Question

A 1,196 kg car moving at 2.1 m/s collides with a stationary car

of mass 1,575 kg. If the two vehicles lock together, what is their
combined speed immediately after the collision?

Answer 1

The combined velocity of the two cars after the collision is approximately 0.907 m/s.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the combined velocity of two cars after a collision, we can use the principle of conservation of momentum. The total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

Using the equation:

1. Initial momentum = Final momentum
2. (mass of car 1 × velocity of car 1) + (mass of car 2 × velocity of car 2) = (combined mass of car 1 and car 2 × combined velocity)
3. (mass of car 1 × velocity of car 1) + (mass of car 2 × velocity of car 2) = (mass of car 1 + mass of car 2) × combined velocity

Plugging in the given values:

1. (1,196 kg × 2.1 m/s) + (1,575 kg × 0 m/s) = (1,196 kg + 1,575 kg) × combined velocity
2. (2,515.6 kg·m/s) = (2,771 kg) × combined velocity

Solving for the combined velocity:

1. combined velocity = (2,515.6 kg·m/s) ÷ (2,771 kg)
2. combined velocity ≈ 0.907 m/s.