A cart moves along a horizontal frictionless surface. A sandbag is then carefully dropped from a short height above the cart, as shown in the figure. The cart and sandbag continue to move horizontally together.
Which of the following correctly describes the change in speed of the cart immediately after the sandbag is dropped into it?
The speed of the cart increases because of the conservation of mechanical energy.
The speed of the cart decreases because of the conservation of momentum.
The speed of the cart decreases because of the conservation of mechanical energy.
The speed of the cart remains the same because the initial velocity of the sandbag is perpendicular to the direction of the cart's motion.
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