Does Mass Affect Distance Travelled?

Question

If I had a 2 model cars. One light, one heavy which one would go the furthest if pushed with the exact same amount of energy and why?

Thanks

Answer 1

The light one of course.

F = ma

or

a = F/m

acceleration is inversely proportional to the mass. Which means with the force (your push) constant, if you double the mass, the acceleration gets cut in half. Less acceleration, less speed and less distance.

.

Answer 2

With the exact same amount of energy, each car is given a kinetic energy 1/2 mv^2. Since the lighter car has a smaller m, it must have a greater v to have the same kinetic energy as the heavier car. Therefore the lighter car will be going faster after the push.

But none of this makes any difference, because in the absence of any other forces, both cars travel in a straight line at constant velocity forever, out to any distance you like.