A 2,000 kg car is moving at 15m/s when it collides with a 1200kg car sitting still. Briefly compare the impulse imparted on the 1200kg car by the 2000 kg car to the impulse on the 2000 kg car by the 1200 kg car which car under goes the greater change in momentum

Given:

mass of car 1 = 2000 kg

speed of car 1 = 15 m/s

mass of car 2 = 1200 kg

car 2 is initially at rest.

Impulse (F Δt) = change in momentum = Δ (mv)

Change in Momentum depends on the mass and velocity.

When car 1 collides with car 2, car 1 would under go greater change in the momentum because it has greater mass and initial velocity while car 2 has smaller mass and is initially at rest.

impulse = F * t

The greater the impulse exerted on something, the greater will be the change in momentum.

impulse = change in momentum

Ft = ∆ (mv)