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Consider two cars, one a compact model (m = 771 kg) and the other an SUV (m = 2488 kg). The SUV is traveling at 17 m/s, while the compact car is traveling at an unknown speed v. If the two cars have the same momentum, what is v?

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To find the velocity of the compact car that has the same momentum as an SUV, we use the momentum equation: p = m x v. The SUV's momentum is 42316 kg·m/s. Therefore, the compact car's velocity is 54.9 m/s.

The student's question pertains to determining the velocity of a compact car with a known mass that has the same momentum as an SUV with a known mass and velocity.

Momentum (p) is the product of mass (m) and velocity (v), represented by the equation p = m × v.

The SUV's momentum can be calculated by multiplying its mass (2488 kg) by its velocity (17 m/s), which gives p = 2488 kg × 17 m/s = 42316 kg·m/s.

Since both cars have the same momentum, the compact car's momentum is also 42316 kg·m/s. To find the compact car's velocity (v), we use its momentum and mass: v = × m, which results in v = 42316 kg·m/s ÷ 771 kg.

Calculating this gives us the compact car's velocity: v = 54.9 m/s. Therefore, the compact car is traveling at a speed of 54.9 m/s to have the same momentum as the SUV.

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