Question

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which statements about a purse sitting on top of a moving car are correct?
the purse continues to move after the car has stopped, due to its inertia.
the inertia of the car is transferred to the purse and it accelerates.
the car and the purse are moving at the same speed.
the inertia of the purse resists a change in motion when the driver slams on the brakes.
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Explanation:

• First statement: According to Newton's first law (law of inertia), an object in motion tends to stay in motion. So, when the car stops, the purse (due to its inertia) continues to move.
• Second statement: Inertia is a property of an object related to its mass. It cannot be transferred. So, this statement is wrong.
• Third statement: Since the purse is sitting on the car, they are in contact and move together (assuming no relative motion between them initially). So, they have the same speed.
• Fourth statement: When the driver slams on the brakes (car decelerates), the purse's inertia resists the change in its motion (it wants to keep moving at the previous speed).

Answer:

• The purse continues to move after the car has stopped, due to its inertia.
• The car and the purse are moving at the same speed.
• The inertia of the purse resists a change in motion when the driver slams on the brakes.