Question

mph along a straight section of highway. a driver switches lanes to prepare to exit. a driver steps on the brakes to avoid a crash. no motion unbalanced change in speed change in direction balanced constant motion

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each scenario using Newton's First Law (inertia: balanced forces mean constant motion, unbalanced forces mean change in motion).

1. "mph along a straight section of highway"

• Constant speed and direction → balanced forces (no change in motion) and constant motion. Also, since forces are balanced, it’s a balanced force situation.

2. "A driver switches lanes to prepare to exit"

• Switching lanes means changing direction → change in direction (unbalanced forces cause direction change). Also, forces are unbalanced (since motion changes).

3. "A driver steps on the brakes to avoid a crash"

• Braking reduces speed → change in speed (unbalanced forces cause speed change). Also, forces are unbalanced (since motion changes).

Filling the Table (assuming columns are "Force Type" and "Motion Change"):

Scenario	Force Type	Motion Change
Driver switches lanes	Unbalanced	Change in direction
Driver steps on brakes	Unbalanced	Change in speed

(Note: The first row’s "speed or 0 mph..." likely implies constant speed, so balanced forces and constant motion. The drag-and-drop options confirm this logic.)

Final Answers (matching the options):

• First row (straight highway): Balanced, Constant motion
• Second row (switching lanes): Unbalanced, Change in direction
• Third row (braking): Unbalanced, Change in speed

(If the table has two columns per scenario, assign the appropriate labels from the options: No motion, Unbalanced, Change in speed, Change in direction, Balanced, Constant motion.)

Answer:

To solve this, we analyze each scenario using Newton's First Law (inertia: balanced forces mean constant motion, unbalanced forces mean change in motion).

1. "mph along a straight section of highway"

• Constant speed and direction → balanced forces (no change in motion) and constant motion. Also, since forces are balanced, it’s a balanced force situation.

2. "A driver switches lanes to prepare to exit"

• Switching lanes means changing direction → change in direction (unbalanced forces cause direction change). Also, forces are unbalanced (since motion changes).

3. "A driver steps on the brakes to avoid a crash"

• Braking reduces speed → change in speed (unbalanced forces cause speed change). Also, forces are unbalanced (since motion changes).

Filling the Table (assuming columns are "Force Type" and "Motion Change"):

Scenario	Force Type	Motion Change
Driver switches lanes	Unbalanced	Change in direction
Driver steps on brakes	Unbalanced	Change in speed

(Note: The first row’s "speed or 0 mph..." likely implies constant speed, so balanced forces and constant motion. The drag-and-drop options confirm this logic.)

Final Answers (matching the options):

• First row (straight highway): Balanced, Constant motion
• Second row (switching lanes): Unbalanced, Change in direction
• Third row (braking): Unbalanced, Change in speed

(If the table has two columns per scenario, assign the appropriate labels from the options: No motion, Unbalanced, Change in speed, Change in direction, Balanced, Constant motion.)