Question

Train cars are coupled together by being bumped into one another. Suppose two loaded train cars are moving toward one another the first having a mass of 150000kg and a velocity of 0.30m/s and the second having a mass of 110000kg and a velocity of -0.12m/s what is the final velocity?

Answer 1

The final velocity of the two train cars after the collision is -0.0532 m/s.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

To calculate the final velocity, you can use the equation:

m1 * v1 + m2 * v2 = (m1 + m2) * vf

Plugging in the values:

(150,000 kg * 0.300 m/s) + (110,000 kg * -0.120 m/s) = (150,000 kg + 110,000 kg) * vf

Solving for vf, the final velocity, you will get:

vf = -0.0532 m/s