Question

3 Cars Colliding

A car of mass 1044 kg moving at 16 m/s collides with a stationary car of mass 2455 kg. The 1044 kg car keeps moving in the same direction after the collision at 4.0 m/s. What is the final velocity of the 2455 kg car if it moves in the same direction as the 1044 kg car?

a.2.22 m/s
b.6.0 m/s
c.10.0 m/s
d.4.0 m/s

Answer 1

The final velocity of the 2455 kg car is 5.08 m/s.

Step-by-step explanation:

The final velocity of the 2455 kg car can be calculated using the principle of conservation of momentum. The equation for the conservation of momentum is:

mass of car 1 * initial velocity of car 1 + mass of car 2 * initial velocity of car 2 = mass of car 1 * final velocity of car 1 + mass of car 2 * final velocity of car 2

Plugging in the values we have:

(1044 kg * 16 m/s) + (2455 kg * 0 m/s) = (1044 kg * 4 m/s) + (2455 kg * final velocity of car 2)

Simplifying this equation, we get:

(1044 kg * 16 m/s) = (1044 kg * 4 m/s) + (2455 kg * final velocity of car 2)

Now, let's solve for the final velocity of car 2:

(1044 kg * 16 m/s) - (1044 kg * 4 m/s) = 2455 kg * final velocity of car 2

1044 kg * 12 m/s = 2455 kg * final velocity of car 2

final velocity of car 2 = (1044 kg * 12 m/s) / 2455 kg

final velocity of car 2 = 5.08 m/s

Therefore, the final velocity of the 2455 kg car is 5.08 m/s. The correct answer is d. 5.08 m/s.