Question

Two 100 kg bumper cars are moving toward each other in opposite directions. Car A is moving at 8 m/s and Car B at –10 m/s when they collide head–on. If the resulting velocity of Car B after the collision is 8 m/s, what is the velocity of Car A after the collision?

(I saw this question was asked previously, but the person did not provide the correct answer...)

Answer 1

`v_a = -10 m/s`

so car A will move with speed 10 m/s in opposite direction

Step-by-step explanation:

As we know that when two cars collide then the momentum of two cars will remains conserved

so here we have

`P_i = P_f`

mass of two cars = 100 kg

speed of car A = 8 m/s

speed of car B = - 10 m/s

after collision the speed of car B = +8 m/s

now by momentum conservation equation

`m_1v_(1i) + m_2v_(2i) = m_1v_(1f) + m_2v_(2f)`

so we have

`100(8) + 100(-10) = 100(v_a) + 100(8)`

so we have

`v_a = -10 m/s`

so car A will move with speed 10 m/s in opposite direction