Question

A 1120 kg car traveling initially with a speed of 27.40 m/s in an easterly direction crashes into the back of a 9 490 kg truck moving in the same direction at 20.0 m/s. The velocity of the car right after the collision is 18.0 m/s to the east. (a) What is the velocity of the truck right after the collision?

Answer 1

41.5 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

Since there are no external forces, momentum must be conserved.

Momentum P = mv.

Total momentum before the collision:

`P = m_(car)v_(car) + m_(tru)_(ck)v_(tru)_(ck) = 1120 * 27.4 + 490 * 20 = 40.488`

Total momentum after the collision:

`P = 1120 * 18 + 490 * v_(tru)_(ck) = 40.488`

solving for v:

`v_(truck) = 41.5`