Question

A 328-kg car moving at 19.1 m/s in the x direction hits from behind a second car moving at 13.0 m/s in the same direction. If the second car has a mass of 790 kg and a speed of 15.1 m/s right after the collision, what is the velocity of the first car after this sudden collision

Answer 1

14.04 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the velocity of the first car after the collision, we can use the equation of conservation of momentum:

m1v1 + m2v2 = m1'v1' + m2'v2'

We have the following data:

m1 = m1' = 328,

m2 = m2' = 790,

v1 = 19.1,

v2 = 13,

v2' = 15.1.

Using this data, we can find v1' (final velocity of the first car):

328 * 19.1 + 790 * 13 = 328 * v1' + 790 * 15.1

16534.8 = 328 * v1' + 11929

328 * v1' = 4605.8

v1' = 14.04 m/s