Question

The parking brake on a 1000 kgkg Cadillac has failed, and it is rolling slowly, at 5 mphmph , toward a group of small children. Seeing the situation, you realize you have just enough time to drive your 2000 kgkg Volkswagen head-on into the Cadillac and save the children. With what speed should you impact the Cadillac to bring it to a halt?

Answer 1

Volkswagen must have to move with speed 2.5 mph

Step-by-step explanation:

As we know that two cars will collide and stick together

So here we can say that

`m_1v_1 + m_2v_2 = (m_1 + m_2) v`

just after collision of two cars they both comes to rest

so here we have

v = 0

Now we have

`1000(5 mph) + 2000(v) = 0`

`v = - 2.5 mph`

so Volkswagen must have to move with speed 2.5 mph