Question

A 15.0 g toy car moving to the right at 20.0 cm/s collides elastically with a 20.0 g toy car moving left at 30.0 cm/s. The 15.0 g car then moves left at 37.1 cm/s. Find the 20.0 g car’s final velocity

Answer 1

In an elastic collision, the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision. To find the final velocity of the second car, we can apply the momentum conservation equation. The final velocity of the second car is -11.75 m/s due west.

Step-by-step explanation:

In an elastic collision, the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision. So, we can use the momentum conservation equation to find the final velocity of the second car. Let's assume the final velocity of the second car is v.

Before the collision:

• First car momentum = 1200 kg * (-8.00 m/s) = -9600 kg·m/s
• Second car momentum = 850 kg * (-17.0 m/s) = -14450 kg·m/s

After the collision:

• Both cars stick together, so their final momentum is equal.
• Total momentum after the collision = (1200 kg + 850 kg) * v

Setting the two equations equal to each other and solving for v:

• -9600 kg·m/s + -14450 kg·m/s = (1200 kg + 850 kg) * v
• -24050 kg·m/s = 2050 kg * v
• v = -24050 kg·m/s / 2050 kg
• v = -11.75 m/s

So, the final velocity of the second car is -11.75 m/s due west.