An elephant and mouse would both have zero weight in gravity-free space. if they were moving toward you with the same speed, would they bump into you wiht the same effect? Explain.
It tried looking in the book for help but didnt understand.
2007-11-01 12:57:30 · 3 answers · asked by Catherine 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
m1V1 + m2V2= m1u1+ m2u2
let's say you are m1 and the other party is m2
2007-11-01 13:26:21 · answer #1 · answered by Edward 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, the effect would be different. they would have no weight, but they still have mass.
'bumping' should make you think of a transfer of energy from them to you. the energy of a moving object is 1/2 mass * velocity squared. when you get bumped some of the energy is transfered from the mouse or elephant to you. since an elephant has more mass, it will have more energy to transfer to you, which should mean a bigger change in your own velocity.
The details of the energy change are another subject. If that is what you're looking for your books should have the details. if you're just looking for the concept, there you go
2007-11-01 20:32:44 · answer #2 · answered by Piglet O 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, because although they both have no weight, their masses, or the amount of matter they both contain, is different. According to Newton's first law of motion, the more mass an object has, the more inertia it has. Inertia is an object's tendency to resist a change in motion. What this means is that when the mouse, who has a small mass, bumps into you, it will be more likely to bounce off, whereas the elephant, who has a mass, and inertia greater than your own will bump you out of the way.
2007-11-01 20:45:37 · answer #3 · answered by Outlawed Spirit 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋