Physics
A 1500 kg car traveling at 17.6 m/s to the
south collides with a 5000 kg truck that is
initially at rest at a stoplight. The car and
truck stick together and move together after
the collision.
What is the final velocity of the two-vehicle
mass?
Answer in units of m/s
Reply
Answers
The final velocity of the two-vehicle mass is 5.9 m/s to the south. This is calculated using the law of conservation of momentum. Momentum is equal to the product of an object's mass and velocity, and the total momentum before and after the collision must remain the same. Thus, the initial momentum is 1500 kg * 17.6 m/s = 26,400 kg m/s, and the final momentum is 6000 kg * v = 26,400 kg m/s, so v = 4.4 m/s to the south.
