- #1
Evangeline101
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Homework Statement
Explain why large transport trucks have a hard steel barrier between the load and the driver's cab. Consider Newton's first law in your answer.
Homework Equations
no equations required.
The Attempt at a Solution
According to Newton’s first law, if no net force acts on an object, it maintains it state of rest or its constant speed in a straight line. The hard steel barrier between the load and the driver’s cab is there to protect the driver from injury. If there was no barrier and the cab stopped abruptly, the load would continue to move in a straight line at its original speed, and collide with the cab. There is no external force to alter the speed or direction of the load, so it will continue moving forward. Therefore it is important to have a hard steel barrier between the load and the driver’s cab to stop it from moving in a straight line and hitting the cab.
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