Question

A 3000-kg truck moving with a velocity of 10 m/s hits a 1000-kg parked car. The impact causes the 1000-kg car to be set in motion at 15 m/s. Assuming that momentum is conserved during the collision, determine the velocity of the truck immediately after the collision.

Answer 1

Answer: The momentum of the truck before the collision is given by the formula:

p_i = m_i * v_i, where m_i is the mass of the object and v_i is its velocity.

The momentum of the truck before the collision is:

p_i (truck) = 3000 kg * 10 m/s = 30000 kg m/s

The momentum of the car before the collision is:

p_i (car) = 1000 kg * 0 m/s = 0 kg m/s

The total initial momentum of the system is the sum of the initial momenta of the truck and car:

p_i (total) = p_i (truck) + p_i (car) = 30000 kg m/s + 0 kg m/s = 30000 kg m/s

After the collision, the final momentum of the system is the sum of the final momenta of the truck and car:

p_f (total) = p_f (truck) + p_f (car)

Let's call the velocity of the truck after the collision v_f (truck). The final momentum of the truck is:

p_f (truck) = 3000 kg * v_f (truck)

The final momentum of the car is:

p_f (car) = 1000 kg * 15 m/s = 15000 kg m/s

Using the conservation of momentum, we can write an equation:

p_f (total) = p_i (total)

30000 kg m/s = p_f (truck) + p_f (car)

30000 kg m/s = 3000 kg * v_f (truck) + 15000 kg m/s

30000 kg m/s = 3000 kg * v_f (truck) + 15000 kg m/s

v_f (truck) = (30000 kg m/s - 15000 kg m/s) / 3000 kg = 7.5 m/s

So, the velocity of the truck immediately after the collision is 7.5 m/s.

Explanation: