A bumper car with mass m1 = 111.0 kg is moving to the right with a velocity of v

Question

A bumper car with mass m1 = 111.0 kg is moving to the right with a velocity of v1 = 4.3 m/s. A second bumper car with mass m2 = 88.0 kg is moving to the left with a velocity of v2 = -3.1 m/s. The two cars have an elastic collision. Assume the surface is frictionless.

6) In a new (inelastic) collision, the same two bumper cars with the same initial velocities now latch together as they collide.What is the final speed of the two bumper cars after the collision?

I will rate 5 star even if its wrong but was given a good shot! Please help! Thanks

Explanation / Answer

Momentum is conserved 111 . 4.1 – 86 . 3.8 = 128.3 = 111 . Vi + 86 . Vii KE is also conserved 0.5 . 111 . 4.1^2 + 0.5 . 86 . 3.8^2 = 1554 = 0.5 . 111 . Vi^2 + 0.5 . 86 . Vii^2 Sub for Vi in the second equation, solve the quadratic for Vii If they stick together Original momentum = final momentum Final velocity = 128.3 / ( 111 + 86 ) = 0.65 m/s You can do the calculation but the inelastic collision loses most of its KE while, by definition the elastic collision doesn't lose any.

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