8. -5 points OSColPhys1 8.6.050 My Notes Ask Your Teach Two cars collide at an i

Question

8. -5 points OSColPhys1 8.6.050 My Notes Ask Your Teach Two cars collide at an icy intersection and stick together afterward. The first car has a mass of 1500 kg and was approaching at 6.00 m/s due south. The second car has a mass of 800 kg and was approaching at 15.0 m/s due west (a) Calculate the final velocity of the cars. (Note that since both cars have an initial velocity, you cannot use the equations for conservation of momentum along the x-axis and y-axis; instead, you must look for other simplifying aspects..) Magnitude m/s Direction ?? (counterclockwise from west is positive) (b) How much kinetic energy is lost in the collision? (This energy goes into deformation of the cars.)

Explanation / Answer

Use conservation of momentum

In the West direction

1500(0) + 800(15) = (1500 + 800)vx
vx = 5.2174 m/s

In the South direction

1500(6.00) + 800(0) = (1500 + 800)vy
vy = 3.91 m/s

v = ?(5.2174² + 3.91²)
v = 6.52 m/s

tan? = 3.91 / 5.2174
? = 36.85º South of West

Kinetic energy lost

½(1500)6.0² + ½(800)15² - ½(2300)6.52² = 68113 J

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