At the intersection of Texas Avenue and University Drive, a yellow, subcompact c

Question

At the intersection of Texas Avenue and University Drive, a yellow, subcompact car with mass 800 kg traveling east on University collides with a maroon pickup truck with mass 1850 kg that is traveling north on Texas and ran a red light (Figure 1) . The two vehicles stick together as a result of the collision and, after the collision, the wreckage is sliding at 16.0 m/s in the direction 24.0 east of north. The collision occurs during a heavy rainstorm; you can ignore friction forces between the vehicles and the wet road.

Calculate the speed of the car before the collision.

Calculate the speed of the truck before the collision.

Explanation / Answer

The final momentum of the system is (800 + 1850)(16.0) at 24.0 deg. east of north.
= 42400 at 24.0 deg. east of north

Decompose into easterly
42400 * sin(24) = 17245.63
and northerly
42400 * cos(24) = 38734.33

The car provide all the easterly momentum so
Vc * 800 = 42400 * sin(24)
Vc = 21.56 m/s

The truck provide all the northerly momentum so
Vt * 1850 = 42400 * cos(24)
Vt = 20.94 m/s

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