Chapter 5, Problem 18TE

When you are travelling in a car at highway speed, the momentum of a grasshopper is suddenly changed as it splatters onto your windshield. Compared to change in momentum of the grasshopper, by how much does the momentum of the car change?

To determine

The change in the momentum of the car compared to change in the momentum of the grasshopper.

Answer to Problem 18TE

The change in momentum of the car is very small compared to grasshopper due to very less mass of the grasshopper than the car.

Explanation of Solution

The momentum of body depends on the mass of the object and its velocity. If the object of heavy mass moves with high speed, then the momentum of the object becomes also high. If either the mass of the object or the velocity of the object becomes low, then the momentum of the object becomes negligible.

The change in the momentum of the car is negligible because the mass of the grasshopper is very less compared to the car, so considerable amount of the momentum transfer does not take place from grasshopper to car.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the change in momentum of the car is very small compared to grasshopper due to very less mass of the grasshopper than the car.