Question

A man with a mass of 50kg rides a Ferris wheel of radius 10 meters rotating in a vertical circle at at a constant speed of 3.0 m/s. Which will gave a greater impulse during collision with other vehicle, a 2500 kg running at 60 km/H or 3200 kg bus moving 21m/s? Show your solution.

Answer 1

The momentum of the first vehile

$$p_1=m_1v_1\\ =\rm 2500\: kg*16.7\: m/s=41667\: kg\cdot m/s$$

The momentum of the first vehile

$$p_2=m_2v_2\\ =\rm 3200\: kg*21\: m/s=67200\: kg\cdot m/s$$

The third Newton's law says: the impulses of two objects that interact has same magnitude and opposite sign. The impulse of firct vehile is negative, and the second vehile is positive. Hence, the second vehile has a grater impulse during cllision.