Question

Two cars collide at an intersection. One car has a mass of 1600 kg and is moving 8 m/s to the north, while the other has a mass of 1400 kg and is moving 12 m/s to the south. What is their combined momentum?

1) 4000 kg·m/s north
2) 4000 kg·m/s south
3) 29,600 kg·m/s north
4) 29,600 kg·m/s south

Answer 1

The combined momentum of the two cars is 4,000 kg·m/s to the south.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the combined momentum of the two cars, we need to calculate the momentum of each car individually and then add them together. Momentum is defined as mass multiplied by velocity. Car 1 has a mass of 1600 kg and is moving 8 m/s to the north, so its momentum is 1600 kg * 8 m/s = 12,800 kg·m/s to the north. Car 2 has a mass of 1400 kg and is moving 12 m/s to the south, so its momentum is 1400 kg * (-12 m/s) = -16,800 kg·m/s to the south. Adding these momenta together, we get 12,800 kg·m/s - 16,800 kg·m/s = -4,000 kg·m/s.

Therefore, the combined momentum of the two cars is 4,000 kg·m/s to the south.