Question

in the lab, you saw that an egg being dropped broke on impact. using what you know about force, time, and impulse, which statement explains why the egg broke? gravity acted on its own to cause the egg to break. a large force was applied to the egg over a small period of time, causing it to break. a small force was applied to the egg over a long period of time, causing it to break.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the first option: Gravity causes the egg to fall, but it's the impact (force over time) that breaks it, not gravity alone. So this is incorrect.
2. Analyze the second option: Impulse ($J = F\Delta t$) is constant for the egg's impact (change in momentum). When the egg hits the ground, the time of impact $\Delta t$ is very small. From $J = F\Delta t$, if $J$ is constant (due to change in momentum) and $\Delta t$ is small, the force $F$ applied to the egg must be large. A large force over a small time can break the egg.
3. Analyze the third option: A small force over a long time would mean $F\Delta t$ (impulse) is small, but the change in momentum (and thus impulse) when the egg hits the ground is determined by its velocity on impact, which is significant. So a small force over long time doesn't match the physics here.

Answer:

B. A large force was applied to the egg over a small period of time, causing it to break.