Question

a train car of mass 444 kg moving at 5 m/s bounces into another car on the same tracks of mass 344 king. of the second car was moving 5 m/s in the opposite direction, how fast does the first car move after the collision?

Answer 1

3.7 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

M = 444 kg

U = 5 m/s

m = 344 kg

u = - 5 m/s

Let the velocity of train is V and the car s v after the collision.

As the collision is elastic

By use of conservation of momentum

MU + mu = MV + mv

444 x 5 - 344 x 5 = 444 V + 344 v

500 = 444 V + 344 v

125 = 111 V + 86 v .... (1)

By using the formula of coefficient of restitution ( e = 1 for elastic collision)

`e = (V-v)/(u-U)`

-5 - 5 = V - v

V - v = - 10

v = V + 10

Substitute the value of v in equation (1)

125 = 111 V + 86 (V + 10)

125 = 197 V + 860

197 V = - 735

V = - 3.7 m/s

Thus, the speed of first car after collision is 3.7 m/s. negative sign shows that the direction is reverse as before the collision.