Question

A 12,000 kg truck moving at 2.0 m/s northward collided with a 3,000 kg car that was at rest. The two vehicles stuck together and move together after collision with a speed of

Answer 1

The final velocity of the combined wreckage after the collision is 1.6 m/s to the north.

Step-by-step explanation:

The two vehicles colliding together can be analyzed using the principle of conservation of momentum. According to this principle, the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

Before the collision, the truck has a momentum of 12,000 kg * 2.0 m/s = 24,000 kg·m/s to the north, while the car has zero momentum since it is at rest. After the collision, the combined wreckage moves together with a common velocity.

Using the principle of conservation of momentum, the total momentum after the collision is also 24,000 kg·m/s. Since the truck and the car stick together and move together, their combined mass is 12,000 kg + 3,000 kg = 15,000 kg. Therefore, the final velocity can be calculated as 24,000 kg·m/s / 15,000 kg = 1.6 m/s to the north.