Physics of Collisions: Exploring Momentum and Center of Mass

What happens to the net force exerted on the blocks during a collision?

a. The net force is zero for both blocks

b. The net force is non-zero for both blocks

c. The net force is zero for one block and non-zero for the other block

During a collision, does the center of mass of the two-block system speed up, slow down, or stay the same?

a. Speed up

b. Slow down

c. Stay the same

Answer:

When the blocks collide, they exert equal and opposite forces on each other, resulting in zero net force. The center of mass of the two-block system remains constant.

Explanation:

During a collision, according to Newton's Third Law, the blocks exert equal and opposite forces on each other, causing the net force to be zero. This is a result of the conservation of momentum. As a consequence, the center of mass of the system does not accelerate and stays at a constant velocity.

In summary, the laws of physics govern the interactions between the blocks, leading to balanced forces and a stationary center of mass.