In what way does a vehicle's weight affect its emissions output?

The chosen answer highlights the relationship between a vehicle's weight and its emissions output through the concept of fuel consumption. Heavier vehicles typically require more energy to accelerate and maintain speed, which in turn means they consume more fuel during operation. Since the combustion of fuel in an internal combustion engine generates emissions, this increased fuel consumption naturally leads to a higher level of emissions output from heavier vehicles compared to lighter ones.

This principle is grounded in the physics of motion and energy. The greater the mass of a vehicle, the more work (energy) is needed to overcome inertia and move it forward, which generally translates to heavier vehicles having less efficient fuel economy. As a result, for each mile driven, heavier vehicles can produce more greenhouse gases and other pollutants due to the increased fuel consumption required to operate.

The other options present various misconceptions about the influence weight has on emissions and do not accurately capture the relationship between vehicle weight and emissions output. For instance, while lighter vehicles may have different wear dynamics, this does not directly correlate to their emissions in the way weight does through fuel consumption. Similarly, the assertion that weight has no effect or that lighter vehicles inherently produce fewer emissions due to speed does not take into account the complexity of how engine efficiency varies with different vehicle weights and