Question

A car (mass = 1150 kg) is traveling at 34.9 m/s when it collides head-on with a sport utility vehicle (mass = 2560 kg) traveling in the opposite direction. in the collision, the two vehicles come to a halt. at what speed was the sport utility vehicle traveling?

Answer 1

By momentum conservation we can say that if finally both vehicles are coming to halt then final momentum will be zero.

now by momentum conservation we can say

`m_1v_1 + m_2v_2 = 0`

`1150*34.9 + 2560*-v_2 = 0`

`v_2 =15.7 m/s`

So it will move in opposite direction with speed 15.7 m/s speed.