Gina is driving her car to work, but she’s stopped at a red light. When the light turns green, she presses the gas pedal and accelerates (speeds up) to move the car. Which of these statements is true the moment Gina presses the gas pedal? Assume the road is flat and level. A. The net force on the car is zero in the horizontal direction. B. The net force on the car is zero in the horizontal and the vertical directions. C. The net force on the car is greater than zero in the horizontal direction. D. The net force on the car is greater than zero in the vertical direction. E. The net force on the car is less than zero in the vertical direction.
Question
Gina is driving her car to work, but she’s stopped at a red light. When the light turns green, she presses the gas pedal and accelerates (speeds up) to move the car. Which of these statements is true the moment Gina presses the gas pedal? Assume the road is flat and level. A. The net force on the car is zero in the horizontal direction. B. The net force on the car is zero in the horizontal and the vertical directions. C. The net force on the car is greater than zero in the horizontal direction. D. The net force on the car is greater than zero in the vertical direction. E. The net force on the car is less than zero in the vertical direction.
Solution
The correct answer is C. The net force on the car is greater than zero in the horizontal direction.
Here's why:
When Gina presses the gas pedal, the engine of the car generates a force that propels the car forward. This force is applied in the horizontal direction. Since the car is accelerating, this means that the force applied by the engine is greater than the frictional force that opposes the motion of the car. Therefore, the net force (which is the sum of all forces acting on the car) is greater than zero in the horizontal direction.
The vertical forces acting on the car (gravity pulling down and the normal force from the road pushing up) are equal and opposite, so they cancel each other out. Therefore, the net force in the vertical direction is zero. So, options B, D, and E are incorrect.
Option A is also incorrect because it states that the net force in the horizontal direction is zero, which would be the case if the car was moving at a constant speed or was at rest, not accelerating.
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