Our two friends from relative motion are at it again. Distracted by still trying

Question

Our two friends from relative motion are at it again. Distracted by still trying to solve the EF train problem, they crash into each other. The cars stick together after the collision, making it a perfectly inelastic collision. Both cars are Mini Coopers driven by identical twins, so their mass is the same.

A. What is the magnitude of the velocity of the tangled mess after the collision?
(include units with answer) B. What is the angle of the velocity of the tangled mess after the collision? (CCW from +x)
(include units with answer)

Explanation / Answer

Apply law of conservation of momentum

along X-axis

momentum before collision = momentumafter collision

m*75 = (m+m)*V*cos(theta)..........(1)

along Y-axis

m*39 = (m+m)*V*sin(theta)............(2)

tan(theta) = 39/75 = 0.52

theta = atan(0.52) = 27.5 degrees......is the angle of velocity

magnitude of velocity is V = 39/(2*sin(27.5)) = 42.3 km/hr

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse O
• Subjects

---

---

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