Question

A train car has a mass of 10,000 kg and is moving at +3.0 m/s. It strikes an identical train car that is at rest. The train cars combine.A train car has a mass of 10,000 kg and is moving at +3.0 m/s. It strikes an identical train car that is at rest. The train cars combine. What is the magnitude of the final velocity of the combined cars?

Answer 1

In order to compute the final velocity of the trains, we may apply the principle of conservation of momentum which is:
initial momentum = final momentum
m₁v₁ = m₂v₂

The final mass of the trains will be:
10,000 + 10,000 = 20,000 kg
Substituting the values into the equation:

10,000 * 3 = 20,000 * v
v = 1.5 m/s

The final velocity of the trains will be 1.5 m/s