Question

A 540,000 kg plane is coming in to land at 210 m/s. If it hits a 24,000 kg firetruck that's on the runway, inelastically, what will the final velocity be after the collision?​

Answer 1

201.06m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

The solve this problem, we must understand that momentum must be conserved.

This implies that the starting momentum must be the same as the ending momentum. Since we are dealing with an inelastic collision:

Momentum of Plane + Momentum of truck = Momentum of plane + truck

Mp x Vp + Mt x Vt = V(Mp + Mt)

M is the mass

V is the velocity

t is truck

p is the plane

(540000 x 210) + (24000 x 0) = V (540000+24000)

113400000 = 564000V

V = 201.06m/s