Question

A 2,537-kg truck moving at 14 m/s strikes a car waiting at a traffic light, hooking bumpers. The two continue to move together at 8 m/s. What was the mass (in kg) of the struck car

Answer 1

1902.75 kg

Step-by-step explanation:

From Law of conservation of momentum,

m₁u₁ + m₂u₂ = V (m₁ + m₂).................... Equation 1

make m₂ the subject of the equation,

m₂ = (m₁V - m₁u₁)/(u₂-V)..................... Equation 2

Where m₁ = mass of the truck, m₂ = mass of the car, u₁ initial velocity of the truck, u₂ = initial velocity of the car V = common velocity

Given: m₁ = 2537 kg, u₁ = 14, V= 8 m/s, u₂ = 0 m/s ( as the car was at rest waiting at a traffic light)

Substituting into equation 2.

m₂ =[2537(8) - 2537(14)]/(0-8)

m₂ = (20296-35518)/-8

m₂ = -15222/-8

m₂ = 1902.75 kg.

Thus the mass of the car = 1902.75 kg