As shown in the figure below, cars #1 and #2 are sliding across a horizontal fri

Question

As shown in the figure below, cars #1 and #2 are sliding across a horizontal frictionless surface. The cars are equipped with a coupling arrangement similar to the one on railroad cars. Car #1 overtakes car #2 and they have a totally inelastic collision and become coupled together. You know the mass of each car: m_1 = 13.0 kg and m_2 = 47.0 kg. In addition, you are provided with the following graph, which shows the momentum of car #1 before, during and after the collision. Determine the velocity of car #2 before the collision. ________ m/s

Explanation / Answer

given
mass of car 1 = m1 = 13 kg
mass of car 2, m2 = 47 kg
velocity of car 1 before collision, u1
velocity of car 2 before collision, u2
velocity of car 1 after collision, v1
velocity of car 2 after collision, v2

now from the given data
momentum of car 1 before collision = m1u1 = 100
so, u1 = 100/13 = 7.692 m/s
and momentum of car 1 after collision = m1v1 = 40
v1 = 40/13 = 3.0769 m/s
since this is a totally inelastic collision
v2 = v1 = 3.0769 m/s

so momentum of system before collision = momentum of system after collision, from conservation of meomntum
hence
m1u1 + m2u2 = (m1 + m2)v1
100 + 47u2 = 60*3.0769
u2 = 1.800327 m/s

so velocity of car 2 before collision, u2 = 1.800327 m/s

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.