causes a reaction force, resulting in both cars changing their original paths. This change of direction is a physical change caused by the reactive force between the colliding objects.
The situation in which the reactive force between two colliding objects causes a physical change is when bumper cars in an amusement park collide, causing both cars to change directions.
To understand why this is the case, we need to consider Newton's third law of motion, which states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. When the two bumper cars collide, they exert an equal amount of force on each other in opposite directions. This force is the reactive force.
As a result of this reactive force, both bumper cars experience a physical change in their direction of motion. Each car's momentum changes, causing it to move in a different direction than before the collision. The reactive force between the colliding cars is responsible for this change in motion.
To determine the situation in which the reactive force causes a physical change, we can analyze the given options:
1. The swing hitting another swing causing the second swing to move: In this scenario, the reactive force between the two swings does cause a physical change—the second swing moves. However, this physical change is a result of the applied force from the first swing, not the reactive force between the swings.
2. Bumper cars in an amusement park colliding, causing both cars to change directions: As discussed earlier, this situation fits the criteria. The reactive force between the cars during the collision causes a physical change, namely a change in the cars' directions.
3. The best baseball player swinging a bat and hitting a baseball, causing the bat to shatter: In this case, the reactive force between the bat and the baseball does not directly cause a physical change. The shattering of the bat is due to the combination of the applied force from the swing and the structural limitations of the bat.
4. The exhaust from a rocket thrusting the rocket away from the ground: Here, the reactive force between the exhaust gases and the rocket does cause a physical change. The reactive force propels the rocket away from the ground, allowing it to ascend into the air.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 2: Bumper cars and amusement park colliding, causing both cars to change directions.