Question

A car of mass 998 kilograms moving in the positive y–axis at a speed of 20 meters/second collides on ice with another car of mass 1,200 kilograms moving in the positive x direction with a speed of 17 meters/second. After the collision, the cars stick and move together. What is the total momentum in the x direction before the collision?

Options:
a. 1.6 × 10⁴ kilogram·meters/second
b. 2.0 × 10⁴ kilogram·meters/second
c. 4.0 × 10⁴ kilogram·meters/second
d. 6.0 × 10⁴ kilogram·meters/second

Answer 1

The total momentum of the system in the x direction before the collision is 20,400 kg·m/s, given that only the second car contributes to this momentum as it is the only one moving in the x direction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The total momentum in the x direction before the collision can be calculated by considering only the car moving in the x direction since the first car is moving in the y-axis and does not contribute to the x-direction momentum. To find the momentum of the second car in the x direction, we use the formula:

Momentum = mass × velocity

For the second car: momentum = 1,200 kg × 17 m/s = 20,400 kg·m/s. Therefore, the correct answer is (b) 2.0 × 10⁴ kilogram·meters/second.