Question

A car traveling 25 m/s to the north collides with a car traveling 15 m/s to the south. Each car has a mass of 1100 kg. If the system is defined as the two cars, what is the change in momentum of the system due to the collision?

A. 27,500 kg*m/s
B.16,500 kg*m/s
C.44,000 kg*m/s
D. 0 kg*m/s

Answer 1

conservation of momentum ... that before = that after ... change zero

Answer 2

The change in momentum of the system due to the collision is 0 kg-m/s.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is given that,

Initial velocity of car 1,
`u_1=25j\ m/s` (north)

Initial velocity of car 2,
`u_2=-15j\ m/s` (south)

Mass of each cars,
`m_1=m_2=1100\ kg`

It may be the case of elastic collision, such that they will exchange their velocities. So, the final speed of both the cars will be :

Final velocity of car 1,
`v_1=-15j\ m/s` (south)

Final velocity of car 2,
`v_2=25j\ m/s` (north)

The change in momentum of the system due to the collision is equal to the final momentum minus initial momentum. So, it is equal to 0 kg-m/s. Hence, the correct option is (d) " 0 kg-m/s".