Saturday, October 13, 2012

Think Like a Physicist 3

You cannot throw an egg against a brick wall without breaking the egg, but you can throw it with the same velocity into a sagging sheet without breaking the egg.  Explain.

20 comments:

  1. It is simply because of the change in momentum and impulse. If we throw the egg against a brick wall, the time of impact is shorter, making the egg break. If we throw it into a sagging sheet which is in turn softer than the brick wall, on the other hand, the velocity will get slower and the time of impact will increase, allowing it to survive the impact and not break apart. The longer the time of impact is, the more chances the egg won't break.

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  2. This is because of impulse. Throwing an egg into a sheet increases the time of impact and will therefore decrease the force of impact. Less force means the egg won't break. When you throw the egg into the wall, the time of impact is shorter. Therefore, force of impact increases and the egg will break. The softer the surface the egg is thrown against, the greater the time of impact.

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  3. The sagging sheet increases the time that it takes for the egg to stop. Since impulse is F multiplied by the change in time, a longer time means that a smaller force is needed to give the same impulse.

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  4. It is because of impulse. The sagging sheet is softer than a brick wall. This will cause the time of impact for the egg to increase; hence, decreasing the force of impact.

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  5. The explanation would simply be because of the change in momentum and impulse. Impulse is defined as the integral of a force with respect to time. Changing momentum is also related to how long a time the force acts. In this case, he sagging sheet causes the increase in the time of impact and also the decrease in the force of impact. With only a little force, the egg didn't break.

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  6. It's because sheet increases the time of impact and it will decrease the force impact. If i throw an egg on the bricks the time of impact is shorter. It's because of impulse.

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  7. Change in momentum and impulse. Throwing an egg on a sagging sheet will have a longer time of impact compared to throwing it against a brick wall. Longer time of impact decreases the force of impact. And with just little force, that force wouldn't be able to break the shell of the egg

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  8. It is because that the sagging sheet will increase the time comapare hitting the brick wall and the force will also decrease.

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  9. This is due to impulse. Throwing an egg into the sheet increases the time of impact, which decreases the force of impact. When that happens, the egg won't break. When you throw it into the wall, the egg would break since the wall is too hard. The softer the surface is,the greater the time of impact. Likewise, the harder the surface, the shorter the time of impact. Stop wasting eggs.

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  10. The sagging sheet, since it is very soft, will cause the egg to have an increased time of impact, unlike the brick wall. An increased time of impact will also cause a decrease in the force of impact on the egg, thus not causing it to break.

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  11. It is because of impulse. The formula of impulse=force x time or simply a change in momentum. Throwing the egg into a sagging sheet increases the time of impact, which in turn would have to decrease the force of impact. When you throw it into the wall, the time is shorter, so the force is increased, and the egg breaks. :( Remember, less force means the egg won't break!

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  12. the egg will break if you throw it in a brick wall because of the high impulse or instantaneous force upon collision. on the other hand when you throw the egg in a sagging sheet it will not break because the sagging sheet absorbs the kinetic energy of the egg creating less impulse showing the movement of the egg as it comes to a stop.

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  13. This is because of impulse. The sagging sheet is softer than the brick wall and when you throw the egg into a sagging sheet, the velocity is slowed, and the egg will not break.

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  14. The sagging sheet increases the time of impact, lowering the force realized by the egg upon impact.

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  15. The sagging sheet will increase the egg's time of impact and decrease it's force of impact. That's why it won't break.

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  16. At initial position,the egg inhibits potential energy. As the egg travels, the kinetic energy increases more than that of the potential energy exhibited by the brick wall, but still less than the potential energy exhibited by the sagging sheet; therefore, throwing the egg on the sagging sheet will most likely cushion the impact and prevent the egg from breaking.

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  17. Time of impact and force of impact are inversely related. The sagging sheet will increase the time of impact of the egg; therefore, its force of impact will decrease, causing the egg not to break.

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  18. The egg will not break if you throw it in a brick wall because the sagging sheet increases the time of impact and decrease the force realized by the egg upon impact.

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  19. The egg will not break because the sagging sheet will increase the time of impact. The force of impact will decrease.

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  20. The sagging sheet increases the time of impact,and decrease the force of impact so the egg won't break.

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