Question

A 1,600 kg train car rolling freely on level track at 16 m/s bumps into a 1.0 × 103 kg train car moving at 10.0 m/s in the same direction, and the two latch onto each other and continue together. What is their final speed?

A.) 16 m/s
B.) 6.0 m/s
C.) 10 m/s
D.) 14 m/s

Answer 1

This item is solved through the concept of the conservation of momentum which states that the momentum before and after collision should be equal.
momentum = mass x velocity
(1,600 kg)(16 m/s) + (1.0x10^3 kg)(10 m/s) = (1600 + 1000 kg)(x)
The value of x is 13.69 m/s. Thus, their final speed is approximately letter D. 14 m/s.